DHL/Customs unethical practice

[AniV]

I agree that SARS/Customs don't have a clue what they're doing.
I ordered a bunch of stuff from overseas, and before I did I read through their entire Import Taxation Schedule Document to ensure that the items I was importing did not have additional charges associated with them.

First item arrives - it's a Kindle Light. They charge me a handling fee, a clearance fee, VAT, and an import fee. It was supposed to be free. The import schedule on the invoice is completely wrong. Wrong category COMPLETELY. Off by a mile. WTF?

Second item arrives - a single book. They charge me R56 (for what, I don't know - I sent someone else to collect). Apparently it's VAT plus a handling fee. It's also supposed to be free.

Now I'm pissed - I placed 1 order with Amazon for 9 books. Instead of shipping them all to me together, they send them in 5 separate packages. Does this mean that I am going to pay a R35 handling fee for EVERY package that comes in? F that. The charges are almost half the value of the original item!

I am going to raise a query with SARS on the import schedule used on my first package, because how do you mistake a light for a CD?

 

[Zenbaas]

I agree that SARS/Customs don't have a clue what they're doing.
I ordered a bunch of stuff from overseas, and before I did I read through their entire Import Taxation Schedule Document to ensure that the items I was importing did not have additional charges associated with them.

First item arrives - it's a Kindle Light. They charge me a handling fee, a clearance fee, VAT, and an import fee. It was supposed to be free. The import schedule on the invoice is completely wrong. Wrong category COMPLETELY. Off by a mile. WTF?

Second item arrives - a single book. They charge me R56 (for what, I don't know - I sent someone else to collect). Apparently it's VAT plus a handling fee. It's also supposed to be free.

Now I'm pissed - I placed 1 order with Amazon for 9 books. Instead of shipping them all to me together, they send them in 5 separate packages. Does this mean that I am going to pay a R35 handling fee for EVERY package that comes in? F that. The charges are almost half the value of the original item!

I am going to raise a query with SARS on the import schedule used on my first package, because how do you mistake a light for a CD?

Because they're a bunch of criminals

 

[chrisc]

If you abandon the goods, they will end up in the States Warehouse and sold on the next auction, which is in about March. There are thousands of similar items there. Also, DHL will get their collections dept onto you to recover their costs.

This time, I would bite the bullet and pay. Next time, make sure all the documents correspond. If you are going to misdeclare a parcel value, then you have to do your homework. Obviously Customs smelt a rat when the values for the same item on two documents disagreed.

Another message above related to Customs charging for goods you thought were duty-free. What you have to do when collecting goods at Customs at Cape Mail, is to have the correct tariff heading of the item you are importing and request a re-evaluation if you think they have made a mistake. (But, they do not have to do one if they are busy or having a bad day). Be aware that Customs' job is to collect money for the exchequor and your job (or a customs clearing agent if you have one) is to minimise the duty payable and thereby save you money. You should, really, take along the correct form with the tariff correctly filled in and present that to the Customs officer at the counter. Not only will you know in advance what you are going to pay, but you will save him time from having to look it up which will put you in his good books. I always do it like this and it works every time. They see you have gone to some effort in meeting them and reward you by speeding up the clearance process.

Now and then they will stop a parcel and demand to do an inspection. This is when there might be some argument into which category the item should fall. The tariff book is about 15cm thick and not the most well-laid out volume

 

[chrisc]

I agree that SARS/Customs don't have a clue what they're doing.
I ordered a bunch of stuff from overseas, and before I did I read through their entire Import Taxation Schedule Document to ensure that the items I was importing did not have additional charges associated with them.

First item arrives - it's a Kindle Light. They charge me a handling fee, a clearance fee, VAT, and an import fee. It was supposed to be free. The import schedule on the invoice is completely wrong. Wrong category COMPLETELY. Off by a mile. WTF?

Second item arrives - a single book. They charge me R56 (for what, I don't know - I sent someone else to collect). Apparently it's VAT plus a handling fee. It's also supposed to be free.

Now I'm pissed - I placed 1 order with Amazon for 9 books. Instead of shipping them all to me together, they send them in 5 separate packages. Does this mean that I am going to pay a R35 handling fee for EVERY package that comes in? F that. The charges are almost half the value of the original item!

I am going to raise a query with SARS on the import schedule used on my first package, because how do you mistake a light for a CD?

There is a clearance fee of R 35,00, plus VAT and ad-valorem on most items, books included. Even computer equipment now has a 2% ad-valorem fee