Originally purchased jewellery from the US where customs of approximately $300 was paid.
There was a defect and the items were subsequently returned to the US.
The goods are being shipped back and FEDEX has advised that I have an AU$88 fee which needs to be paid for the release of the goods.
Can anyone advise if this is a standard fee and if there's anyway to recoup the cost because it feels like I'm being double charged?
The original $300 was for import duties and processing costs.
I just contacted FEDEX and they advised it was a "lodging fee" which is applicable to all imports including returned goods.
If they are looking to refund you the import duties, then that makes sense. $88 is a standard customs charge for declarations. They cant take it out of the duties to be refunded because it should go directly into your bank account.
Thanks apsilon!!
I just spoke with FEDEX again and advised them that it was a warranty repair they looked into the paperwork and confirmed that it is exempt from fees and will make the fix!
Border Force is a joke
The rules and regulations around import duties and fees are a mess.
Sometimes people try to do the right thing by declaring things properly, but they just end up screwing themselves over in the end.
We've got Gerry Fkn Harvey to thank for this.
Hard to say. If you were charged $300 previously was that for GST? Import duty? Import processing? All of the above? What's the $88 for?
Goods imported that are a warranty replacement/repair import are not taxable. Fedex probably doesn't know that so contact them and tell them and they'll ask for supporting documentation. On the other hand if the $88 is the shipping charge that the sender didn't pay then they're obviously not going to waive it.