An Post returning packages from outside the EU-See 1st post

Recently I've had VAT (and charges) levied on two parcels of books which are meant to be 0% rated for VAT. I'm waiting to hear back from An Post regarding one parcel but Fedex have cancelled the invoice on the parcel of books that they delivered.

"In response to your query regarding the above referenced invoice. Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to you. I can confirm that the invoice has now been credited in full as it was raised in error."

I contacted fedex on the email address ieinvoicequery@fedex.com in case anyone needs to protest a charge, it did take about a month to hear back from them mind you.

• I just had another go missing from the UK, this one had the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Irish VAT paid at purchase point.
• That's the second IOSS paid parcel to go missing.
• I sell some bits on eBay myself and anything going to the UK automatically includes the IOSS number with 'Tax Paid' mentioned in the address, but An Post still fill out the c22 before sending it.
• So I'm wondering do parcels entering Ireland still need the c22 even if the IOSS tax paid details are included?
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Honest opinion based on clearing goods in from the UK on a regular basis, if it's food of any sort don't bother, the rules are so finnicky that it isn't worth your while to deal with the import clearance process unless you are shipping in commercial quantities on a regular basis. You may well be asked to provide a list of the ingredients for the products, proof of the origin of the individual ingredients and licences for any agri ingredients in the products(cheese powder on your walkers cheese and onion for example).. Add to that that the yellow channel of customs currently takes 6-10 days, so that will be your minimum delay..

Try find the goods in NI would be my best suggestion..

A lot of UK sellers specify the import charges as a separate amount on the eBay item page and is added to the total.

But some don't. I ordered a few items recently from the UK and this customs fee wasn't specified.

The goods didn't arrive to me but customs automatically returned them to the seller.

I was refunded by the seller on both occasions as the packages were returned.

How do you buy off a seller that does not specify the import charges?

is it legal for Irish customs to send the package back to the UK without consultation with the buyer if there is no customs charges specified on the eBay page?

Surely customs have to work out something with the buyer. i.e. invoice them for the customs charges.

Sending stuff back is so wrong. If duty/vat is due on your goods, they should fulfill their international obligations to deliver mail and determine the charges. Add €10 fee if they must, but everyone loses by returning, Anpost, you, supplier, revenue. For centuries you could post a parcel from anywhere in the world, and you would always receive it, prohibited goods notwithstanding. Now they are returning Tee shirts, fan belts, wooden toys and endless other perfectly legal and duty free goods, because they can't be arsed to do their job. They are mandated to collect taxes, so get on with it.

"We could not deliver your post. We will try to return it to the sender"

This is just plain ****-housing on An Post's part. It was not that they couldn't deliver it. They just couldn't be arsed delivering it.

As you said the customs money was paid, so what was their problem?

They should do what FedEx (and DHL) do. Deliver every package that has a question mark over it firstly and then trust that the recipient will reimburse the customs charge once they are sent the invoice (by eMail).

Its a matter of trust. Trust your customer. FedEx do.

Anytime you have a question as to why you are being financially screwed in Ireland, first consider if Revenue might have a hand it and secondly, is there more tax to be had by it or will you be subsidising commercial interests handsomly? The answer is almost always yes to one or the other. I can not understand why Irish people endlessly bemoan Ireland being so expensive yet never seek or find the cause, which is that the public sector are grossly inefficient while also being overly remunerated and they seem to have a fondness for having the populace subsidise various interests through compulsory requirements and expenditure.

In this case it's both. Anpost get their ridiculous handling fee for something thats electronic and hand-less - kaching - and Revenue get more by tightening the mesh of the net - kaching.

I recently bought something from an individual in Germany on ebay - not a business using ebay or regular seller. Cost to send it to me via DHL was €19. An issue arose where I might have had to send it back so I measured the box and weighed it. €84 to send it back via DHL.

Any way to get the An Post Customs reference to pay the charge if you didn't get the notice? I've a package with them since last week and no sign of any notice yet.

Wow I got on to them this morning and they've valued the parcel at more than twice what it cost including delivery! The charges are almost the original cost! I've emailed them with the invoice to explain but am guessing this is going to take a while to sort out now.

In case you think the "they" applying the exchange rate is An Post, it is not. It is the Revenue. They reset it at the start of each month.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/importing-and-exporting/exchange-rates/2021/december-2021.aspx

Any idea how to dispute a valuation? I've tried email and calling to provide the invoiced value not the one they seem to have made up but no one is responding or can tell me how to go about it.

Are you missing many from EU countries, and what delay?

I've emailed them with no reply twice now, I've no intention of paying the overcharge in fairness to the company who shipped it they're willing to send another FOC but I said to hold off as I want to try fix it with AnPost first and if not I'll send to a UK relative and have them resend it so I'm sure of getting it. I'll give it until Wednesday then take them up on it.

Damn, I haven't had anything in a while but got some medical supplies back in March without issue so was hoping it would be the same.

Two inside Ireland, one from Denmark at the moment, all of them not hugely delayed but about a week at the moment. And then there's the two from UK, one of them resent and "delayed" and one stuck in Dublin mail centre.

This is getting ridiculous with nothing moving anywhere. I have already prepared everyone for the likely outcome of not having much of a Christmas this year, the plan was to get one or two presents for family members but at the moment it seems no-one will be getting anything unless it can be found in a store right here in this city.

I am assuming it's not just An Post anymore but courier firms too. DPD has now returned my order from UK twice and the shop won't send it again. No reason given from the shop or from DPD. I guess Ireland is now blacklisted or something.