UK customs charges on computer equipment

[Cyberus]

Some of you may know that I've been battling with a certain ebay seller to get the items I paid for delivered, and thanks to the persistence of TheMagicM, he has finally sent them to me.

However, I got a letter this morning from ParcelForce Worldwide (The Royal Mail's parcel service) telling me that I owe them VAT of £23.65 plus a clearance fee of £8.00.

Now, two things I don't understand - firstly, I spent a lot of time last year finding out how much customs charges on computer equipment would be, both on the Customs and Excise website, and by phoning their helpline. Both sources told me computer equipment could be imported with 0% customs charge.

Secondly, it details the VAT charge at £23.65.
Since VAT in the UK is 17.5%, that would mean the item would be worth 135 pounds to incur a charge of 23.65, if I've done the maths right.

So WTF happened? Has the seller shafter me by putting a high goods value on the item? And if Customs have opened it, why are they charging me, since I've had loads of computer equipment sent from US in the past, and never paid customs and was even told by someone before that it should incur a charge...?

I am seriously pissed off with that ebay seller now  :pissed:

[Cyberus]

And did you have any chance to show customs that the items weren't worth that much?

[Cyberus]

Turns out that he didn't put the declared value on the parcel, so Customs had no choice but to charge me VAT on the insured value, which is $200.

So I'm still getting stuffed for a high charge, but the lady at customs was very helpful and told me the procedure for reclaiming at least some of the cost - since its charged on the total cost including postage :-(

But I can't reclaim the £8 that ParcelForce charge for presenting the parcel to customs.

I feel thoroughly pissed off by this whole experience :-(
I've sent stuff all over the world, and I've always put the value on the little customs docket, in fact I think I HAD TO before the people at the Post Office would take it.

edit: I just hope the items are as they were described - if he's sent me a pile of crap like he sent TheMagicM, I'll be almost 100 pounds ~ 200 Euro/Dollars down. Oh how I wish I hadn't bothered....

[Cyberus]

I would have done, but seller is a {bleep}ing tosspot.
He made no communication with me at all that he was even sending the stuff, it was over a month ago that I paid for it.
The first I knew it was sent was a copy of the tracking docket sent to me by The MagicM - if it wasn't for his kind help, I probably would be chasing the seller through ebay's {bleep} buyer protection.

And knowing my luck, when I do receive it, it won't be what I paid for. The guy's a retard and it really is the crowning turd in the water pipe of a terrible week, I feel as if the world's imploding arounf me....and to think I turn 26 next week :-(