anyone get charged VAT on Chinese vapemail?

[phatfil]

I just got a text read to me on my landline,  apparently an order is awaiting delivery all i need to do is go to a web site and pay £15 something?? VAT?

due to the nature of the message i didnt have an opportunity to note any details, but i have checked my email inbox and spam folder and no sign of any message relating to a Vat payment on any order i have made
1 from fasttech 1 from gearbest and 1 from focalecig..  

hmmm who got my phone number? i smell a fish and its stinks....

[flavourtank]

It's normally a customs charge,

Relisten to call/text and see what company it is

[scs]

Indeed. I must have had 100+ parcels from China and never once received any type of extra charge.

[Deleted]

I've only ever been charged once and that was from UPS, none vape related but came from the states

[Perpetua]

I've yet to pay any excess duty on my personal Chinese orders . . . although when we doing our massive forum Group Buys, it did happen.

Unless those 3 Chinese companies have amalgamated their shipping, which is highly unlikely, sounds like someone is after your card details to me phatfil.

Has your email account been hijacked or some such?

[taz96]

No never@phatfil. I would be inclined to think it's a scam unless you've ordered shedloads of stuff.

[phatfil]

they were big orders (for me) biggest $98 USD i use 1 p/w for such sites, that hold nothing but address and contact details and have all important sites protected with pretty secure p/w's i was a sys admin in an earlier life.

If they want the cash legitimately an email or a door knock should become apparent.. i will ignore the phone txt,,  the order they referenced started with a '5' which doesn't correspond to any order i have made either..


edit all are slow boat deliveries too and just been filled/shipped

[taz96]

Apr 29, 2015 18:01:24 GMT phatfil said:

they were big orders (for me) biggest $98 USD i use 1 p/w for such sites, that hold nothing but address and contact details and have all important sites protected with pretty secure p/w's i was a sys admin in an earlier life.

If they want the cash legitimately an email or a door knock should become apparent.. i will ignore the phone txt,,  the order they referenced started with a '5' which doesn't correspond to any order i have made either..


edit all are slow boat deliveries too and just been filled/shipped

I think that's a wise move phatfil. So many scams these days it's hard to find them all. Sure if it is legit you will be contacted again.

[phatfil]

Apr 29, 2015 17:52:49 GMT @tedster said:

I've only ever been charged once and that was from UPS, none vape related but came from the states

I get stung with US imports i have had a few brewing related large hunks of SS shipped over and know to factor that in, but with far east stuff never,,  had a netbook not released in the eu shipped from china a few years back, the seller went so far as to gift wrap and tape a gift card to the box too to avoid the vat/duty charges.. lovely chap..  

[thatguy]

The uk courier company should be the ones who contact you if VAT or customs is due. Royal mail for fasttech/focal/gearbest etc. Last I heard you got a card through the letterbox similar to one for a missed delivery detailing the fee due (including royal mails £8 handling charge - what a ripoff. £8 for a card through your letterbox tut tut).

If another UK courier is responsible for your deliveries, contact them directly and ask.

[glen]

As stated in earlier posts, coming from usa I could understand it, but not the far east, smells like rat

[charliehorse]

Apr 29, 2015 17:27:30 GMT phatfil said:

I just got a text read to me on my landline,  apparently an order is awaiting delivery all i need to do is go to a web site and pay £15 something?? VAT?

due to the nature of the message i didnt have an opportunity to note any details, but i have checked my email inbox and spam folder and no sign of any message relating to a Vat payment on any order i have made
1 from fasttech 1 from gearbest and 1 from focalecig..  

hmmm who got my phone number? i smell a fish and its stinks....

What web site are they suggesting you go to ?

As others have said, i'ts normally a card through the door with the details.

Definitely sounds like a scam to me.

[phatfil]

Cheers i feel afirmed and will sit back n wait for further contact, If my landline number was passed on so was my email addy..

[Deleted]

If it's DHL, EMS, UPS your likely to be charged, whenever I have had an item shipped ( usually by mistake) by any of them I have been charged.

China post or any of the others Never!

[phatfil]

Cheers car147 i know from experience both UPS and DHL can be relentless when delivering items with a legit charge attached they want to make the delivery in a timely manner and are always eager to facilitate a payment, and will happily deliver with a hand out for cash as i live opposite a designated drop off with a cashpoint machine, so they know our postcode well..

edit and EMS are not carrying my fasttech order as i enquiered about modifying the shipping and was informed that due to a battery included mod being in the order(istick) ems couldnt carry it..