UK VAT charges when importing question

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Shingster

I'm sure I was told by someone (and I complete forget where) that customs opens up and checks the contents of the package, then the post office has to re-seal it and that's where the "costly" handling on their side comes in. I wouldn't be surprised if customs handles everything and all RM do is slap a label on it though.

I think it's very unlikely that customs open more than a handful of our packages, they just don't have the manpower to do so. Our orders may be randomly checked, but they're rarely opened and I've yet see see anything arrive my end that has been repackaged. They're just scanned.

Obviously customs do open packages, one of our members from the Middle Kingdom, routinely has his packages opened, as they have strict rules on the content allowed in the country.

Our handling fee is basically a charge for a label and their "inconvenience".