[Smithy]

I ordered a couple of tshirts from a store in the US and it said that they'd been shipped and delivery would take between one and three weeks and that was that, but I've just got this email

Dear CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Re: Package ID Number: xxxxxxxxxx

You have recently placed an overseas order that was shipped with DHL Global Mail. In order to release your shipment from Customs we kindly ask you to pay the incurred import charges to HM Revenue & Customs.

Payments should be remitted to Customs Clearance Limited, the authorised clearance agent of DHL Global Mail US in the UK. Customs Clearance Limited is acting as approved and authorised agent to collect import taxes due on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs.

Once the charge has been paid, your order will be delivered to you via DHL UK within 2-3 working days.

Payment Request Number: xxxxx

Charges due
Customs Entry £ 8.00
Import Duty £ 0.00
Import VAT £ 5.86
Total £ 13.86

Please visit our website at www.cclpay.com in order to pay your charges online.

Alternatively you can call our customer service team on +44 (0)208 231 0900 and we will accept your payment over the phone.

Please be advised that payment should be made by Monday 2nd of September 2013 as your goods can only be held in our Customs Bonded area for 14 days, thereafter we have to either return to sender or pass for destruction.

In case you have any questions, please call our customer service team on +44 (0) 208 231 0900 or email enquiries@ccllhr.com

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 0900 - 1800

Yours sincerely,

Revenue Collections Team
Customs Clearance Limited
Unit 1, Metro Centre
St. Johns Road
Isleworth
Middlesex TW7 6NJ
Tel: 020 8231 0900
Fax: 020 8231 0901
email: enquiries@ccllhr.com
www.cclpay.com

CCL is the authorised customs clearance agent of DHL Global Mail US in the UK

there was nothing about this on the website I ordered it from, it looks legit enough but outlook said that the email had failed a fraud check

Is it legit or not?

[AnnieK]

I send a fair few packages overseas and people often request I put on the customs label that the goods are a gift and worth less than £20 otherwise they have to pay import tax so it could well be legitimate and they have either not declared what the package contains or that they are worth over the allowed import amount.

[Smithy]

Ah ok, thanks annie, I'd have just thought that they'd put something about that in the initial email when I ordered it

[AnnieK]

Yeah you'd think they would. May be worth a quick email to the company you bought them from and check if they use DHL and if the shipping number is right as there are loads of scams out there too.

[Marc]

You've been scammed

[Tilly D]

We recieved an identical letter, like you I was suspicious as there was no mention of shipping tax when we ordered the product. I phoned custom and excise who informed me that any product over £15 is liable to import VAT when it enters the UK. Unless it is shipped by Royal Mail it will be a private company that collects the tax. In my case it was DHL who had shipped the product so I checked with them and they confirmed the company. To double check after making the payment I checked with the bank and only the correct amount was taken.

[Smithy]

thanks tilly I think i'll order it now

[Niamh.]

Yeah, i got caught for taxes the last time I ordered a hoodie in from England for my daughter :/