By RTL Z··Modified:
From right to left
Sending a parcel to the UK will be a difficult task in the coming days. Ordering parcels from a British store (online) has also become more complicated. Welcome to the European Union without the United Kingdom.
At DHL, they no longer do that anymore: transporting parcels to and from the UK. “It is currently not possible to send parcels to the UK via DHL,” the company’s customer service told RTL Z. This will be possible again from January 6.
Airmail is possible
If you try to send a package through the website, neither Great Britain nor England, Scotland and Wales will appear in the list of countries where you can send something.
The reason according to DHL: the lockdown in the Netherlands, which means parcel points are closed here and, above all, Brexit. Problems arise mainly with road transport, via the Channel Tunnel or with ferry services. DHL still delivers air mail.
More complicated
The UK-EU service was halted by DHL before Christmas, mainly due to terrible congestion at Dover and other logistics centres. They are not sure that everything will go smoothly from January 6th. Because with the UK outside the EU, the paperwork increases.
Royal Mail, the UK’s major postal company, also suspended transport, but resumed transport with the EU after a week of silence. A company spokesman admitted that the matter will become more complicated.
To the post office
Britons sending something to the EU must fill out customs forms, just as when they send something to other parts of the world. This relates to the CN22 or CN23 forms. “These are available from the Post Office,” explains a Royal Mail spokesperson.
The recipient of the package must then pay VAT and handling costs. In the Netherlands, PostNL, among others, will collect this information. According to the spokesperson, customers have to go to the collection point or else they will receive an email with a payment request. “The delivery person will never pick it up.”
“We have not yet experienced Brexit.”
Costs
The amount of these costs depends on the value of the goods shipped. Who sends it also plays a role: individuals or a company.
There are no duties on products up to €22 from outside the EU. All of the above applies to the so-called customs clearance costs and VAT. Import duties also apply to products worth more than €150, but it has been agreed between the EU and the UK that these duties will not be imposed.
The experience of Britain’s exit from the European Union
PostNL says this will be the same as for shipments coming from China or the United States, for example. “We are working hard behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
However, they also admit that they are concerned about how this will work in the first period and whether it will require a lot of additional manpower. “We have not yet experienced Brexit.”
Starting tomorrow.
