Customs charges because seller has put wrong declared value on declaration.. Help please?

[*wraith_hunter*]

Hi All,

Is there anything I can do if a seller puts the wrong declared value on a parcel that results in the parcel getting charged duty?

Long story short I purchased an item off eBay Australia & paid $250AUD plus postage & insurance of $80AUD. The seller who is based in the US has put the declared value as $550USD. The listing was in AUD & I paid in AUD. I received the Customs bill when I got home tonight & they are wanting $170NZD ($130AUD approx).

I checked on the Customs online duty calculator with the amount I paid (including shipping) and it came back that no duty was required. 

What normally happens in this situation? Can I get customs to wipe the duty by providing proof of payment? or is the seller liable to pay the duty seeing as they put the wrong amount on the customs declaration?

Thanks in advance 🙂

[lyndal1838]

You are asking the wrong people here....we are in Australia and even the higher amount that the seller declared would not attract duty here.

I suggest you ring the NZ Customs people and ask what can be done, if anything.

[*wraith_hunter*]

I will contact them on Monday but if there's nothing they can do is there action via eBay or Paypal?

Both my accounts are registered in Australia (I am Aussie, just in NZ for a short stay). So I am assuming that it'll be eBay au & Paypal's AU policies that will apply (if there is any policies that apply).

[*crikey*mate*]

If you're quick, you can call eBay now (or have them call you)

I think they work till 8pm. 

up there ^^^^ top right => customer support

[*crikey*mate*]

I just checked - it says 9pm on a Friday

here's a link

http://ocsnext.ebay.com.au/ocs/cuhome

[*wraith_hunter*]

Thank you, I've just requested a call back 🙂

[phorum_junkie*]

Customs charges are nothing to do with Paypal or ebay and they will be unable to do anything about it.

You may have paid less for the item but if it is worth the declared value then the seller was correct to give that figure.

[davewil1964]

Disagree.

By definition the item is worth what the OP paid for it.

[lyndal1838]

The value declared for Customs should be whatever was paid for the item....the amount that is on the invoice.

There is nothing that ebay or paypal can do for you....Customs duties are always the responsibility of the buyer, which most sellers state in their listings.

[thecatspjs]

Have you contacted the seller to clarify the apparent error with value declaration. 

Doesn't it depend on the type of goods it is, before anyone can assess if there is duty payable. Maybe the seller has coded declaration incorrectly?