Not a happy bunny

[pyroyale]

I really, really hate Royal Mail (the British postal service)

I won some items on eBay that have been posted to me from America. Royal Mail pushed a lovely little card through my letterbox today to tell me that I've accrued £40.03 in customs charges on this.

Firstly, since when do parcels from private individuals ever get caught with custom charges?! Companies and businesses, yes. People? Nooooo.

Because I'm the impatient type who hates owing anyone any money, I've just tried to pay the fee online. I completed all of the details, marking when asked that the parcel requires a signature and that it was a recorded signed for item and the website refused to take a payment. It told me that you can't have custom charges on recorded signed for items.

WHAT???? So, the website is telling me that it is impossible for me to have a customs charge, yet the post office is refusing to deliver my parcel... because of an outstanding customs charge.

Marvellous.

There's a helpline number on the card so I called them. I followed the magic options through and told them it was a query about a charge. The recorded voice on the phone went through the explanation of how charges arise, blah, blah, blah and then hung up! No room for querying any of these charges, just pay up!

ARGH. I'd go to the post office and query it in person but guess what? They're only open half a day and shut three hours ago.

Royal Mail, I really, really, REALLY hate you.

So much for a nice, happy and relaxing day off.

ETA - emailed them, they replied within 30 minutes and explained that it was a mistake on the card. Charge has now been paid, parcel due to be received on Saturday.

I still hate Royal Mail though.

Comments

[faithinfire.livejournal.com]

marking when asked that the parcel requires a signature and that it was a recorded signed for item

Ah - it's possible that the issue is that "Recorded Signed For" is actually a Royal Mail-specific service, and what you've got is some other kind of international recorded delivery What Is Not The Same Thing in their world. If they think that you've got actual Recorded Signed For(TM) on your parcel then of course they won't believe that there could be a customs charge, because the system will think the parcel was sent from within the UK!

Try doing it again online and not ticking that box, possibly?

Commiserations, though, anyway! What a fucking pain in the ass. *hug*

[pyroyale.livejournal.com]

Haha, do you work for Royal Mail? I fired off an angry email and that's pretty much what they've said to me.

I should know by now that the F-list knows everything!

[faithinfire.livejournal.com]

Heh, no, I don't, but the fact is I've been arguing with my own local post office every other day for a fortnight about one thing after another, so I'm feeling pretty well versed at the moment. >.> Glad to hear you got it sorted out, though!