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A lady in the USA was selling two similar items for $5 each on Ebay.

They didn't sell.

She relisted and they still disn't sell.

I offered $10 for the pair incl. P&P to the UK which she accepted.

I paid by PayPal.

Next, I'm stung for £10 in VAT by customs because she had declared their value as $50. Confused

Seems the UK customs will charge you for items > £18 so I've just paid an extra $16 approx for her exaggeration.

[I doubt that an appeal to Customs and Excise will work as this is the same organisation that will impound and sell you car if you bring in too many cigarettes from France even though the EU (of which we are a member) no longer sets limits! No trial, no appeal - they just take it and sell it!]

I've asked her to do the honourable thing and send me some cash but I am not holding my breath!

Top tip - get your seller to mark the Customs Declaration as a Gift and less than £18 or prepare to pay even more money...
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Oh poor oli,
I bring stuff in from the States all the time, but I have never been hit like that, whatever possessed her to do that anyway? Was she hoping for more compensation if they went missing, perhaps? I hope she will do the decent thing, but............. Roll Eyes

Lead, Follow or get out of the way!
I've had a similar experience where the seller reported the money I paid (item price + SHIPPING) as the items value. Nothing ticks me off more than paying duties on shipping. Later I found out that my country isn't even supposed to charge duty on computer related items imported from the US. Arrrrrrrr...

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