So I bought a gadget off the web that allows you to control your TV via iPhone. My LCD TV is too old to have IPTV features. Hence I bought the gadget from an American site. Cost me in the region of $88 plus $37 shipping to UK. Anyone care to guess how much I'm gonna get stung in customs fees?

Ordered it around 1st Dec and it's currently stuck at a post office and I'm awaiting the notice of fees.

I was hit £20 for a fcuking necklace, so...

If parcelforce knick your parcelm you can get around their extortion practice by driving to their warehouse and demanding your parcel.
otherwise you might be hit with a "release fee" thieving c**ts

I've been thinking about having the wife's camera converted for IR photography (she doesn't know yet). I found an American company who will do it and ship it back for $135. It seems cheap so I'm going to check it out some more first but I keep wondering if - given that I own the product - I might get charged by customs upon its return?

HMRC are quite open about the charges.

Because of the cost (over £15, but under £135 - see here.) you're looking at paying VAT, but not Customs Duty.

You're looking at about £15-16 in VAT.

I use a service called Bundlebox What you do is have it sent to their unit and fill out forms so that VAT and duty is collected and paid so no more Post Office admin fees for collecting the VAT. Plus you can track the parcel. This way you can sometimes get free delivery within the US.

Just seen that the cnute charge a release fee for paying customs on your behalf, that customs is basically based inside a parcelforce warehouse and that there's no way around this. Funny with all of the monopolisation charges that seemed to aimed at the likes of m$, none are looked at this kind of scam.

There is also a hefty admin charge of £8 which can be more than the VAT.

VAT is £10 and Parcel force fee is £8. Given that I was expecting to pay £15, £18 doesn't sound too bad.

the fact that you don't have the choice but pay parcelforce is really annoying.