Import duty on shipment from UK?

[lawhoo]

I just got a text from DHL that a delivery I’m expecting from Benchdogs will be returned if I don’t pay an import duty. It sounds like a scam (I’ve never had to pay a duty on other shipments from the UK), but it showed up in the DHL text chain tracking the shipment. Does this sound at all legit to anyone?

PS: I’ve texted Benchdogs, but they close for the year in about an hour, so I’m not confident of getting a response.

 

[Packard]

Forward a copy of the text to DHL asking if it is real or a scam.  They are not closing for the year.

I got a similar message from US Postal Service, but at the top of the text was the originating phone number and it was a foreign exchange.  The post office would not send me a message from a foreign country.

If the point of origin for the text is not from your country or the country where it was shipped from, I would call it a scam.  But if DHL answers (and I expect they will) that would be the definitive answer.

Here is DHL’s contact information.  (I did not realize that DHL was a German company, with headquarters in Germany.  But they have regional offices in almost every country they serve, so contact should be easy.  800-numbers too.)
https://www.google.com/search?q=dhl...efox-b-1-m&dlnr=1&sei=tH1lZ8H9EP2iptQPt7KVuAo

 

[Packard]

Google AI says my suggestion to forward the email is wrong.  Here is the process they recommend (and is probably a better choice).
https://www.google.com/search?q=dhl+scam+reporting&client=firefox-b-1-m&sca_esv=c7c67eb20f0b5775&sxsrf=ADLYWIJOzP-xb7vD222dZecEmuTqslPHPQ%3A1734704856506&ei=2H5lZ57KHo-j5NoP8ZDG2Qw&ved=0ahUKEwieloyWx7aKAxWPEVkFHXGIMcsQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=dhl+scam+reporting&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

NOTE:  The link is formatted and much easier to read than the unformatted version below.

I got this email from DHL but i've never gotten a package ...To report a suspected fraud to DHL, you can email phishing-dpdhl@dhl.com with the suspicious email or SMS as an attachment. You should not forward the suspicious email, as this will cause the original data to be lost.
You can also check out DHL's Fraud Awareness page for more information.
Here are some tips to help you avoid DHL fraud:
Be cautious: Don't click on links or open attachments from unknown sources.
Verify the sender: Check the email address, not just the sender's name.
Update your software: Keep your antivirus software and other software up to date.
Be wary of pop-ups: Be careful of unexpected downloads or pop-up windows.
Check the track record: Look at customer reviews and ratings to see how an agent has performed in the past.
If you receive a report about changes to your DHL account that you didn't initiate, you can change your password by logging into your account. If you can't access your account, you can contact DHL customer support to report the incident.

 

[MikeGE]

I just got a text from DHL that a delivery I’m expecting from Benchdogs will be returned if I don’t pay an import duty. It sounds like a scam (I’ve never had to pay a duty on other shipments from the UK), but it showed up in the DHL text chain tracking the shipment. Does this sound at all legit to anyone?

PS: I’ve texted Benchdogs, but they close for the year in about an hour, so I’m not confident of getting a response.

At the risk of mixing apples and oranges, I ordered some parts from Benchdog Tools not long after Brexit.  The total cost, including shipping, was about £45.  This is supposed to be well below the EU import duty threshold for items from the UK.  However, when the package arrived, the DHL driver handed me an invoice and wanted €15.50, which included the 19-percent German VAT, import duties, and the DHL processing fee. 

This was not something that Benchdog Tools could change, as the customs declaration form on the package was correctly filled out and I did not pay the 20-percent UK VAT.  My only choices available while standing at my front door were to pay or not pay.  If I refused to pay, the package will be returned, so I paid and received the receipt.  I didn't mind paying the VAT, but less than half of the €15.50 was for the VAT. 

Is it possible that your order from Benchdog Tools exceeded the threshold for duty free import?

 

[Packard]

This article from Forbes might be useful:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2023/02/04/dhl-email-scams-how-to-spot-the-fakes/

 

[edwarmr]

[member=1477]lawhoo[/member]

I’ve ordered a lot from overseas. If your order including shipping is $800 or more USD you will have to pay import fees. I can’t comment on the email but if you happened to purchase one of their new MFT tables it would probably be over $800.

 

[lawhoo]

Thanks for the responses. Benchdogs replied and confirmed that the duty was owed because my shipment exceeded $800.