Mickwick

Was a little surprised to open a letter from TNT this morning which turned out to be a bill for £85.91 regarding import duty on the package I received from INZ with my documents in at the end of December!!!!

Clearly there's some error (although explaining to TNT that I haven't imported any goods wasn't as straight forward as it sounds) but wondered if anyone had come across anything similar??

MrsFychan

that seems rather odd, what was the parcel marked up as?

Mickwick

It just said documents....there's reference to the parcel being worth $600 NZD.....I'd rather not lose some old bank statements and my birth certificate but they're not that valuable

simonsi

Bugger. Assuming you now have the parcel that might be difficult to argue after delivery (when you could have swapped the contents). You may have to mark that down as an Immigration New Zealand Random Event Tax :-(

Stuck in Auckland

I think the weight of the package should be a give away?

The issue will be TNT working as an agent for customs

I would just maintain the $600 was for insurance purposes (to allow for cost of replacing documents).

simonsi

Maybe but I'd imagine customs want the value to be the value so it wouldn't surprise me if they don't stick to their guns on it...

BEVS

TNT stink.
Stick to your guns and tell those blighters that there is no fee to pay and then complain to NZIS about this.

Jon.B

I read this thread yesterday and received a bill from TNT this morning. I'm guessing these are due to the visa processing being done in NZ now and everyone will be receiving them now.

I called them to explain that these weren't goods being imported so no VAT is due. The documentation shows 'marriage and birth certificate' with a value of NZD450/£232.19.

They have loggem by query and say I will receive an email response within 12 working days.

Mickwick

I called TNT and got the same response. Surely INZ need to do something to rectify this.....it's not like we're not parting with enough money in the process already! The bottom line is we're not importing goods!

Anything I've had a bill for in the past has always been prior to delivery so it seems odd to get a bill a month after the documents arrived.

Mickwick

Not sure why this thread has been moved when it's directly linked with the visa application process and INZ??? Apologies if I've misunderstood how the forum works.

simonsi

The charge probably fits right in with UK Customs policy, after all a bearer bond or cashiers bank cheque is just a document but with an absolute value.

The problem is Immigration NZ putting a significant value on them that is incorrect.

Jon.B

Update: I received a credit note for the full amount of the invoice in the mail from TNT today.
I never did get the promised email response but the credit note arrived in about 4 weeks so that's the important thing.

escapedtonz

What use is a credit note. They should be giving you the money back.

uk_grenada

I always think its a form of theft when duty is charged on the cost of goods plus freight plus insurance, but this is invariably what they do... imagine it here - cigarettes are 300% duty from outside the caribbean - but seemingly almost duty free when made here. I dont smoke, but its interesting. A second hand car over 4 years old is shipped in for 1500, add charges then tax it at 110% - this makes a 500 us dollar car imported have a value of about 4500 minimum.

Jon.B

I never considered paying the invoice as it was bogus. The credit note just lets me know that they agree and I won't be chased for payment.