DHL

UPS, if it's coming directly from Obey Giant

The ones I've had recently were delivered by UPS. I always get hit with an import fee buying from the Obey store, they label the tubes as Artworks so mine have always been stopped by customs, opened, and had to pay a cash on delivery fee to UPS.

Dealing with UPS deliveries.

One of the easiest courier companies to deal with in regards correcting wrongly applied 20% import VAT rates right there and then on the doorstep.

When the driver arrives try and be polite and courteous to him , he's not the person to blame for the ineptness of the on going problems we experience and you need to get him on your side and willing to wait while you make a quick telephone call that shouldn't take more than 5 minutes , and can often be achieved in under 2 minutes.

STEP 1 .... Ring the telephone number on the top right hand side of the pink slip ..the number is 0845 161 0016 .....you will be offered a push button option , .....push button 2(querying VAT import rate)

STEP 2 ..... Explain to the operator that you have been charged the incorrect rate of 20% as you have bought artwork/limited edition print and have been charged 20% instead of the correct 5% and that you would like to be issued with a "H number ref code".

She will ask you for your name and address and the"Waybill number" printed on the pink slip , this often begins with the letters and numbers "1Z1Y........" and is located just below your printed name and address on the pink slip

STEP 3 ...At this point the operator should know what your talking about and will request to speak to the driver , he will then write the unique "H number" on your pink slip and then charge you the correct rate accordingly.

AND THATS IT!


It really is that simple , minimum fuss and minimum effort involved on your behalf.

Just bear in mind that the drivers themselves often have never heard of the expression "H number" , its not something they normally have to deal with , but the phone operators do.

Also bear in mind that if your dealing with "Shepard Fairey" related prints that Obey seems to have a business agreement with UPS that they charge his customers (you!) a reduced "handling charge" of £3.30 instead of the usual £12 they charge for paying UK customs upfront on your behalf , and on the odd occasions when the new figure is calculated the operator can accidentally over look this fact and can result in them reducing the VAT rate to 5% but then add on an incorrect £12 "handling charge" leaving you not that much better off if you don't correct them.....your handling charge should only be £3.30 NOT £12.

P.S. ....one last thing , UPS send you a tracking number by email when its entered their system , keep an eye open on this then when its entered in the UK you can try and pre-empt the invariable overcharging issue by ringing the telephone number (above) and asking what the VAT charge is going to be (your required waybill number will be in the email that was sent to you). If this seems wrong then you can explain over the phone that its wrong and they should be able to correct it even before it leaves for delivery ensuring minimum fuss for you and the delivery driver on arrival.

Please also note that until the package has entered into the UK and gone through customs that UPS cant do anything as they wont know yet what customs have said is owed on the item....

They should be able to do refunds for most of them , within a reasonable timeframe.

Make sure you have the waybill numbers to hand.

It will take in the region of 3 months to actually get your money back via a cheque but you should know if you've been sucessful within a month or so.

You can even use one of these forms ...just print them off....I've had 100% success rate using those.

Any imports which have been charged in error can be challenge retrospectively with the following 

search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=ybGpIuVACI0&formId=5205

search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=Bc2hJFTaDRM&formid=178