Not in my case, I did spend several minutes studying all of them to find the ones most pleasing. The few actual Christmas cards on display were very boring and I wouldn’t inflict on anyone.
Well done then.
Did she complete the CN22 customs form? If so you can contest the charge.
Yes, it was completed. Thanks, Jane. I’ll look into that.
Same happened to me last year, 9e for a pair of socks and a T-shirt or something. If it is a gift I don’t think they are supposed to charge!
This might help
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Under €150 into the EU / £135 into UK should be duty free I think (I’ve ordered stuff from EU-based businesses to me in the UK and that was the rule that was applied) - BUT that doesn’t stop the postal service or couriers levying “customs handling charges” regardless…
Duty free yes, but duty applies to very few items.
The rules changed in the past year or 2 - now you have to pay VAT here in France for anything sent here from outside EU ie UK even below the 150 euros.
As soon as even 1p VAT is charged that gives La Poste and any courier the chance to add a handling fee. La Poste at least 9 euros other couriers more eg DPD done me 17,50. Per parcel so watch out if a vendor drop ships part of your order, or splits shipments.
The way round it is to get a competent vendor/shipper, to ship it from UK as an export - bssically taking off the UK VAT, then applying and prepaying the VAT wherever it lands first in Europe (may not be France) before it is delivered to you with no VAT due and no charges whatsoever.
Amazon UK is superb at this and I pay nothing on receipt. Other vendors do it but not many. Some (like Lakeland) correctly export it taking UK VAT off but leave you to pay French VAT on receipt so you get hit with a handling charge on top.
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Which is why I go without rather than order anything from UK, and reluctantly from Germany, though that is better and my main concern is return postage costs.
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I think they have to pay return postage in Europe if the item is unsuitable and you request a return within 2 weeks from date of receipt? Under France Distance Selling regulations which I thiiink (not an expert) come from Europe?
It used to be so in Germany, but they stopped it years ago. People were ordering 5 pairs of shoes from Zalando just to try on and sending 4 back.
Ebay UK do this as well via the Global Shipping Program. The seller has to list the item as being eligible for GSP though. We’ve bought a few works of art via ebay UK via GSP and it’s worked very well.