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DHL customs weird conversation.
 

Today I got a phone call while I was out from DHL customs (at first I was iffy if it was really them until they mentioned my waybill number) The guy asked me if I knew and said a random name (Never heard of it before)

I informed him no and he said are you 100% sure you do not know of Again I confirmed no and had no idea why he kept asking this about 4 times in total. "So this individual would not be known to you" So again I answered no. Then he informed me my package would be released if I gave him a VAT number or if I was EU registered as I owed fees.

Cant I normally just pay these over the phone why would he require the vat number if there has been no issues? Oh and before putting the phone down again he enquired over this same Guy who I have no idea who he is. (lived in the house hold 8 years) So it's no one recent who had anything ordered there etc.

He's given me an email asking for me to send him a A VAT NUMBER.

But I don't have one?

Re: DHL customs weird conversation.
 

I'd also like to point out the item was nothing illegal or anything dodgy at all, just simply some clothing for my self.

Re: DHL customs weird conversation.
 

If it's just a single item of personal clothing then you don't need a VAT number.

If you've been importing huge quantities of goods into that same address over a period of time then that's a different story all together. It may well be HMRC sniffing around. Tread carefully.

Re: DHL customs weird conversation.
 

its about 20 pieces of clothing, it's in my personal name. I've had about 1000GBP worth of stuff if that sent there in the last year. and most of it has been personal use. When I asked if they were HMRC customs they said "No we are DHL customs and imports" And we need your vat number

Re: DHL customs weird conversation.
 

Well you don't have one so you'll need to tell them that.

Whatever you do, do not invent one.

Re: DHL customs weird conversation.
 

Well i'd assume they could check if it was a real number or not. To make things more interesting the parcels now say "signed by" and a name ive never even heard of? The whole thing seems really iffy to me. Like I said above originally I thought it was a weird fraud/spam call because he asked me if I knew about this guy robert something who imported (never heard of him) And asked if it was any link or relation to me. Maybe one of the neighbours on the same post code done something naughty? is all I could think.

I told him I didn't have a vat number so he said just email me a vat number or if you are eu registered then put the phone down.

Think I should ring someone else and see if I get someone with a bit more common sense?

Re: DHL customs weird conversation.
 

Sounds like a plan. :thumb: