Anyone else with trouble posting to Sweden? (IOSS issue)

[Sco]

In the past month or so I've started having issues with packages to Sweden. They all have IOSS information electronically, I do the same with other EU packages, but the ones to Sweden aren't getting their IOSS details recognised, and my customers are being asked to pay import tax. In some cases, the customers are not even alerted to the import tax payment, so the packages sit unclaimed for a while and then get bounced back to me.

I've tried sending with Royal Mail and with DHL/Deutschepost Globalmail, with the same result. It seems like it's Swedish Post's fault but I've not heard anyone else with the same issues. Is it just me?

 

[LPB 123]

No issues with Royal Mail or ParcelForce for us to Sweden. We do get the odd export via Royal Mail that is imported on the wrong terms but never 1 specific country or a continued issue with 1 country.

Are your parcels near the IOSS limit?
Are they going to businesses where IOSS can't be used?

They all have IOSS information electronically, I do the same with other EU packages, but the ones to Sweden aren't getting their IOSS details recognised, and my customers are being asked to pay import tax.

Do you also have CN22/CN23 attached to the parcel?

 

[DontAsk]

Not IOSS, normal Royal Mail signed for, but, yes, I have had a parcel returned once and it looks like it's coming back again after resending it.

The first time the customer denies all knowledge. The second time the status was failed delivery attempt with a message supposedly left for the recipient.

 

[Sco]

Are your parcels near the IOSS limit?
Are they going to businesses where IOSS can't be used?

Do you also have CN22/CN23 attached to the parcel?

No, no and yes. How odd - I process them literally the same way as other EU parcels and Sweden is the only country with problems right now. I thought maybe there's something wrong with their system, similar to An Post in Ireland had issues clearing packages from UK recently, but that was only if sent with Royal Mail. An Post did make an announcement about it but I've seen nothing on Post Nord Sweden.

The first time the customer denies all knowledge. The second time the status was failed delivery attempt with a message supposedly left for the recipient.

There does seem to be issue with whatever messaging system they use. As mentioned, some of my customers are alerted that they need to pay import VAT, but others say they can't getting those alerts, and those packages are returning to me with an "unclaimed" sticker.

 

[DefinitelyMaybeUK]

Hi @Sco - did you get the bottom of the Sweden + IOSS problem? Have now seen the same thing for an early August RM parcel with a delayed erroneous payment notification and is being returned. Previously, haven't knowingly had any Swedish issues and other EU destinations (An Post excluded!) look to process fine.

 

[Sco]

Hi @Sco - did you get the bottom of the Sweden + IOSS problem? Have now seen the same thing for an early August RM parcel with a delayed erroneous payment notification and is being returned. Previously, haven't knowingly had any Swedish issues and other EU destinations (An Post excluded!) look to process fine.

Unfortunately I'm none the wiser still. Though the problem seems to have stopped with the packages from the past week (fingers crossed!)

With An Post, was it when Royal Mail wasn't sending them the customs details in July? At least they admitted the problem and had a notice on the website. Though it still took a customer contacting me for me to check and find out about it - there's no way sellers could be constantly checking every postal service in the world. Frustrating.

 

[DefinitelyMaybeUK]

OK, thanks - will just have to re-send and hope. RM don't show any particular restrictions or incidents for Sweden as you found.

We stopped sending RM to Ireland a while back due to the extended restricted items that An Post published (in practice it applies to RM non-IOSS & DDP not just IOSS as they say), but oddly IOSS via UPS with the same restricted hs codes go through fine. Worth noting that France has adopted the same/similar extended restriction list for IOSS items and will charge the customer, but the RM DDP service appears to circumvent that

 

[Sco]

We stopped sending RM to Ireland a while back due to the extended restricted items that An Post published (in practice it applies to RM non-IOSS & DDP not just IOSS as they say), but oddly IOSS via UPS with the same restricted hs codes go through fine. Worth noting that France has adopted the same/similar extended restriction list for IOSS items and will charge the customer, but the RM DDP service appears to circumvent that

Oh that, that is a nightmare all of its own! Thanks for the tip about UPS. My Irish orders usually are only £20-60 so the customers might not be willing to pay UPS prices, but it's still worth looking at.

I have noticed that using 10 digit TARIC code rather than the shorter HS code helps with getting items to Ireland so that's what I use on all my customs declaration now, and none of the countries seem to have a problem with it, probably because most of the time TARIC is just HS code with more zeros at the end.

Would you have a link to the French restrictions please? I'm googling and not having much success.

 

[DefinitelyMaybeUK]

customers might not be willing to pay UPS prices

Smallish, low Kg parcels maybe twice RM, but might not be a problem for some.

We have tried various combinations of HS code, but concluded if there was a hint of a restricted code on a item line, then it wasn't getting in. The extended items include basics such as metals and certain parts and accessories - it really depends on your market as to whether you suffer.

Would you have a link to the French restrictions please? I'm googling and not having much success.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/international/country-guides/france

has an XLS, but it's also the same content as they later link from here the postal union:

https://www.upu.int/UPU/media/upu/files/postalSolutions/programmesAndServices/postalSupplyChain/customs/prohibitedArticles/ListOfProhibitedArticles.pdf