Who Knows The Rules On Imports?

[loose54 21]

Hello all,

Recently I have been buying a few coins from the USA. However, when receiving them I am getting some customs charges on certain coins but getting no charges on other coins. For example, I bought a £200 coin and it got to me with no additional expenses, in the same week I bought an £80 coin and I got £11 in customs charges before it could be delivered (£8 of the charge was a Royal Mail 'handling fee' and the actual charge was £3 something). I was told that the fees are random because apparently customs just pick out parcels at random off a conveyor belt and check them but I don't know if this is true?

I am looking to buy some coins from the states soon, maybe around £1500 worth but wouldn't like to be hit with a huge import charge!

Does anybody know the deal with charges or could offer some clarification?

Thanks everybody!

[Colin88 54]

My experience over the years has been the same as yours....some come through with no charge and others get captured.

If the value is under the equivalent of £15 (or something close to that I cant remember exactly...I'm sure someone on this site will be quick to correct me) ...then there's no customs charge.

The annoying thing and I dont know a way around it ..is that bloody £8 'ransom' charge you have to pay the Royal Mail....how can you legitemately pre pay any UK Custom's charge at the source country and thereby avoid the RM £8? ...is there a way?

[Rob 3,152]

It is hit and miss, but I don't think you should get hung up on the fact that you might attract a large import duty bill. Goods coming into the country attract whatever duties are deemed payable. As the law states that imported coins attract 5% VAT you should assume that you will be charged and view any non-collected charge as a lucky gift rather than the normal state of affairs. Even at £1500 it is only £75 VAT, so in the context of the scale of the purchase not a huge amount, however peeved you feel at having to pay anything at all.

[TomGoodheart 402]

As Rob says, the rules state that "collectors pieces of numismatic interest" (tariff code 9706 00 00) of more than 22€ value are liable to no import duty, but VAT at the equivalent to 5%.

Sometimes the Border Agency get confused and I've had to claim for a refund on overcharging. Other times the package is completely overlooked. I had to pay on a purchase that including postage was only US$70 (£40) but not for a coin from Stacks Bowers in a clearly labelled envelope which cost me over £200.

And as Colin says, the RM's 'handling charge' seems disproportionate for smaller purchases. However it's worth remembering that the way the system works is that Royal Mail actually pay the import charges to the BA and then have to reclaim them from the recipient!! It's a bloody stupid system, but when you know how it works, perhaps £8 isn't too unfair?

[azda 979]

EVERY packet Outwith the EU ends up in the German Zollamt, so think yourself lucky that you get Hit only now and again. However, there seems to be a small get around this. It seems the Germans won't pull anything that looks like a letter but will pull anything bigger than letter type.

I have several very nice people who send as a letter, packed between cardboard and it Lands through my door everytime

Edited June 15, 2014 by azda

[scott 144]

Bloody germans.

[Peckris 579]

Bloody germans.

Just because you can't get Bayern Munich players...

[scott 144]

we only want one of those..

probably will cost a fortune in postage though.

[azda 979]

we only want one of those..

probably will cost a fortune in postage though.

Nah, fly direct from Munich Flughafen to Mamchester Airport £500 Executive with Lufthansa unless its a private plane

[loose54 21]

That is a smart idea with the letter! I may have to request that the sellers do that! I don't begrudge paying the 5%, especially if it is not even every time but that £8 handling fee Thanks everybody!

[Peter 615]

I've been caught out a few times but my best seller in the US who will remain nameless puts down metal discs,gift or cracking farthings...... ...none have been charged.

The one problem I did have was the purchase of a Ch 1 shilling and the seller sent me a fantastic James 1 in error...we both had a laugh Vat man made his money I was happy and a new US contact was made...good contact still.