why did i just have to pay 83 quid

[227lears]

Why did i just have to pay 83 pounds when i received my set of golf clubs from the USA, These were second hand and bought on ebay. yet i was stung with this charge. anyone know why, and if i can claim it back. the goods were valued at �300.

[mac309]

Possibly import duty.

[227lears]

yeah i know what it's called, but why did i have to pay it?

[WendyW]

Import duty is payable on most goods when they are imported into the UK from the USA. As your golf clubs do attract this duty you will not be able to claim it back.

[Stav]

I think it only applies to items of either a certain size or weight, or their value. I ordered something from Australia for 18 pounds, but if i ordered something else, slightly bigger and for 30 quid, it would have cost me import duty.

[Blender]

Import duty's not applicable to 2nd hand goods. If this was delivered by a courier/forwarding service they may have charged you and shouldn't. They did this to my wife when she received a birthday present from the US, they tried to charge her �56 COD or she wouldn't get the parcel. I argued the case and because I know a littke about the C&E they conceded the point and withdrew the charge. Funny thing was that 6 weeks later when another gift was sent to the family they tried exactly the same thing and charge before delivery. Get an exact breakdown of the charges and check with your local C&E office [yellow pages]. You might find that the majority of the charge will be put down to "C & E paperwork" even if there's no tax charge

[WendyW]

Import duty is set by the EU and ranges from 0% to 85% depending on the particular goods imported. As well as Import duty VAT is also payable. If you go to http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.
ht they explain it in some detail. As they say on their site a lot of people are caught out by these Taxes.