Importing goods from the states (and ways to pay?)
Discussion
Hi world
We're looking to buy some gauges for the car - around £500 worth in total. However, in the states they are $500, so the savings are clearly there to be had.
On phoning the company, they want us to send a photocopy of our credit card so they can do a customer not present. So my first question - does that sound right?
Second question, what's the way to get them posted? We're aware there will be import taxes - will it be the 25% tax, and only that (assume it gets caught) or will there be further costs? Even with the 25% addition it's still worth doing so we're happy to do it "properly".
Thanks all
Tony
We're looking to buy some gauges for the car - around £500 worth in total. However, in the states they are $500, so the savings are clearly there to be had.
On phoning the company, they want us to send a photocopy of our credit card so they can do a customer not present. So my first question - does that sound right?
Second question, what's the way to get them posted? We're aware there will be import taxes - will it be the 25% tax, and only that (assume it gets caught) or will there be further costs? Even with the 25% addition it's still worth doing so we're happy to do it "properly".
Thanks all
Tony
TonyHetherington said:
On phoning the company, they want us to send a photocopy of our credit card so they can do a customer not present. So my first question - does that sound right?
I've bought loads of stuff from the states and have never been asked to do this. Presumably they must also require anyone who is buying over the phone or online to do the same?Can't they just process your payment over the phone?
Seems a bit odd to me.
ehasler said:
El stovey said:
andye30m3 said:
I thought it was just the VAT you need to pay.
That was my understanding too.If its Autometer guages you are after, go on ebay.com and pay them with Paypal.
As mentioned earlier, the courier will add £10-£15 service charge and you may get stung for VAT, but a lot of stuff that comes through doesnt attract any charges.
Either way it is a lot cheaper due to the currency rates.
As mentioned earlier, the courier will add £10-£15 service charge and you may get stung for VAT, but a lot of stuff that comes through doesnt attract any charges.
Either way it is a lot cheaper due to the currency rates.
That's what we thought - why can it not be done over the phone? But I did get the impression that they were a simple company (if you see what I mean).
Thinking about it further though, I can't see what they could do with a crap photocopy of our credit card that they couldn't do with the raw numbers?!
Thinking about it further though, I can't see what they could do with a crap photocopy of our credit card that they couldn't do with the raw numbers?!
Unfortunately to go there isn't really viable (though we do keep looking out for people who are going 
).
As said above, even with import duty plus vat plus charges, at 2:1 dollars for the pound, it still makes it cheaper importing from the states.
Maybe we'll give them another ring and get the lowdown on why they need the car picture. But, really, what can they do with the picture that they cant do with the numbers?
).As said above, even with import duty plus vat plus charges, at 2:1 dollars for the pound, it still makes it cheaper importing from the states.
Maybe we'll give them another ring and get the lowdown on why they need the car picture. But, really, what can they do with the picture that they cant do with the numbers?
andrew_huxtable said:
I heard a rumour that if you ask them to mark as gift you wont get charged the import duty, could be a load of nonsense though as i`ve never ordered anything from the states to test it out
Mount Pleasant's been wise to that one for a long time. They examine a percentage of packages regardless of the gift thing and, if they reckon you're taking the piss, send you a nice letter demanding money.
El stovey said:
TonyHetherington said:
On phoning the company, they want us to send a photocopy of our credit card so they can do a customer not present. So my first question - does that sound right?
I've bought loads of stuff from the states and have never been asked to do this. Presumably they must also require anyone who is buying over the phone or online to do the same?Can't they just process your payment over the phone?
Seems a bit odd to me.
TonyHetherington said:
But is that more money than if you just declared it anyway, Graham, or is there a fine on top?
Well, you didn't put the 'gift' thing on, the despatcher did, so I don't think you're liable to be "done" for anything. So I guess the former. Don't take that as gospel though, all I can say is I've 'only' ever been charged import duty, VAT and the robbing b
d courier handling charge. And more often than not they hold the goods until payment, rather than send an invoice after the fact.Famous Graham said:
andrew_huxtable said:
I heard a rumour that if you ask them to mark as gift you wont get charged the import duty, could be a load of nonsense though as i`ve never ordered anything from the states to test it out
Mount Pleasant's been wise to that one for a long time. They examine a percentage of packages regardless of the gift thing and, if they reckon you're taking the piss, send you a nice letter demanding money.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff