Letters
Readers report high customs charges on gifts sent to France
The cost of receiving gifts is sometimes higher than their value
One reader has asked her sister to stop sending presents due to the cost of receiving them
Fotokon/Shutterstock
To the Editor,
Three weeks ago I posted a box of books to my niece who lives in Oregon, US. They were a gift for her three children. I paid €142 for a box valued under €80.
Ten days later the box was returned. My local poste could not tell me why, so I went to the nearby town of Flers (Orne) for an explanation.
They blamed it on les douanes (but neither the box nor the customs envelope had been opened) and said I could apply for a refund.
This has not been an easy process (I will not bore you with the various emails) and I am still waiting for an answer. I will never ship anything again from France.
J.L., Orne
To the Editor,
This week I was charged €12 in customs charges for receiving the gift of a calendar which had cost £11 to buy in the UK plus £7 in postage.
In order to reclaim the money I am required to provide proof of the purchase cost, which I am obviously not able to do without embarrassing the friend who sent it.
I have written it off to experience and will be telling people not to send anything unless using an EU company. Good news for Amazon.
M.C., Lot-et-Garonne
Read more: does registered mail in France come with insurance? La Poste lost €1,000 package
To the Editor,
I sent my daughter‘s old favourite cashmere jumper to her from Australia when she was studying in France.
I insured it – not because it had any intrinsic value, but because previous parcels had been lost and I wanted to make sure she received this as it had sentimental value.
They charged her €100 before they would release the parcel. The jumper had no financial value at all.
D.R., by email
To the Editor,
I recently visited my son in the US and I forgot a portable hard drive at his house.
He mailed it to me in France. I had owned it for three years – it was mine! They still charged me €20 import duty.
J.R., by email
To the Editor,
I had to pay €9 for my birthday card from a relative in October - what a joke!
Afterwards I thought I should have refused to take delivery, but there's probably a charge for that!
D.L., Lot-et-Garonne
To the Editor,
My daughter received a £50 Amazon voucher from her aunt in the UK. The envelope stated it was therefore worth £50. She was charged €16!
S.H., by email
To the Editor,
It's a complete rip off. I have stopped my sister sending me birthday and Christmas presents as charges from La Poste were more than the present cost!
R.A., by email
Have you been charged exorbitant fees on items you receive in France? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com
