[Elecraft] UK import duty

[Stewart Baker]

This is a timely thread having just collected from Parcel Force, a package 
containing my latest Elecraft kit purchase.
I was charged £9.23 import duty into the EU plus VAT on that amount.
On all my previous packages I have been charged nothing.

I phoned the Customs & Excise (or whatever they now call themselves), and was 
told that the £9.23 represents 3% import duty on the value of goods ($539).
They have an old computer system which only recognises the first 6 digits of the 
Commodity Code, and this is where they got the 3% duty from. The last 4 digits, 
if they bothered to look indicate that there is 0% duty. They seem to rely on 
customer action to correct errors. 

The US Postal Service Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note has clearly typed 
the HS tariff number 8529 9040 00, however the description was for:-
Transmitter Equipment with Built-in Receiver Except Mobile Phones and Aircraft 
Equipment.

This contents description on the Customs Declaration was wrong, not matching the 
Commodity Code, and should have referred  to Parts for use with Radio. 
This is something that Elecraft should rectify immediately.

I now have to submit a covering letter, proof of purchase and the labeling to 
get the duty and part of the VAT refunded. 
Not a Happy Bunny !!

Stewart G3RXQ


On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:17:39 +0100, David Andrews wrote:
> This has been mentioned from time to time but still caused a problem when I
>
> ordered a KX1 kit recently. Elecraft's documentation is correct and
> perfectly clear - one of the commodity codes was 8529 9040 00. UK Customs
> truncated this to 8529 90 and charged import duty at 3%. If you don't pay,
> you can't get your parcel. Then the fun begins, because had all 8 (or10)
> digits been taken into account, no duty was payable. I'm waiting to see if I
> get a refund, but why do they still get the wrong answer?
>
> David G4CWB
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