Sending high value goods from outside the EU to the UK for repair and return.
Simple and cheapest method …
– put a very low value on the goods (like 5 dollars) and send by normal postal service.
ABSOLUTELY NEVER, EVER put a high value on the goods and send by normal post !!
Don’t put a value of zero as this may mean that your goods get held by our Customs whilst they try to find out how much they’re worth. They say that everything has a value!
Simple, more costly but more secure method …
– put a very low value on the goods (like 5 dollars … not zero!) and send by courier.
UK Customs won’t bother to charge Import Duty on very low value goods.
I put a low value and “no commercial value” on the goods when I return them.
This should mean that you don’t get charged any Import taxes when your goods come back into your Country.
VERY IMPORTANT – do not put a high value on the goods and send by courier UNLESS you follow the IPR procedure below.
Complicated and expensive method
In general, the “simple, more costly but more secure” method is very safe because courier shipments are tracked from door to door.
However, if you are unhappy about putting such a low value on the goods, there is a special procedure which MUST be followed if you are not to be charged UK Import Duty.
To save you paying UK Import Duty takes me quite some time. There is a considerable amount of paperwork to do. I make a charge of 70 GBP for doing this.
Because of the high value, it is possible that you will have to pay taxes when your goods come back into your Country. I am not able to do anything about this.
You MUST use a courier who understands this procedure. You MUST NOT use normal post!
This means the shipping charges each way will cost more.
You must make your own arrangements for insurance and shipping to me AND back to you.
If you want to put a high value on your goods … you MUST follow the IPR procedure.
See below “What happens if you don’t follow the IPR procedure?”
Insurance Note 1 – it is absolutely pointless putting a high value on your goods unless you also insure them for this amount.
Why? Just because you state the goods are worth e.g. 500 dollars it does not mean that they are insured for this amount.
If you want your goods to be insured you must pay for insurance. Nasty old world, isn’t it?!
Insurance Note 2 – I will not arrange insurance for you so please don’t ask!
The goods are yours. If you want them insured you must make your own arrangements for insurance and shipping to me AND back to you.
What is the UK’s IPR procedure all about?
When goods of a high value come into the UK for repair and return, the IPR procedure may save having to pay UK Import Duty.
In order for this to happen the goods must come into the UK as IPR Goods with the correct paperwork.
If these are returned as IPR Goods with the correct paperwork within a certain timescale UK Import Duty will not be payable.
How to comply with the UK’s IPR procedure
DO NOT use normal postal service as the IPR procedure will not work.
You MUST use a courier. Use a good courier company like Fedex, DHL, UPS etc who should know about the IPR procedure.
ASK THEM ABOUT IT – IF THEY DON’T KNOW, DON’T USE THEM!!
The courier company should be able to provide all documentation and help you complete it.
Info required for IPR procedure – put this on all the paperwork you have to complete
e.g. Commercial Invoice, Air Waybill, Customs declaration etc.
Also write this info on the box in large, black, felt tip pen
– the goods are IPR Goods
– the goods are being sent to the UK for repair and return to you
– this is not a retail sale.
– the goods are being sent to a UK repairer, Michael Barden
– he is registered to process IPR Goods
– his EORI number is GB 9692 8047 3000
Some other info is required on the Commercial Invoice.
It is fairly straightforward and your courier company should be able to help you complete this.
Commercial Invoice – typical questions
Not in any particular order ….
Shipper/Exporter – this is you, so put your name and address here
Ship To (or Consignee) – this is me, so put my name and address here
Sold To – leave this blank – you are not selling me your circuit board
Export reference/Invoice number/Purchase Order Number – leave anything like this blank
Reason for Export – put something like “faulty circuit board being sent to UK for repair and return”
– don’t put “GIFT” because it isn’t a gift
Country of Export – this is your Country
Country of Manufacture – you could put “unknown” here but if it’s a Technics piano it was manufactured in Japan, so put Japan here
Country of ultimate destination – this is where you are sending it, so put UK here
Description of Goods – put “faulty circuit board QJBGxxxxxx from Technics digital piano being sent to UK for repair and return” Obviously you write the actual number in place of the “xxxxxx” …. doh!!
What happens if you don’t follow the IPR procedure?
If you put a high value on the goods and don’t follow the IPR procedure
there will be charges for Import Duty and handling.
Once paid, the Duty and charges are not reclaimable so I won’t pay them unless you tell me to.
If you tell me to, I will pay the Duty and charges and add these amounts to your bill.
If not, I will refuse the shipment and your parcel will be returned automatically by whichever postal service you used. This can take several weeks because “return to sender” is generally an unpaid service and so tends to use the cheapest and slowest method.
My address – I will give you my address if you want to send me something for repair.
I don’t put my postal address or email address on my website. This is to avoid repair enquiries by letter or email and to prevent UK customers from just turning up on my doorstep. Visits to deliver and collect repairs are by arrangement only to save you wasted journeys. I’m here most of the time but not all of the time.
DISCLAIMERS
Goods here for repair are at your own risk entirely as they are not insured for any eventuality.
Goods here for repair will be sold or disposed of if there has been no word from the owner for 3 months.
E&OE