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 🙂

[thecatspjs]

Sounds promising.I knew that the OP was always right to seek advice on the AU Boards, contact seller, contact ebay and contact NZ customs.

[lyndal1838]

And all they really needed to do was contact NZ Customs.

[thecatspjs]

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@*wraith_hunter* wrote:

Still no response from the seller so I'm hoping I won't need anything from them.

.

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Shame they have not responded.  Still a very good idea to contact the seller given it was caused by their error and they should be made aware of the issue in the hope that they don't make a habit of their inflated valuation figures and/or gives your seller a chance to assist in whatever way they can.

In anycase, since you have communicated the issue with them, they won't be scratching their head as to why you may leave feedback that reflects the pain in the botty that the incorrect valuation has caused.   

[q8-planet-nl]

Parcel went via EU --> S --> Fr - B (Declared) - G --> N 

The CN  seller has written US$100 on the parcel.

The value is US$10.

DHL said if you contact the seller and sents a new invoice within 1 working day things can be corrected. The CN man turnes out to reply after 1,5 weeks because of happy new year and seems most EBay CN-ers are a month away. My girlfriend worked in HK (CN) and said nonsense to stay so long away.

Actually he/it  replied after 1,5 week with the invoice .. still incorrect.

Than the Cn guy stated het filled in the custom declaration correctly.

DHL said, you must pay the custom charges, it is even impossible due to our new policy to change anything.

After 5 telephone calls .. finally I got a copy of the parcel, indeed 100US$ and

extra charges are DHL shipping and administration costs and VAT

One person at DHL says the shipping costs we do not charge .. the other says we do charge.

Fact is 5 times they showed up at my door. I refused to accept the parcel.

Why to pay 4 times the value of the item for VAT.

Meanwhile I already started a claim. But paypal close my possibility to respond.

I called paypal .. ok they said we will make a note and confirm. Got no confirmation.

Email stays unanswered.

Now after 2 weeks.. I get a mail .. respond of seller is needed.

THe CN guy had to contact the DHL in CN as I asked him to do... he did not.

It is clearly his fault.

I asked him to refund.

He would do, but did not.  Than making a term   if received back. BUT !!

Despite the package should be going on the way back to him, he puts it on hold.. so it is still in N.

I suspect  he hopes to resell it in the EU and redirect shipping.

I am waiting and waiting for my refund.

The matter is taking 6 weeks now. Spent few hours on hold with DHL.. who is paying that special paid number  telephone costs?

I hope buyer protecting will work.

PS what the person already did !!!  make a new CN ebay account ...   so what the use of negative feedback ???

[lyndal1838]

q8-planet-nl, you are posting on the Australian boards so you transaction has no relevance here.  All the customs values would be different and we do not pay VAT which I believe is a lot higher than our GST.