Expat Community > France

DianaMorales
Joined 2001
Posts: 169

Packages from States

22 years ago

Hi,

I just learned something new that some of you probably already know, but that I thought I would share just in case.

A friend just mailed me a package from the States through the US Postal service. Apparently until about 2000 you could receive packages from them with no customs fees. But now the USP uses a private company to outsource this work and THEY don't have this agreement with France. So for my package which my friend valued at $68, I now owe 30 Euros in customs fees (20-30 %) and handling charges.

I asked the guy who called to tell me this and he said if packages are sent by Fed Ex or UPS, these costs are paid for already.

This is something to definitely think about when people want to send you packages from the states.

Diana

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