Thread: Customs Import Scam or Not?

If legitimate, the email would have had all your documentation as attachments, plus all identifying invoice numbers etc. in the body of the email. It would also have legitimate contact details for the DHL office, which you can easily independently verify. Also the email address will be legitimate, like accounts@dhl.com or something. It won't have some odd characters or be from some strange address.
If your purchase is over AUD$1,000 then you will almost certainly need to pay GST plus duty (which is made up of the purchase price plus GST plus 5% duty). However, if the goods are second hand then GST may not apply.
DHL will only ask you to pay by traditional means, like credit card or direct debit. Either method is quite safe and you make the payment through a banking or financial portal. You do NOT give your banking or credit card details to anyone via email.
If you have any doubt about the legitimacy of the email, just contact your local DHL office and ask them to check it out.

Originally Posted by DieselLSE

If legitimate, the email would have had all your documentation as attachments, plus all identifying invoice numbers etc. in the body of the email. It would also have legitimate contact details for the DHL office, which you can easily independently verify. Also the email address will be legitimate, like accounts@dhl.com or something. It won't have some odd characters or be from some strange address.
If your purchase is over AUD$1,000 then you will almost certainly need to pay GST plus duty (which is made up of the purchase price plus GST plus 5% duty). However, if the goods are second hand then GST may not apply.
DHL will only ask you to pay by traditional means, like credit card or direct debit. Either method is quite safe and you make the payment through a banking or financial portal. You do NOT give your banking or credit card details to anyone via email.
If you have any doubt about the legitimacy of the email, just contact your local DHL office and ask them to check it out.

Hello DieselLSE,

Thank you for filling me in on the DHL and Customs/GST information. Armed with your information - I checked and all the tracking information was attached. I dug deeper into the email links and they did provide a PayPal payment option or credit card. I chose the PayPal option - 1) it had cheaper fees & 2) they do refund scams. Yes - credit cards do too. I just like the idea of PayPal making the payment.

Kind regards
Lionel

DHL have a reputation of scamming people for extra money etc.

If it is legitimate it will itemise the Government fees - such as GST (the item does not have to be over $1000 any longer), import duties etc however these should all be itemised.

Now if you paid GST as part of the sale then you should not have to pay here.

Because of these issues, wherever possible I ask the sender to ship by anyone other than DHL but sometimes there is no option.

Garry

And DHL tack 'processing' fees onto the invoice at this end, too.
Why the hell that isn't part of the original freight cost no one seems to be able to answer, but they have you over a barrel and so get away with it...

Originally Posted by 101RRS

DHL have a reputation of scamming people for extra money etc.

If it is legitimate it will itemise the Government fees - such as GST (the item does not have to be over $1000 any longer), import duties etc however these should all be itemised.

Now if you paid GST as part of the sale then you should not have to pay here.

Because of these issues, wherever possible I ask the sender to ship by anyone other than DHL but sometimes there is no option.

Garry

Hello Garry,

Thank you for your reply. Yes - things were itemised ... GST was a significant bite. Now whether a refurbished or rebuilt diesel injector pump is a "New" part or is "Second-hand"? I suppose the act of re-manufacture is a "service" ... G(S)T.

Anyway, I will heed your advice regarding seeing if people can use someone else other than DHL in future. While you live - you learn! At least it means that I should have one more thing crossed off the "Things to Do" list on path to getting the Defender back on the road.

Kind regards
Lionel

I've recently received 2 consignments from the UK via DHL.
Both under $1000 with GST paid in the UK.

Fast delivery, tracking updates regularly received, no additional charges.

I have read on the forum about additional duties when the total is over $1000

Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

I've recently received 2 consignments from the UK via DHL.
Both under $1000 with GST paid in the UK.

Fast delivery, tracking updates regularly received, no additional charges.

I have read on the forum about additional duties when the total is over $1000

Colin

A mate just had a delivery from Ashcroft's, $1220 including freight before it left the UK.
DHL slogged him $294 on top of that when it landed, 10% GST, 5% duty and a 'processing fee'

DHL are feral as far as freight companies go.
Always scamming another fee, charge etc.

I use a freight forwarding company to avoid them.