I seem to remember something about this in a post but can't find it using 'search'.
I sent for SC and Core DVD packages and have just received a notice asking for me to travel to a depot some distance away and pay about $120 in UK equivalent to receive the items.
I thought Educational Materials were tax exempt but it seems UK law changed in 2007 and unless the firm sending has some kind of exemption certificate and their country is a member of the UN then we poor old UK QTers are going to be severely penalised.
I am going to try and fight this and maybe QT Admin could look into this from their side too.

Love and light
Faune
Certified Practitioner

I have had the same problem when ordering and choosing international trackable (the most expensive) delivery. Fedex deliver the items and process the customs duty. It seems ridiculous that you are being asked to collect the items when you have paid for delivery.
I have found that the cheaper option (international postal) is just delivered by my regular postman and no duty has ever been asked for. It only takes about 2 weeks for the items to arrive too.
I hope you manage to get it sorted out.

Hi Suzanne,

I did not use Fedex, just International Priority Mail which as you say has taken 2 weeks - I ordered the items on the 2nd Feb. When did you order your items was it before June 07?

The actual import duty is just around £8 about $16 and the rest is VAT - UK 'value added tax' and a 'clearing charge'. It is a complete rip off by the UK Government and something which I never paid on Educational Items in the past.
Also even if I paid this extortionate amount but needed to have the item delivered because the depot is a long way from me, then that would involve a further £12 ($24) delivery charge. No wonder UK is regarded Internationally as 'Treasure Island'.
I should mention that using the car to collect would mean buying fuel currently at £1.09 per Litre = £5.30 per Gallon approx US $10+ a gallon!

Be glad most of you live in the USA!!!
Love and light
Faune

Hi Faune

The items I ordered were only sent recently. I have made a few orders since June last year so I guess I am lucky not to have been charged the duty. It was a big order too so even luckier!

The Isle of Man is not officially part of the UK but we still have the same VAT and here we are paying even more for fuel with diesel costing me £1.15 per litre. One of the costs of living on a small island with not much choice when it comes to shopping around.

Hi Faune, I had a similar shock last time I received something ordered from the U.S. I believe it's charged on anything above a certain low value. One way round would be to mark the package as a gift! Maybe QT could give us an option to donate a certain amount rather than buy materials? I don't order anything from abroad now just in case I get hit with these unfair and extortionate charges! You have my sympathy - it's completely wrong!

Hi, I posted abot this, and complained to QT Office, because it was their fault.
It was writen "Educational Material", but somebody folded the paper, and loking at the package it was impossible to read it, The Educational Material was hidden. It was upside down...

Wilson

Thanks Suzanne I have Emailed Customs . I did try to phone them all day but always engaged!!
Jani are you Jane that I had Email contact with a while ago? I had a dog called Skye who passed on.
Anyway thanks for yout input.
I hope QT admin will look into the exemption form as it could be the answer or indeed as you suggest, marking our parcels as a gift but I suppose that would not be appropriate for a business.
Love and light
Faune
Certified Practitioner

HI, As I said I cmplained to QT Adm, and they said they have to put the value, so they do it and the info "Educational Material", but if customs can't read it...

Wilson

Thanks Wilson,

I did speak to the parcel depot over here and they say that the parcel has 'educational materials' marked on it. So not QTs fault.

The problem is less with the Post Office and . more with UK Customs. So far I have had no reply from Customs. I have sent 2 Emails and cannot get through to them by phone at all, they are constantly engaged.
(Probably with all the irate customers who are facing huge charges!)

Thanks again,
Faune