Duty requested by DHL/Customs for hearing aid repair under warranty.

[Searat7]

Not sure where to post this. Before leaving USA I needed to have warranty repair done on one of my hearing aids but it did not come back on time so they shipped it to me in Bangkok via DHL and now Customs is demanding 3,454 baht for duty. I have the original bill of sale and matching hearing aid with me. Do I have any recourse to get this charge dropped ?  DHL is supposed to talk to Customs but I know how those things go. I do not know value entered by shipper which should have been ZERO.

[Kwasaki]

Isn't there a scam thing going on with DHL.

I would say there needs to be some direct talking to both parties and you sending by email a copy of your receipt. 

22 minutes ago, Searat7 said:

I have the original bill of sale and matching hearing

 

[PPGuy]

Could this be related to the 7% VAT that is charged, even on goods that are zero rated. for customs duty Maybe the OP could advise on listed cost of the hearing aid. 

 

I have imported a number of notebooks, both new and repaired from UK via DHL over the years and only ever been charged the VAT element. Have always found DHL to offer an excellent service on imported items.

[scubascuba3]

I used DHL once and paid 20% import duty, best avoided if possible. As for op, sounds like a painful process if you don't pay up, depends how important the hearing aid is

[PeachCH]

3454 Baht? Just pay it. 

[Dogmatix]

If you have family or friends in the US, you should have had it shipped to them and ask them to send by 1st class mail declaring the value at under THB 1,500.  You can also have stuff sent from the US by shippers like Shipito, MyUSA and Planet Express who get you to make the declaration yourself.  In these cases zero import duty and zero VAT but only packages under 1,500 value sent by mail have this exemption, not by courier. Once it is in the hands of a courier you have to pay import duty and VAT on the landed cost including the insurance and freight cost. If they don't know the value of the item, they will pluck one from the air, usually erring on the side of generosity to themselves. They will also charge for storage and clearance costs. Theoretically you can appeal the customs valuation but, if the sender put that value on the package, you will probbably be unsuccessful. There is no provision to send stuff back that has been repaired withot tax.  The law requires tax to be applied to the value.  This is small beer to the customs agents used by the couriers and you will probably just get charged some extra fees and storage without result, if you ask them to appeal for you. If it was a big shipment you might be able to get the customs agent to offer a bribe.  

 

If the hearing aid is worth 3,454 to you, you pay it.  If not, leave it and order a new one.

[Crazy Noobie]

I am no expert on this subject, but I have had to deal with this two times this year. My stuff came over by UPS. Two weeks ago, I had 6 brand new shirts shipped here and for whatever reason, the sender put the value as $1.00. So my package ended up in customs. I was explained that since the shirts were brand new and the sender was a company that I purchased them from, that I had to pay the proper custom fees. I was also told that if the shirts where worn by me and a friend sent them, then the value could be listed at $1.00, as they were not new. Once I gave all the information to the UPS Rep they got with customs and I had to pay the custom fees at delivery (COD). So my suggestion to you is, let the DHL Rep know that the hearing aid is not brand new and you did not just buy it. Also give them a copy of the paperwork showing that you just had them repaired. That they are no longer valued the same as they were, when they were brand new. DHL will advise customs, as they are representing you and see what happens. You might have to give them a reduced value on the items, but let them know there is no paperwork to back it up. It's worth a try. Good luck

[Dogmatix]

4 hours ago, PPGuy said:

Could this be related to the 7% VAT that is charged, even on goods that are zero rated. for customs duty Maybe the OP could advise on listed cost of the hearing aid. 

 

I have imported a number of notebooks, both new and repaired from UK via DHL over the years and only ever been charged the VAT element. Have always found DHL to offer an excellent service on imported items.

I think this is for computers and computer parts - zero import duty, 7% VAT.  I don't know the rate for hearing aids but you can google it. I would guess anywhere between 10 and 30%.  First find the harmonized customs HS code for hearing aids.  Then look up the Thai import duty rate.  VAT is applicable to the landed cost including import duty, insurance and freight.

[Dogmatix]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I am no expert on this subject, but I have had to deal with this two times this year. My stuff came over by UPS. Two weeks ago, I had 6 brand new shirts shipped here and for whatever reason, the sender put the value as $1.00. So my package ended up in customs. I was explained that since the shirts were brand new and the sender was a company that I purchased them from, that I had to pay the proper custom fees. I was also told that if the shirts where worn by me and a friend sent them, then the value could be listed at $1.00, as they were not new. Once I gave all the information to the UPS Rep they got with customs and I had to pay the custom fees at delivery (COD). So my suggestion to you is, let the DHL Rep know that the hearing aid is not brand new and you did not just buy it. Also give them a copy of the paperwork showing that you just had them repaired. That they are no longer valued the same as they were, when they were brand new. DHL will advise customs, as they are representing you and see what happens. You might have to give them a reduced value on the items, but let them know there is no paperwork to back it up. It's worth a try. Good luck

If you sent them one by one by mail declared at under 1,500 each, there would be no tax to pay.  Nothing wrong with DHL if you need something urgently and don't mind pay through the nose or cannot take a somewhat higher risk of loss but it costs a lot more in terms of shipping cost and tax as well as sometimes time dealing with the local office. Otherwise send by mail. Kept parcels and values low and they will come to your door tax free.

[Headgame]

Warranty service conducted outside TH is exempt from import duty when returned to the customer. The problem is DHL

[Patong2]

Had exact same problem with a hearing aid repair and DHL in New Zealand

Except they demanded the equivalent of B9,900.

Just their error inputting it into the NZ customs classification

Your problem is probably the same, input error.

 

DHL refused to correct, I refused to pay, we already had the repaired aid so we left it up to DHL to sort.

[chilly07]

Pay by MasterCard then you can raise a dispute when Customs and 'you know who' contrive a charge that trebles the cost and will rip open packages and demand doctors letters to increase the cost even more. Unfortunately the only recourse you have with this scam is to 'return to sender'

 Best to purchase in Thailand whenever you can.

[Richard 2020]

DHL, in anticipatory obedience, always charges fees or customs duties!

I buy now for 15 years regularly online!

Packages from China, USA, Greece, Turkey, etc. were NEVER occupied with customs or other costs!

With NO shipper!

Exception: Always with DHL!

Some things I then had to release at customs in Laem Chabang itself ;-( 

If there is only DHL as a possibility for shipping, I renounce the purchase!!!

 

[chickenslegs]

6 hours ago, Searat7 said:

Do I have any recourse to get this charge dropped ?

Some information in this topic may be helpful.

 

 

[MrJ2U]

Looks as DHL strikes again.

 

You'll need a reciept for repairs or similar for warranty work and bring it to customs along with the original bill of sale. 

 

Seems as they are charging fees for a new pair of hearing aids.

 

If you have time go to the customs house and sort it out in person.  Bring your wife or someone else who speaks Thai.  It worked out for me with a similar delivery from DHL.

 

AVOID DHL! 

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, Richard 2020 said:

If there is only DHL as a possibility for shipping, I renounce the purchase!!!

Me too.

I have lived here for 22 years and the scam is always DHL.

They are getting more greedy.

Friend and next door neighbour buys games on-line.

Always says 'Please do not use DHL'

Latest one last week used DHL.

 

Game had just under 4,000 baht tax demand - it is tax exempt.

There was also a 2,000 baht processing charge for handling the 'illegal' tax.

The weight of the game was detailed on the documents (and weighs in) at 1.9 kilos. They are charging tax on 3.9 kilos.

He has written to the supplier and the head of DHL worldwide but he is not expecting any changes. He has supplied the people at HO with a copy of the official custom's tax rules.

 

As a comparison, he has just had a notification from the post office on paying tax on another game - which is taxable. (It contains model figures.)

350 baht tax demand by the post office.

[peterfranks]

10 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

The weight of the game was detailed on the documents (and weighs in) at 1.9 kilos. They are charging tax on 3.9 kilos.

Tax isn't charged by weight.

[nahkit]

4 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

Tax isn't charged by weight.

I've had Thai Royal Mail charge me tax on individual items in a box plus the weight of the entire goods so effectively I was being taxed twice on those items. The tax on the individual items was based on "estimated" values - I challenged the valuations and provided the actual values by producing the original receipts. I also pointed out that the bulk of the weight of the box was made up of personal documents which should not attract any import duty.

 

Result? Pay up or you don't get the box.

 

They can do whatever they want, up to you if you want the goods or not.

[Tropicalevo]

32 minutes ago, peterfranks said:

Tax isn't charged by weight.

It is by DHL.

Bear in mind that this is an illegal 'tax'.

No receipts available.

No emails answered.

Just a demand and conversations by phone only.

The goods will ONLY be released on payment of 'tax'.

[unblocktheplanet]

Thailand Post is super reliable.