Parcels from the United Kingdom

Do you expect a parcel from the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom no longer is a member of the European Union. As a result, you, as a consignee, may have to pay import duties, taxes (VAT) and levies (excise duty) if you receive a parcel from the United Kingdom with a value higher than 22 euros (this amount is subject to legislation and may change over time). It concerns goods that you have purchased, a gift you may receive or a sample sent to you. DPD takes care of the customs clearance of the goods for you. The following conditions apply to our customs clearance services.

1. How does it work?

   1. You can track your parcel via track & trace on www.dpd.com. Indicated transit times are estimates and non-binding.
   2. You will receive a message or via telephone or text or email that customs clearance cost and fees (such as administration and handling fees) are due.
   3. If import duties, taxes, levies and fees (such as administrative and handling fees) are due regarding the import of the goods, the parcel will be subject to some delay. Please take also into account that the Customs Authority determines how long the parcel must be available for inspection and clearance.
   4. You will receive a specification from us with a clear explanation of the
      amounts due. We kindly ask you to pay as quickly as possible to prevent
      the parcel from being returned. DPD will send you a limited amount of
      payment reminders.
   5. In case you want to receive the goods it is mandatory to pay. You will
      receive a proof of payment. If you do not want to pay the amount, if you
      pay too late or not in full, DPD will make reasonable effort to request
      instructions from the sender. The sender may instruct DPD to have the
      parcel returned at the expense of the sender. The parcel may also be
      stored or destroyed. Once the return process to the United Kingdom
      has started it can’t be stopped.
   6. If you have paid the amounts due and the parcel cannot be delivered to
      you, despite our effort, DPD’s may at its sole discretion store or destroy
      the parcel. You are not entitled to any compensation or refund of import
      duties, taxes, levies, costs, and fees (such as administrative and
      handling fees).

2. What if the parcel is lost or damaged?

   1. DPD is not liable:
      • for the consequences as a result of faults in your contact details;
      • for loss or damage of the parcel. DPD only provides customs clearance services, so in case of a complaint please notify the sender;
      • for acts or omissions of customs authority, f.e. if goods are seized, lost or damaged due to customs authority;
      • for direct damages resulting from an act or omission of DPD regarding customs clearance;
      • for consequential damage, courier costs, telephone costs,
        gasoline costs, fax costs, remuneration and (other) forms of
        indirect damage;
      • if the delay, loss or damage is caused by:
        • the parcel not meeting the requirements set out in DPD's General Terms and Conditions and Manual;
        • the packaging or content of the parcel;
        • force majeure.
   2. DPD is never liable to compensation or refund of import duties, taxes, levies, fees (such as administrative and handling fees) and costs regarding the customs clearance activities (such as administration and handling).
   3. The limitation of DPD’s liability is not applicable in case the damages are a direct result of intent or gross negligence by DPD.
   4. Claims against DPD expire after expiration of a period of 1 month, starting on the day of the event resulting in a claim, such as the day the parcel was or should have been delivered.

3. Authorization direct representation

   1. DPD takes care of the customs clearance for you and handles the customs declaration as a direct representative. You authorize DPD to perform the customs declaration as described.
   2. Article 5 of the Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013) states that the customs representative means any person appointed by another person to carry out the acts and formalities required under the customs legislation in his or her dealings with customs authorities.
   3. DPD acts as your representative and has the necessary authorizations to act as well in accordance with the Union Customs Code and national regulations.
   4. Article 18 of the Union Customs Code states that the customs representation may be direct, in which case the customs representative shall act in the name of and on behalf of another person.
   5. The present representation of you is direct. In that context, DPD as a customs representative, processes the customs formalities in the name and on behalf of you (i.e. sign all customs declarations for import and export, carry out all the related acts, present the relevant documents and goods to the Customs Administration).
   6. For the purpose of the present direct representation, you have to provide DPD with all information and documents necessary for the execution of these acts and each individual shipment or transaction, which may be required by applicable rules and regulations and/or should be reasonably known to DPD.
   7. For the purpose of the present direct representation, you are responsible
      for the payment of:
      • according to Article 5 of the Union Customs Code, the customs debt, which is the amount of import or export duties (and all related import taxes, i.e. VAT) calculated under the Customs and Tax legislation in force. You will then be the actual consignee of the goods, and the sole debtor of the customs and tax debt, pursuant to Article 18 of the Union Customs Code;
      • all penalties, late payment interests notified by the administration and relating to the customs debt as described above.
   8. DPD as the direct representative is solely responsible for the offences and penalties committed directly by itself, outside the mandate provided by you.
   9. Based on its license ‘electronic declaration’ DPD is obliged to keep records and keep the (original) documents and records pertaining to each declaration. You are obliged to keep a copy of the documents and records provided by DPD for the same period of time. Subject to the previous you are under a statutory obligation to keep all data relating to the declaration and the other data in connection with the transaction, insofar as these pertain to the declaration.

4. Compliance

   1. A parcel or shipment thereof may not conflict with:
      • (inter)national regulations on military goods and dual-use items;
      • restrictive measures or embargoes imposed under the United Nations, EU or US programs or any other (inter)national program;
      • (inter)national regulations against terrorism and money laundering, such as entry on the SDN list http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx.
   2. DPD has the right to check whether (the dispatch of) the parcel meets the requirements of the Customs Clearance Conditions and applicable regulations. If (the dispatch of) the parcel does not comply with this or if there are reasonable doubts about this, DPD may:
      • a. suspend or terminate the agreement with you and the applicable services;
      • b. inform the competent authorities and follow their procedure and instructions, including temporary storage, transfer to the competent authorities and destruction of the parcel.
   3. DPD is not liable for any damage that you or a third party suffers if the sender or you acts contrary to the Customs Clearance Conditions and regulations and you indemnify DPD for damage suffered and liabilities towards third parties in this regard. DPD is also not liable for actions performed by or on the instruction of authorized authorities.

5. Miscellaneous

   1. DPD is entitled to refuse to perform acts and activities ensuing from this agreement/authorization, providing it communicates this as soon as possible.
   2. Dutch law applies to the contractual obligations between DPD and you.

6. Privacy Statement

   • DPD takes data protection seriously. Read more about how DPD respects your privacy at www.dpd.nl/privacystatement-ENG.