How to stop 'doorstep charges' when sending EU parcels [SAMOS e-commerce LTD](/)Open main menu Search Services Pricing Resources Blog [ Login ](https://connect.samos-e.com/login) ![How to stop 'doorstep charges' when sending EU parcels](https://samos-e.com/storage/196/conversions/Main-Image-main.jpg) How to stop 'doorstep charges' when sending EU parcels ====================================================== Sending a parcel from the UK to the EU? Find out how to stop EU VAT and admin 'doorstep charges' before delivery - even without an IOSS number or being surcharged. Your biggest shipping challenges to Europe covered here. ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://samos-e.com/storage/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS - [Is Deliver Duty Paid the solution? Not really.](#content-is-deliver-duty-paid-the-solution-not-really) - [Is IOSS the solution? Possibly.](#content-is-ioss-the-solution-possibly) - [Is there another way? Yes. Step up SAMOS.](#content-is-there-another-way-yes-step-up-samos) - [No IOSS number? No problem.](#content-no-ioss-number-no-problem) - [Want to know more?](#content-want-to-know-more) 17th October 2022 Updated 10 months ago Share this article - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on LinkedIn]() - Copy Link **[Start shipping with SAMOS](/start-shipping) | [Request a demo](/request-a-demo)** There is nothing more annoying to your customers than buying something online and then having to pay a doorstep charge before the item can be handed over. Usually it’s the parcel delivery company that is demanding payment. Either your customer receives an email with a link to pay, a card through the letter box, or even a letter in the post with a surprise invoice. ![Overwhelmed business owner](https://d3u90epu6aq47b.cloudfront.net/uploads/business-owner-blog-image-2.jpg) What is even more frustrating is that the delivery company applies an admin or handling fee in addition; this can be up to €60! This is a terrible customer experience, yet this is what thousands of UK e-commerce companies are doing every day to their customers in the EU. This one experience is enough to prevent customers from ever buying from you again, which for many micro, small and even medium-sized businesses is threat to their entire operation. It can also lead to bad reviews, damaging your reputation and your revenue. ### [\#](#content-is-deliver-duty-paid-the-solution-not-really "Permalink")Is Deliver Duty Paid the solution? Not really. Savvy UK e-commerce businesses initially thought that switching to sending DDP (Deliver Duty Paid - which means that the VAT and EU import charges are reversed back to the UK e-commerce company so that the EU customer is not charged on the doorstep) could be the best option. However, this comes with a sting in its tail. Most of the large multinational parcel delivery companies will apply a Deliver Duty Paid surcharge. The surcharge is so high that lower order value shipments are simply not cost effective to send, and it’s difficult to pass these costs on to your EU customer. ### [\#](#content-is-ioss-the-solution-possibly "Permalink")Is IOSS the solution? Possibly. The other option is to register for IOSS and get an IOSS number. Anyone that has investigated or implemented this will also know it costs the average volume shipper around £4.5k to £5k a year to register, administer and maintain. This a good solution for large volume shippers, but cost prohibitive for smaller e-commerce businesses. **So what are the other options for small and medium sized UK e-com businesses that are not so cost prohibitive?** ### [\#](#content-is-there-another-way-yes-step-up-samos "Permalink")Is there another way? Yes. Step up SAMOS. SAMOS has created the UK’s first hybrid EU parcel delivery service whereby it is impossible for the customer to receive any doorstep charges. The service works very much like Deliver Duty Paid in that import charges are paid on behalf of the EU customer, then reversed back to the UK ecommerce company. The difference with SAMOS is that this is done free of charge. No hefty Deliver Duty Paid surcharge (or any other surcharges for that matter). ![Parcel delivered by postman](https://d3u90epu6aq47b.cloudfront.net/uploads/delivery-1.png) Important to remember! **Your customer must pay VAT, no matter what process is used to charge them** Our process means that there are no surprise doorstep VAT (and admin) charges. There is a huge difference in customer experience here – ✔️ Pay it all in one go in the checkout process, with no doorstep charges – the SAMOS method (the same customer purchase and delivery experience as before the UK left the EU). ❌ Pay for items in checkout, pay VAT and admin charges at the doorstep – terrible customer experience that should be avoided. The SAMOS process works like this: the UK e-com company itemises the import charges in the checkout separately or includes them in the item cost on their website. Whichever they choose, it means that the import costs (VAT and Duty) are covered in the checkout process. SAMOS will then pay these charges on import into the EU and reverse them back to the UK ecommerce company. As the charges have already been received by the UK e-commerce company during the checkout process, these charges don’t come out of the margins. The only real charges are the shipping charges, which are exactly according to [**the tariff**](/pricing/samos-shipping-rates). ### [\#](#content-no-ioss-number-no-problem "Permalink")No IOSS number? No problem. You do not need an IOSS number to use the SAMOS service, therefore you don’t need to go to the expense of acquiring and administering an IOSS number, or pay extra per parcel for a pay-as-you-go IOSS scheme. This is around a £4.5k - £5k saving per year (on average). We understand that this the only service available of its kind designed for small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses. The motivation behind creating this service is for EU customers to experience the same simple buying and delivery service from UK e-commerce companies as they did before the UK left the EU: 1. Order from you 2. Pay all charges in the checkout process including VAT 3. Parcel is delivered with no doorstep charges Only this kind of reliable customer buying and delivery experience will ensure that you are able to develop customer loyalty and drum up repeat business while avoiding the kind of reviews that turn new customers away. ![Happy business owner](https://d3u90epu6aq47b.cloudfront.net/uploads/business-owner-blog-image-15.jpg) If you’re unsure, then trial our service. We bet it is exactly what you have been looking for but didn’t think existed. [\#](#content-want-to-know-more "Permalink")Want to know more? -------------------------------------------------------------- [**How the SAMOS service works**](https://samos-e.com/blog/eu-shipping/samos-connect-eu-parcel-service) [**Frequently Asked Questions about the SAMOS service**](/resources/frequently-asked-questions) [**View the SAMOS full tariff**](/pricing/samos-shipping-rates) [**SAMOS integrations**](/services/integrations) ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://samos-e.com/storage/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS - [Is Deliver Duty Paid the solution? Not really.](#content-is-deliver-duty-paid-the-solution-not-really) - [Is IOSS the solution? Possibly.](#content-is-ioss-the-solution-possibly) - [Is there another way? Yes. Step up SAMOS.](#content-is-there-another-way-yes-step-up-samos) - [No IOSS number? No problem.](#content-no-ioss-number-no-problem) - [Want to know more?](#content-want-to-know-more) 17th October 2022 Updated 10 months ago Share this article - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on LinkedIn]() - Copy Link Who is SAMOS? ------------- SAMOS is parcel logistics company based in London, specialising in creating and engineering customer-focussed e-commerce parcel delivery and returns solutions. [Find out more about SAMOS ](/about-samos) What our customers are saying ------------------------------ SAMOS customers had difficulties shipping into the EU and beyond - until they found SAMOS. [Read more about our customers ](/customer-stories) How to contact SAMOS -------------------- Need more help or do you have any questions for us? Talk to us Why not try shipping with SAMOS? -------------------------------- Request a demo to learn more about how SAMOS can help you ship directly to your customers. [Request a demo ](/request-a-demo) ### Related Articles [![Shipping fragrances & cosmetics to the EU](https://samos-e.com/storage/168/conversions/Shipping-Fragrances--&-Cosmetics--to-the-EU-blog---Thumbnail-Graphic--main.jpg)](/blog/eu-shipping/problems-shipping-cosmetics-and-fragrances-across-the-eu-your-solution)25th July 2024[EU shipping](/blog/eu-shipping) ### [ Problems shipping cosmetics and fragrances across the EU? - your solution.](/blog/eu-shipping/problems-shipping-cosmetics-and-fragrances-across-the-eu-your-solution) We have your solution for shipping beauty products, fragrances and cosmetics across the EU – because you’re worth it! ![Picture of Ben Bagnulo](https://samos-e.com/storage/150/conversions/ben-main.jpg) Ben Bagnulo CEO at SAMOS [![Picture of EU flat with ships, trucks, planes and boxes](https://samos-e.com/storage/172/conversions/shipping-to-eu-you-must-talk-to-samos-thumbnail-main.jpg)](/blog/eu-shipping/shipping-to-eu-you-must-talk-to-samos)18th October 2023[EU shipping](/blog/eu-shipping) ### [ Shipping to EU and beyond? You must talk to SAMOS](/blog/eu-shipping/shipping-to-eu-you-must-talk-to-samos) European shipping can be challenging. Are you thinking about sending a parcel from Europe to the UK and wondering how you can ensure cheap and reliable deliveries with or without an IOSS? If so, then you need to talk to SAMOS. ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://samos-e.com/storage/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS [![EU Logo and mega phone](https://samos-e.com/storage/220/conversions/Thumbnail-Graphic-main.jpg)](/blog/eu-shipping/postal-service-strike-eu-shipping-solution)14th December 2022[EU shipping](/blog/eu-shipping) ### [ Postal service strike (or international outage)? Your EU shipping alternative solution](/blog/eu-shipping/postal-service-strike-eu-shipping-solution) Regain complete control of your EU shipping during the postal strikes (or international outage) with SAMOS – your go-to delivery alternative to the postal services for EU e-commerce ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://samos-e.com/storage/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS Footer ------ ### Services - [Parcel Delivery ](/services/parcel-delivery) - [Parcel Returns ](/services/parcel-returns) - [All Integrations ](/services/integrations) - [Parcel Tracking ](/services/parcel-tracking) - [Shipping to the EU](/services/parcel-delivery/europe) - [Shipping fragrances & cosmetics to the EU](/blog/eu-shipping/problems-shipping-cosmetics-and-fragrances-across-the-eu-your-solution) - [Learn about IOSS for EU Shipping ](/blog/ioss) ### Integrations - [Shopify](/services/integrations/shopify) - [Shipstation](/services/integrations/shipstation) - [Linnworks](/services/integrations/linnworks) - [Mintsoft](/services/integrations/mintsoft) - [WooCommerce](/services/integrations/woocommerce) - [Shiptheory](/services/integrations/shiptheory) - [Despatch Cloud](/services/integrations/despatch-cloud) - [Magento](/services/integrations/magento) - [Pimento](/services/integrations/pimento) ### Company - [About SAMOS ](/about-samos) - [Customer Stories ](/customer-stories) - [Shipping Rates ](/pricing/samos-shipping-rates) - [Return Rates ](/pricing/samos-return-rates) - [Request a Demo ](/request-a-demo) - [Sustainability ](/resources/sustainability) - [Resources ](/resources) - [Contact Us ](/contact-us) ### Terms & Conditions - [Website T&Cs ](/website-terms-and-conditions) - [Privacy & Cookies ](/privacy-and-cookie-policy) - [Shipping T&Cs ](/shipping-terms-and-conditions) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/samos.ecom/)[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/samos-e-commerce/)[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/samosecommerce/?hl=en)[YouTube](https://youtube.com/@samose-commerce4997?si=rqZ4UmQ6V1we6Kuk) © 2026 SAMOS e-commerce LTD