Micro SD cards from China

[Suff]

I bought two 64 GB micro SD cards from China on Ebay on the 17th Sept. I've been patiently waiting for them to arrive.

The price was good. £11 delivered, £5.50 each, delivery free.

So, on Tuesday, I get a letter through the post. It's all in French. The best I can work out is that Belgian customs has blocked it and I need to give them a VAT number to get it released. Or my statement of payment. I mailed them at the email adderss and told them I could not deal with the French form and could they help me, also I told them that I would not pay a large charge for such a cheap order just to get it released from customs.

To their credit they sent me back an English form with the regulations on the back of page one. It appears that all items except the usual, alcohol, fags and perfume, are exempt VAT if they are under €22.

I sent off an email with all the relevant print out's attached, form signed and they sent back, today, telling me it will be released for delivery next week. Very good.

I've been bitten by the Royal Mail that way before. I was charged £3.50 VAT and an £8 service charge to release a second hand mouse I'd bought on Ebay from the US. Even though it's illegal to charge VAT on second hand goods as a private transaction. No forms, no request for proof, simply "stand and deliver".

I have another toy coming from the US. It's a special USB connector and cable to recover one of my hard drives which has a firmware error. I may, or may not, have to go through it all over again. That one was £15.

[Diflower]

It's nuts Suff, there are ladies on cancer sites who have had the same when buying wigs from China! - nothing whatsoever wrong with the transactions either end, no reason for it, definitely nothing extra should have to be paid

[Suff]

In the UK the small claims court works well for this. It's almost all automated and they add the court charge to the action. What the government relies on is that people won't feel annoyed enough to sue them... Perhaps we all should. The only way they will stop doing this is if they don't make any money out of it.

At least in Belgium they have made a pragmatic decision. For small items it's just not worth it.

[cruiser2]

Suff,
I am going to the USA in December and January 2015, so if there are any small items you want I could bring them back for you.
You would only have to pay the cost of the air fare which may be cheaper than the customs charge

[Suff]

Yes, but unfortunately the latest Mustang won't fit in the hold....

[Workingman]

Never had a problem here, things just arrive. Even the tablets a few of us got sailed through.

Could it be that someone in Customs has a bit of common sense and realises that it costs more to chase up £1 of VAT than its value - and creates a lot less paperwork?

[Suff]

In Belgium, certainly. In the UK? Blind chance...