I'm in.

I too would write to support this, however I checked trading standards earlier today and they will not deal direct with the public. The first PC I spoke to confrimed this. Consumer Direct seem to be dragging their heels until they get enough complaints - whatever that means! I have now paid the fee but have asked for it to be delivered on Thursday - I will make them bring it to me! Now I need to decide if I should pursue it through the small claims.

Dave

I attempted to dispute charges today at the local branch and failed miserably.

Having recieved a letter for £7 VAT with £13.50 parcelforce charges i decided to search the web and came across this forum.

Feeling rather angry i called the branch and explained politely that i would like to dispute the parcelforce charge as it was simply rediculous. Immediately this got the operators backup and she started to explain that is covers secure transfer of the parcel to customs, interest on the charges etc etc etc.

When i finally got a word in i explained that i was happy to pay the VAT but would like to be invoiced separately for the parcelforce charges. She replied that the parcelforce charges are part of the customs charges. I pointed out that it was illegal to hold my parcel for non payment of the parcelforce charge and again reiterated that i only want to pay the VAT then she replied that they have a policy stipulated by head office and they cant deviate so either pay or i dont get my goods. At this point i did clarify that the invoice clearly states that the parcel wont be released until full payment of the HM Customs charges has been paid. The itemised list clearly stated VAT and parcelforce charge separatly and yet emphasizing this they still wouldn't accept that it implies they are separate and stipulates paying customs charges and not parcelforce charges.

Going nowhere i asked to speak to the manager who sang from the same script. Finally i asked for the head office number after which they gave me the hmrc phone number and email address clearly not understanding my dispute.

I noted at the start of the call it said it was recorded. I asked if they could confirm this and they replied that they cant disclose that information. Further to this i asked for a copy of the recording and they refused.

What should i do next, give up and pay the fee (im desparate for the goods) or fight it, in which case what should i do next? Out of principle i want to fight but at the same time they seem to be the authority so is it a lost cause.

Any advice.........................?

As you can see from my above posts I have just gone through the same thing with Royal Mail. I am still reeling from it all, particulalry annoyed with the attitude of the police. Nobody seems to think there is anything wrong with what they are doing despite the fact that it is against the law! Anyway I gave up in the end and paid on Tuesday night, and got my parcel delivered today. I am now trying to decide whether it is worth taking them to the small claims court. Not sure how straightforward that is or how much it would cost me if I was unsuccessful. They really seem to have us over a barrel with this. I also submitted a compalant to Consumer Direct, who told me they are building up complaints to see if they can ultimately do something - but I wouldnt hold your breath. There will be millions of people in the Uk who get stung by this charge and probably are annoyed but dont do anything about it. If there was a way of raising the issue on a consumer programme such as Watchdog then maybe more people would come forward to complain, then they would have to listen. But I know some individuals have done this but Watchdog have not taken it up. We simply need more people to come forward. Mass action is the only way to go with this I am afraid or try and get them in court but this costs money.

Watchdog last night had a bit about the Royal Mail - though on an entirely unrelated issue, so I was wondering if they'd be more receptive now...... Submitted it to them twice before, so may try again today. If everyone else did it today/this weekend/early next week we might stand a better chance of them taking note.

Jim

I have just written to Consumer Direct http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/contact - I suggset others do the same. Phoning is pointless, we need their inaction in writing :-)

Also I am writing to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/ - go to select a subject, choose Utilities from the drop down list, then choose Royal Mail and complete the form.

I have put this to Watchdog:

Royal Mail are breaking the law, this has been established by the Police but CPS will not prosecute. Sections 104 & 105 of the Postal Communications Act 2000 clearly state that Royal Mail can charge a handling fee for mail that has duty applied. The Duty must be paid but the handling fee can be disputed (section 105). Royal Mail do not allow customers to dispute the handling fee, they hold the parcel to ransom (lien for their fee, even when the customs fee is paid, breaking section 104 of the Act. Please go to:

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/parcelforce-clearance-ransom-charge-10938.aspx?PageIndex=1

Kind regards,

Mark

I've emailed Watchdog again too.

Jim

Hey guys. Check page 111 near the end in this months Computer Shopper (The one that just came out or is about to come out) on buyer protection. They mention the charge and how some are contesting (and winning) an out of court settlement on the charges.

It was me who spoke to the journalist involved but it's taken a while to appear. I will be also facing Royal Mail in court later this month as they have tried this on for the second time for me and although they invoiced/delivered without taking their fraudlent charge, they won't give me an undertaking they won't do it again and I am left with a dubious piece of paper they may sell onwards to debt collectors.

They settled out of court first time for me and others. This is your best route. The mere threat of this with conviction behind it (very easy, cheap, riskless and quick to do online) and they will deliver then invoice.

If you are getting them into court - whether it's you chasing them, or them chasing you - that's a MARVELLOUS opportunity to get the issue sorted. However, remember (probably teaching granny to suck eggs here) that what you need to play on is NOT the fact that they charge, but that fact that they delay delivery. Whether they charge or not has nothing whatsoever to do with it, it's the delaying delivery that's the criminal offence. Quoting the actual sections should get you Brownie Points! ;-), explaining that every other courier delivers and asks for the payment on delivery.

Of course, it is worth mentioning that even when paid online/by phone they still instruct the delivery office (both that of ParcelFarce and the Royal Snail delivery people) to delay delivery for a further day so they are sure the card payment is pukka.

Finally worth mentioning that the two charges (the supposed fast and slow options) are unfair and excessive for what's involved. They'll try the usual bosh about having to transport the packages to Customs and back, but it's tosh - in Coventry they are one and the same building. That can't be your main line of attack/defence though.

Good luck - let us know how it goes!

Jim

Bert - The law states that they can delay the item until the Duty is paid. Check sections 105 and 106.

The points we are making are:

1) The item is held in lien for the handling fee, even if the Duty is offered to be paid.

2) By doing so they are not allowing a customer to dispute the handling charge, which contravenes the relevant sections regarding recompense by 'civil means', and Consumer Law.

The moderators keep deleting my posts. Some stupid rule is getting in the way of linking to my post on the forum at consumeractiongroup just go there and search for "Parcelforce clearance fee's" without the quotes and you will get there. Posted under the name Dick Emery. It's important as some say that taking them to court won't be in your favour. Let me know what you think.

Note: Posts containing links to other user forums are moderated. Please ensure you read the moneysupermarket.com Community Standards and Terms of Service before posting. Thanks

Cracked Chap:

Bert - The law states that they can delay the item until the Duty is paid. Check sections 105 and 106.

The points we are making are:

1) The item is held in lien for the handling fee, even if the Duty is offered to be paid.

2) By doing so they are not allowing a customer to dispute the handling charge, which contravenes the relevant sections regarding recompense by 'civil means', and Consumer Law.

You're totally misunderstanding the situation, CC! The duty IS ALREADY paid - they have paid it on your behalf, which is how it clears Customs. They pay it and charge you, and they cannot in law hold it to get the money back from you! Section 105 para 3 is clear; that becomes a civil debt, and 104 section 2 is unequivocal - they cannot hold the mail because of a lien. That's how other couriers can turn up at your door, and ask for the money.

I've had that agreed by both the police and two separate lawyers.

Further, it doesn't even have to apply to a package that has duty/VAT attaching to it; if the postage on a letter or package posted to you in this country is insufficient, they'll hold it to ransom in the same way, until you pay both the shortfall and their fee. Just the same situation, and totally illegal.

The Royal Mail put the blame for this on the delivery staff, saying that they used to bring these thing to the door, and ask for the money, but the unions didn't want the staff carrying money, so had to stop the practice. That's a lot of bolleaux, of course.

Jim

Dick Emery:

The moderators keep deleting my posts. Some stupid rule is getting in the way of linking to my post on the forum at consumeractiongroup just go there and search for "Parcelforce clearance fee's" without the quotes and you will get there. Posted under the name Dick Emery. It's important as some say that taking them to court won't be in your favour. Let me know what you think.

I can't find it because I can't see how to search the forums! Which forum is it in?

Mod - Consumeractiongroup - as above.