Shipping from USA to UK and Custom Fee Charges

Hey guys,

My friend is sending my clothes from PA, USA to the UK. It weighs roughly about 20-25 kilos 44 - 55 lbs. I really don't want to pay custom fees. So I was hoping if you could advice about ways to avoid this.

So far I have been reading up on an older post here and the gist I got was:

- To mark the clothes as used personal items and that no commercial value
- Put total cost as £18 or less, which is $28 or less
- Not to use USP or USPS so I get cheaper quotes, but what sshouldmy friend use? What carrier?

I'm not bothered about time, but I spent a lot on my clothes and shoes so I would have a minor heart attack if they got lost!!! Can my friend put an iinsuranceof $2000 on them but state that they are worth $25? I know it doesn't make sense, but could he do that? What's the minimum insurance on personal items being shipped to the UK from the States considering that we want to avoid custom fees?

I really want a cheap, iensuredmethod (upto $100) that help me avoid custom fees. Any advice will be iimmenselyappreciated.

Thanks guys. 

You should not have to pay customs on your own belongings.

I have sent 3 boxes of clothes, papers and books, plus a bicycle (in 2 boxes) from the US to the UK using USPS in the past and I didn't have to pay a penny in customs fees on any of the boxes - in total, the belongings were worth probably about $500-$600 and I put that amount on the customs forms. I also just wrote on the forms that they were personal belongings... and I had no customs charges at all.

Thank you very much that helped a lot. Thanks

I know it's been a while since this was posted, but I do have a question.  When you shipped your personal items to the UK, did you have to pay VAT charges?  I had a box delivered to me there a few months ago, and had to pay an additional VAT charge....which I'm still annoyed about 

Thanks!

sarah

I've never had to pay any VAT on my personal belongings. But I think if Customs misinterprets what you write for the contents, you are likely to be charged. So, for example, if you just wrote "clothing" on the customs form, Customs doesn't know if it is new or used.

So far, I've shipped unframed artwork in a mailing tube (which I've owned for awhile) and a box of junk food to my friend. I wasn't charged VAT on either.

Always write, previously owned items on anything and you won't have to pay VAT or customs...if you don't then you may have to pay something as they don't know if it's new or not.