I recently bought something outside of Switzerland and paid for DHL delivery.
Two weeks after delivery, they billed me for paying the VAT, instead of asking me to pay the VAT when they delivered. For this "service", they charged an extra CHF 22.--, to pay CHF 30.-- VAT !
Has anyone had a similar experience and succeeded in not paying DHL extra fees ?
Isn't it illegal to double charge ? Any opinion welcome.
I recently bought something outside of Switzerland and paid for DHL delivery.
Two weeks after delivery, they billed me for paying the VAT, instead of asking me to pay the VAT when they delivered. For this "service", they charged an extra CHF 22.--, to pay CHF 30.-- VAT !
Has anyone had a similar experience and succeeded in not paying DHL extra fees ?
Isn't it illegal to double charge ? Any opinion welcome.
DHL commonly charge the customs duty afterwards for your convenience, so you get the item quickly without them having to assess the item before it goes in their van. Typically the fee that they charge is small actually; I received something fairly recently and it certainly didn't have a 22 franc processing fee. The only time I've had a fee that size was when i ordered something from Amazon and the underlying merchant didnt bother to put the correct customs form on the delivery box so forcing the post office to make an estimation. For that, they charge more, So I'm guessing that whoever sent it to you maybe didn't attach the customs form CN22/CN23, or didn't fill it in correctly? There will be a code on your invoice from DHL that will explain how the 22 franc fee is calculated, or you can find their standard terms on their website. If indeed its because of an incorrectly completed customs notice you could go back to the sender and complain if they are a commercial company. In my case with Amazon the underlying supplier refunded my fees since i could show the fee was a penalty cuased by them not doing what was expected.
DHL commonly charge the customs duty afterwards for your convenience, so you get the item quickly without them having to assess the item before it goes in their van. Typically the fee that they charge is small actually; I received something fairly recently and it certainly didn't have a 22 franc processing fee. The only time I've had a fee that size was when i ordered something from Amazon and the underlying merchant didnt bother to put the correct customs form on the delivery box so forcing the post office to make an estimation. For that, they charge more, So I'm guessing that whoever sent it to you maybe didn't attach the customs form CN22/CN23, or didn't fill it in correctly? There will be a code on your invoice from DHL that will explain how the 22 franc fee is calculated, or you can find their standard terms on their website. If indeed its because of an incorrectly completed customs notice you could go back to the sender and complain if they are a commercial company. In my case with Amazon the underlying supplier refunded my fees since i could show the fee was a penalty cuased by them not doing what was expected.
This is the answer I got, but it feels to me like a rip-off...
"The account management fee is the standard amount charged for the issue of the invoice for DHL Express shipments. The provision for advancing money is the amount charged because we have to advance to the customs VAT related to any shipment.
To avoid these charges, you can either open a customs account to the customs authority in which case you will only pay VAT and customs duties for Express shipments or the sender must choose another product like DHL WELPACKET PREMIUM that is a postal shipment with DHL for which costs are borne by the sender"
Charging 10% to "advance" VAT for one week, in a negative interest environment, is absurd.
Having paid a pricey sum for DHL delivery, receiving a second bill is a bit rich...
Use Swiss post instead !
This is the answer I got, but it feels to me like a rip-off...
"The account management fee is the standard amount charged for the issue of the invoice for DHL Express shipments. The provision for advancing money is the amount charged because we have to advance to the customs VAT related to any shipment.
To avoid these charges, you can either open a customs account to the customs authority in which case you will only pay VAT and customs duties for Express shipments or the sender must choose another product like DHL WELPACKET PREMIUM that is a postal shipment with DHL for which costs are borne by the sender"
Charging 10% to "advance" VAT for one week, in a negative interest environment, is absurd.
Having paid a pricey sum for DHL delivery, receiving a second bill is a bit rich...
Use Swiss post instead !
It's normal - unfortunately...! If you buy from amazon, most of the time they calculate the import fee and you can avoid the dhl service charge. Althouhg it's annoying... I wouldn't fret... it's a one off and it's only 20 or so chf.
It's normal - unfortunately...! If you buy from amazon, most of the time they calculate the import fee and you can avoid the dhl service charge. Althouhg it's annoying... I wouldn't fret... it's a one off and it's only 20 or so chf.
