Fed-Ex admin charge, pay up or do one
Discussion
I recently ordered some parts from Japan and the seller arranged shipping by Fed-Ex Intl.
The parts were dispatched and a week or so later were delivered into my recycling wheely bin. Another week or so passed and I then receieved a text message and email from Fed-Ex saying that I needed to pay them the duty of approx £75 quid and their admin fee of £12.50. I had no problem with paying the UK vat duty and had factored this in to my budget before ordering but their admin fee seemed a bit rich and wasnt something I was made aware of needing to pay before they delivered my item unceremoniously into a bin.
I went online and promptly paid the VAT part of their invoice but not their admin fee - I have since received a letter from them stating that I have to pay up or its forwarded onto a debt collection agency.
I have had a look online and theres a couple of template emails to send to them to tell them to jog on which seem to work but was wondering if anyone here had an opinion.
From my point of view, their terms and conditions for any fees etc were arranged between them and the seller deciding to use Fed Ex as the carrier - I was'nt prior forewarned of, nor had agreed to pay any additional fees.
The correspondance consisted of;
1- Email from seller re' shipping confirmation
2- Email from Fed-Ex with a "manage delivery" link and a privacy policy notice. No terms and conditions, no mention of fees etc
3- Email from seller confirming dispatch.
4- Email from Fed-Ex re' package due for delivery today (again, no terms and conditions of accepting the delivery)
5- Email from Fed-Ex later that day to say package delivered to bin (yet again, no fee terms etc)
The invoice in the parcel and label on the box make no mention of any additional fees etc to be paid. If they want to me to pay the additional fees should there have been somewhere in this process where I personally and formally agreed to it before they hand over my parcel?
The parts were dispatched and a week or so later were delivered into my recycling wheely bin. Another week or so passed and I then receieved a text message and email from Fed-Ex saying that I needed to pay them the duty of approx £75 quid and their admin fee of £12.50. I had no problem with paying the UK vat duty and had factored this in to my budget before ordering but their admin fee seemed a bit rich and wasnt something I was made aware of needing to pay before they delivered my item unceremoniously into a bin.
I went online and promptly paid the VAT part of their invoice but not their admin fee - I have since received a letter from them stating that I have to pay up or its forwarded onto a debt collection agency.
I have had a look online and theres a couple of template emails to send to them to tell them to jog on which seem to work but was wondering if anyone here had an opinion.
From my point of view, their terms and conditions for any fees etc were arranged between them and the seller deciding to use Fed Ex as the carrier - I was'nt prior forewarned of, nor had agreed to pay any additional fees.
The correspondance consisted of;
1- Email from seller re' shipping confirmation
2- Email from Fed-Ex with a "manage delivery" link and a privacy policy notice. No terms and conditions, no mention of fees etc
3- Email from seller confirming dispatch.
4- Email from Fed-Ex re' package due for delivery today (again, no terms and conditions of accepting the delivery)
5- Email from Fed-Ex later that day to say package delivered to bin (yet again, no fee terms etc)
The invoice in the parcel and label on the box make no mention of any additional fees etc to be paid. If they want to me to pay the additional fees should there have been somewhere in this process where I personally and formally agreed to it before they hand over my parcel?
ShredderXLE said:
I recently ordered some parts from Japan and the seller arranged shipping by Fed-Ex Intl.
The parts were dispatched and a week or so later were delivered into my recycling wheely bin. Another week or so passed and I then receieved a text message and email from Fed-Ex saying that I needed to pay them the duty of approx £75 quid and their admin fee of £12.50. I had no problem with paying the UK vat duty and had factored this in to my budget before ordering but their admin fee seemed a bit rich and wasnt something I was made aware of needing to pay before they delivered my item unceremoniously into a bin.
I went online and promptly paid the VAT part of their invoice but not their admin fee - I have since received a letter from them stating that I have to pay up or its forwarded onto a debt collection agency.
I have had a look online and theres a couple of template emails to send to them to tell them to jog on which seem to work but was wondering if anyone here had an opinion.
From my point of view, their terms and conditions for any fees etc were arranged between them and the seller deciding to use Fed Ex as the carrier - I was'nt prior forewarned of, nor had agreed to pay any additional fees.
The correspondance consisted of;
1- Email from seller re' shipping confirmation
2- Email from Fed-Ex with a "manage delivery" link and a privacy policy notice. No terms and conditions, no mention of fees etc
3- Email from seller confirming dispatch.
4- Email from Fed-Ex re' package due for delivery today (again, no terms and conditions of accepting the delivery)
5- Email from Fed-Ex later that day to say package delivered to bin (yet again, no fee terms etc)
The invoice in the parcel and label on the box make no mention of any additional fees etc to be paid. If they want to me to pay the additional fees should there have been somewhere in this process where I personally and formally agreed to it before they hand over my parcel?
You are potentially entering into a world of pain for a shade over a tenner??The parts were dispatched and a week or so later were delivered into my recycling wheely bin. Another week or so passed and I then receieved a text message and email from Fed-Ex saying that I needed to pay them the duty of approx £75 quid and their admin fee of £12.50. I had no problem with paying the UK vat duty and had factored this in to my budget before ordering but their admin fee seemed a bit rich and wasnt something I was made aware of needing to pay before they delivered my item unceremoniously into a bin.
I went online and promptly paid the VAT part of their invoice but not their admin fee - I have since received a letter from them stating that I have to pay up or its forwarded onto a debt collection agency.
I have had a look online and theres a couple of template emails to send to them to tell them to jog on which seem to work but was wondering if anyone here had an opinion.
From my point of view, their terms and conditions for any fees etc were arranged between them and the seller deciding to use Fed Ex as the carrier - I was'nt prior forewarned of, nor had agreed to pay any additional fees.
The correspondance consisted of;
1- Email from seller re' shipping confirmation
2- Email from Fed-Ex with a "manage delivery" link and a privacy policy notice. No terms and conditions, no mention of fees etc
3- Email from seller confirming dispatch.
4- Email from Fed-Ex re' package due for delivery today (again, no terms and conditions of accepting the delivery)
5- Email from Fed-Ex later that day to say package delivered to bin (yet again, no fee terms etc)
The invoice in the parcel and label on the box make no mention of any additional fees etc to be paid. If they want to me to pay the additional fees should there have been somewhere in this process where I personally and formally agreed to it before they hand over my parcel?
Charging an admin fee for collecting duty is entirely normal.
When you import something you have to pay import duty, VAT and a handling/admin fee. Or you can ask the seller to pay it on your behalf, so they charge you the fee upfront and the costs then get billed to the seller's Fedex account.
The fact you didn't realise this isn't Fedex's responsibility.
Just apologise for being awkward and pay them the money you owe.
When you import something you have to pay import duty, VAT and a handling/admin fee. Or you can ask the seller to pay it on your behalf, so they charge you the fee upfront and the costs then get billed to the seller's Fedex account.
The fact you didn't realise this isn't Fedex's responsibility.
Just apologise for being awkward and pay them the money you owe.
most people don’t quibble over £12 
OP, it’s a reasonable fee for pre-payment of the fees on your behalf and processing through customs. The alternative is for it to sit in their warehouse for days while you arrange payment of duty with HMRC. Your argument is really with the sender, who put you down as the payee for fees
OP, it’s a reasonable fee for pre-payment of the fees on your behalf and processing through customs. The alternative is for it to sit in their warehouse for days while you arrange payment of duty with HMRC. Your argument is really with the sender, who put you down as the payee for fees
visitinglondon said:
Explain to them that they don’t have a contract with you and that you have no liability to pay the admin fee.
I did this on both the customs duty and the admin fee a little while ago and they waived both.
What were the circumstances?I did this on both the customs duty and the admin fee a little while ago and they waived both.
Taken at face value having presumably ordered something and asked for it to be shipped to you I honestly can't understand how someone could act that way
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said:visitinglondon said:
Explain to them that they don’t have a contract with you and that you have no liability to pay the admin fee.
I did this on both the customs duty and the admin fee a little while ago and they waived both.
What were the circumstances?I did this on both the customs duty and the admin fee a little while ago and they waived both.
Taken at face value having presumably ordered something and asked for it to be shipped to you I honestly can't understand how someone could act that way
Mandat said:
I'm surprised that Fed-Ex delivered the parcel before collecting payment, as they are now having to chase the debt, with the OP having little motivation to pay.
I thought that all couriers required payment up front before delivery to avoid such a situation.
They have done in the past when stuff ive ordered from abroad when delivery was handled by Parcelforce or RoyalmailI thought that all couriers required payment up front before delivery to avoid such a situation.
visitinglondon said:
Explain to them that they don’t have a contract with you and that you have no liability to pay the admin fee.
I did this on both the customs duty and the admin fee a little while ago and they waived both.
I find that hard to believe. On the HMRC website it even shows this is one of the accepted methods of collecting import duty and VAT and there will normally be a fee levied from the courier. By virtue of importing something that is over the threshold you do have a contract with HMRC and I wouldn't fI did this on both the customs duty and the admin fee a little while ago and they waived both.
k about with them. Ive absolutely no issue with paying the tax to HMRC.
I had not been provided with any terms or conditions of the carriage as it was the seller who selected and arranged the courier. It wasnt something I had any say in or involvement in.
What if they had decided to make the admin charge £1000? As the purchaser I had no prior knowledge of their admin fee or any option to say I had accepted their terms and was happy to pay the charges - they delivered the package then invoiced me after. I could have paid HMRC directly myself as an alternative.
None of their emails or correspondance to me had anything with words to the effect of "by accepting delivery of the package you agree to pay our... " etc or even a link to their terms and conditions of delivering the item. And the seller didnt send anything over for my prior agreement.
It just feels a bit off that any company can send soneone a bill for any amount they choose without any prior agreement to accepting the terms of paying it. At least the shyster parking firms have to a small notice board with their terms on it.
I had not been provided with any terms or conditions of the carriage as it was the seller who selected and arranged the courier. It wasnt something I had any say in or involvement in.
What if they had decided to make the admin charge £1000? As the purchaser I had no prior knowledge of their admin fee or any option to say I had accepted their terms and was happy to pay the charges - they delivered the package then invoiced me after. I could have paid HMRC directly myself as an alternative.
None of their emails or correspondance to me had anything with words to the effect of "by accepting delivery of the package you agree to pay our... " etc or even a link to their terms and conditions of delivering the item. And the seller didnt send anything over for my prior agreement.
It just feels a bit off that any company can send soneone a bill for any amount they choose without any prior agreement to accepting the terms of paying it. At least the shyster parking firms have to a small notice board with their terms on it.
Just pay it and stop being such an absolute melt.
Any courier company will charge for submitting imports to customs. For the amount of work involved £12.50 isn't unreasonable by any means. Or did you think that they would submit everything to HMRC for free? You knew there was import duty likely. Did you think that happened by magic?
Any courier company will charge for submitting imports to customs. For the amount of work involved £12.50 isn't unreasonable by any means. Or did you think that they would submit everything to HMRC for free? You knew there was import duty likely. Did you think that happened by magic?
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Just pay it and stop being such an absolute melt.
Any courier company will charge for submitting imports to customs. For the amount of work involved £12.50 isn't unreasonable by any means. Or did you think that they would submit everything to HMRC for free? You knew there was import duty likely. Did you think that happened by magic?
Melt? Is that supposed to be some street talk tough guy retort or something?Any courier company will charge for submitting imports to customs. For the amount of work involved £12.50 isn't unreasonable by any means. Or did you think that they would submit everything to HMRC for free? You knew there was import duty likely. Did you think that happened by magic?
No, I assumed I could pay the tax myself online like I do with other tax returns or claims or similar or at least be given the option to.
ShredderXLE said:
I had not been provided with any terms or conditions of the carriage as it was the seller who selected and arranged the courier. It wasnt something I had any say in or involvement in.
You accepted and did not dispute delivery. You need not have actively agreed to terms before or at all. They can impose terms simply by giving you them via email here and or a piece of paper on the package. I would be astonished if they did not.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff