To pay or not to pay that is the question?

muffler

So I have a couple of issues with a TV I bought here from Argos just before they closed down and their UK support team have posted a USB stick to me (free) with software in it that hopefully will sort the problem. Yesterday I got an email from An Post looking for payment of 7.28 made up of 1.33 VAT and 5.95 admin fee.

It's only a very small amount and I'll probably pay it anyhow but my understanding is that had I sent the TV to the UK, had it repaired there and returned here it would be exempt from both customs charges and an admin fee. As the "repair" is coming to me instead I'm being penalised.

I'm going to ring them tomorrow anyhow just for a debate on the matter but what are people's thoughts on this situation.

JVince

Nothing whatsoever to do with an post.

Argos sent it. They made the declaration.

An post simply going by what Argos entered. System is completely automated.

Now you can be one of those types that calls an post and give a tirade to some poor unfortunate person who picked up the phone, or you can simply pay the very small fee

cml387

Is the software update not downloadble? Seems a bit of a palaver to send a USB stick by post.

Nigzcurran

Not worth the stress, just pay and be glad if the tv is sorted

mrslancaster

If you don’t pay it, the tv won’t be fixed and you could spend 15/20 minutes on the phone to the uk trying to get the issue resolved. It’s what we used to call ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’ so probably not worth your time or the hassle.

elperello

Pay it and get your TV working.

Then request Argos to reimburse you because they should bear the full cost of getting the TV working under the terms of the guarantee.

muffler

Thanks guys for all the replies. Of course I'll be paying it but I was more querying the process involved and regardless of the amount of money involved I find the charges a bit contradictory as outlined previously.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123919778#Comment_123919778

But the charges aren't contradictory at all. They are precisely the charges for what Argos declared the package to be. The issue is that Argos didn't treat it as a repair.

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123919842#Comment_123919842

I was referring to items sent to non EU countries for repair and then returned. Im fairly sure I read somewhere there are no customs charges in those situations even where a fee is charged for said repairs. Thats the contradiction as I see it anyhow.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123919924#Comment_123919924

Yes, but you were only charged because of how Argos showed the package on a customs declaration. Chances are you'd have been hit for charges on the repaired machine if you had sent it to them too, because they don't seem to know how to process the customs declarations properly.