Import Fees From Germany

[j0nb0y]

My son has ordered some electronic equipment from a company in Germany, he did not realise he would have to pay 'import duty', which UPS are requesting (£120.00). If he doesn't accept delivery and the items get returned to the supplier, does the supplier still have to pay the import duty? The import duty makes the items more expensive than in the UK, but if the supplier is going to take the import duty off his refund, he might as well pay it and learn from his experience. he has emailed the supplier, but they have not come back to him yet.

Any advice would be much appreciated. TIA.

[Buenchico]

Your son only has a right to a refund if such a right is written into German law. Otherwise the supplier can lawfully keep his money and say "The problem's at your end and nothing to do with us. We've sent what you ordered, so you'll have to pay the fees if you want to receive it". Even if there is a right to a refund under German law, the supplier might still refuse to issue it, knowing that your son would need to take (very expensive) action in the German courts in order to challenge any such decision.

If the supplier is prepared to offer a refund though, the 'import duty' (which I suspect is actually mainly Import VAT) won't be payable to HMRC and therefore shouldn't be deducted from the refund. However UPS will almost certainly charge the supplier their regular customs examination fee (£12, I think), plus their special UK Border Fee (£4.50) plus the costs of the return carriage from the UK to Germany. It's therefore likely that such fees would be deducted from any refund which might be offered.

Most items purchased from the EU now cost 20% more than before because of the Import VAT that's charged on them. Then there are customs examination fees and shippers' own UK border fees to add on to that:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55752541

[KARL]

Just as a connected fact: eBay items from places like China now cost more if ordered for delivery to the UK than if they are ordered for delivery within the EU - this is so before you add any postage charge (which also often is higher to the UK than to the EU). In other words, the item price is higher for anyone in the UK - have a look.

[gingejbee]

As you can see, Brexit just keeps on giving...or should that be taking.

[Hymie]

Mark the above as the Best Answer.

[Hymie]

How many people who voted leave would have still voted leave if told they would pay double VAT (plus other charges) on good supplied from Europe following Brexit?

[gulliver1]

This is a classic example of the Brexit turkeys voting for Christmas, they just did not know what they were voting for.

[Hymie]

I’m surprised that none of the Brexit supporting ABers has posted how pleased they are to pay more tax.

[Khandro]

The answer for UK residents is obvious; buy British goods from British suppliers wherever you can, thereby helping to keep British people employed & boosting the economy, which will be good for you & everyone else in the longer term.

[barry1010]

Khandro, I have always bought British wherever possible but it is getting harder - I'm lucky in that I can afford to pay the premium attached to most UK made goods, many people can't.

[Khandro]

barry, When we completely renovated the German farmhouse in which we live, we employed local tradesmen of all professions & I made note of all the materials they were using & virtually everything was manufactured in Germany.
If they can do it so must Britain, just as they once did. It not only remains with materials though, it applies to foodstuffs as well.

Why import water from France! can you tell the difference?

[-SharonA-]

Khandro @ 11:10.
I recently bought goods from M&S and had to pay extra for them to be delivered as a gift to Ireland. When I queried this they said it was import charges. Surely M&S sell British stuff??!

[ToraToraTora]

just buy British!

[barry1010]

Khandro, as far as I know my water comes from a reservoir in Wales. Can you tell me which mobile phone, television and PC I should buy that are made in the UK?
I, too, use local tradesmen and women (I'm not importing people) and use British sourced materials wherever possible from British companies but I cannot buy British grown tomatoes at this time of year.

[Khandro]

barry, Buy some Kilner jars this year :0)

[Khandro]

P.S. https://fergusontv.com/aboutus/#:~:text=British%20TV%20brand%20Cello%2C%20relaunched,the%20plant%20in%20County%20Durham.

[Bazile]

Khandro

Are you a Brit living in Germany ?

[barry1010]

Khandro, watch the vid on the Ferguson website. In the first minute it describes how the components that go in to the tvs arrive at their factory by the 'container load' - probably from China. I doubt very much they make their own screens. The same company also owns the Goodman brand of televisions

[barry1010]

I was partly right, Cello's 19" tv uses screen part number HT190WG1-600 - made in Taiwan.

[davebro]

Maybe it will be good thing if it reins in consumerism. Do I really need to replace my (working) 42" TV with a 55"? Probly not.

[barry1010]

Khandro, I won't buy any Kilner jars as they are all made in China!