Got Hit With VAT Charge On FT Parcel

[Get Off My Cloud]

Just had a parcel delivered from FT and HMRC slapped a VAT charge on it, not import duty, VAT.
They hadn't opened the package so they must have just gone by the declared value on the package the declaration on the package was $19.10 which according to Google's currency exchange rate is £15.72.
According to the HMRC website goods valued over £15 are liable for VAT.

You pay VAT on goods sent from non-European Union (EU) countries and EU special territories (eg the Canary Islands) if they’re:

gifts worth more than £39
other goods worth more than £15

www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

I'm hoping this is just a random thing, with the tax they charged and RM's handling fee i had to pay £11.08

[gill2009]

  Oh that's not Get Off My Cloud  

[dalealan]

Aaaarghhhh nooooo Get Off My Cloud that's a pisser They'd clanked 20 dollars on the value of my last delivery so I was expecting it too but it sneaked through ok. They'd marked it as a replacement on the epacket sticker so this may have been why but it seems like it's more down to luck than anything else.

[Get Off My Cloud]

Jan 10, 2017 13:01:27 GMT gill2009 said:

  Oh that's not good Get Off My Cloud  

It gets worse, the package only had a tank in it and the cost of the tank on FT is $17.82 with their MAP discount applied.
If they had declared that value on the package i wouldn't have been liable for VAT.
The total i paid with the VAT charge is about what i'd probably pay in the UK give or take a pound or so but it just defeats the purpose of ordering from China.

I sent a ticket to FT complaining about them not putting the right value in the declaration form, i'm not holding my breath on a refund but worth a try.

[Get Off My Cloud]

Jan 10, 2017 13:13:20 GMT dalealan said:

Aaaarghhhh nooooo Get Off My Cloud that's a pisser They'd clanked 20 dollars on the value of my last delivery so I was expecting it too but it sneaked through ok. They'd marked it as a replacement on the epacket sticker so this may have been why but it seems like it's more down to luck than anything else.

Yeah this was marked as replacement electronic parts too.

I sent a ticket to FT complaining about it so maybe they'll adjust the declarations.

[dalealan]

Jan 10, 2017 13:15:09 GMT Get Off My Cloud said:

Jan 10, 2017 13:13:20 GMT dalealan said:

Aaaarghhhh nooooo Get Off My Cloud that's a pisser They'd clanked 20 dollars on the value of my last delivery so I was expecting it too but it sneaked through ok. They'd marked it as a replacement on the epacket sticker so this may have been why but it seems like it's more down to luck than anything else.

Yeah this was marked as replacement electronic parts too.

I sent a ticket to FT complaining about it so maybe they'll adjust the declarations.

I'm going to put the next order on hold and I'm going to ask them to mark the next one as a gift to see if that makes any difference.

[VapingBad]

Jan 10, 2017 13:31:37 GMT dalealan said:

Jan 10, 2017 13:15:09 GMT Get Off My Cloud said:

Yeah this was marked as replacement electronic parts too.

I sent a ticket to FT complaining about it so maybe they'll adjust the declarations.

I'm going to put the next order on hold and I'm going to ask them to mark the next one as a gift to see if that makes any difference.

You can add special instructions during check out.

[dalealan]

Jan 10, 2017 13:35:10 GMT VapingBad said:

Jan 10, 2017 13:31:37 GMT dalealan said:

I'm going to put the next order on hold and I'm going to ask them to mark the next one as a gift to see if that makes any difference.

You can add special instructions during check out.

Yip I was following this from Sufie over on FT VapingBad they seem more than happy to help. Aaaaarghhh cant paste the link but theres a big thread about it.

[manonabus]

I tend not to use China unless it's low value stuff. Ok some items are slightly cheaper, but the wait and what happens if it goes wrong puts me off.

Having said that, I'm going to order a second genuine subox mini, not only is it £5 cheaper in the UK but it will include a free battery.

So same as always if a China fan, shop about even try asking for a price match

[VapingBad]

Jan 10, 2017 13:38:03 GMT dalealan said:

Jan 10, 2017 13:35:10 GMT VapingBad said:

You can add special instructions during check out.

Yip I was following this from Sufie over on FT VapingBad they seem more than happy to help. Aaaaarghhh cant paste the link but theres a big thread about it.

They ignored it the last time I used it, a week ago, so don't rely on it. 

TBH after 4 years as a customer this could be the beginning of the end of shopping at FT for me, with the exchange rate and Royal Fail's extortionate handling charge they, and other similar sites, will be more expensive than shopping in the UK more often than not.  I looked at a $100 mod last week (VT 167) and the cheapest I could get it from China was £76.10 FT, add the chance of an £11+ surcharge and what's to point when I could use Topcashback at ECigOne to get it for £76.92 (£89.90 full price) and get it far faster and almost certainly with far superior customer service.  GBs normal price for this is £99.11, £10 more than the non cashback UK price, though on Flash sale ATM @ £79.23.  I didn't get one in the end, but if anyone wants to sponsor a mod for VB I'll give you my pp details.

(GBP prices from USB with current pp rate 1.17451)

[BrenD]

Fingers crossed I get lucky. My $20 'replacement electronic parts' that really isn't a $99 bronze Rolo, honest, arrived in the UK overnight.

Oh well, better to pay the fee for $20 than 99!

[BrenD]

Jan 10, 2017 14:11:39 GMT VapingBad said:

Jan 10, 2017 13:38:03 GMT dalealan said:

Yip I was following this from Sufie over on FT VapingBad they seem more than happy to help. Aaaaarghhh cant paste the link but theres a big thread about it.

They ignored it the last time I used it, a week ago, so don't rely on it. 

TBH after 4 years as a customer this could be the beginning of the end of shopping at FT for me, with the exchange rate and Royal Fail's extortionate handling charge they, and other similar sites, will be more expensive than shopping in the UK more often than not.  I looked at a $100 mod last week (VT 167) and the cheapest I could get it from China was £76.10 FT, add the chance of an £11+ surcharge and what's to point when I could use Topcashback at ECigOne to get it for £76.92 (£89.90 full price) and get it far faster and almost certainly with far superior customer service.  GBs normal price for this is £99.11, £10 more than the non cashback UK price, though on Flash sale ATM @ £79.23.  I didn't get one in the end, but if anyone wants to sponsor a mod for VB I'll give you my pp details.

(GBP prices from USB with current pp rate 1.17451)

Royal Fail?

[car147]

I received a lipo yesterday for a Hcigar VT200 and it's the first time i have seen this yellow sticker on the package and saying it does not meet rule 18 and some other of the EU regulation, i am guessing it's either TPD related or because it's Chinese made and entering the EU.

I agree with what your saying VapingBad with the likes of DNA based mods, it really is getting close to be not worth bothering ordering these from FT or elsewhere in China. A prime example recently was Ecig one were selling the Hcigar Vt133 for £61 not so long ago, Next day delivery and UK support if required. You couldn't get one for less than £76 from China at the time, basically a DNA200 in a mod for the retail cost of the board.

[VapingBad]

The min postage costs hurts UK business a lot, add that to a tank or a couple of drip tips and FT with free delivery will still be far cheaper for small stuff.

[Postmodern Smoking]

Jan 10, 2017 14:36:57 GMT car147 said:

I received a lipo yesterday for a Hcigar VT200 and it's the first time i have seen this yellow sticker on the package and saying it does not meet rule 18 and some other of the EU regulation, i am guessing it's either TPD related or because it's Chinese made and entering the EU.

I believe that others have reported similar stickers in the past and that it was to do with the item/s coming from outside the EU.