I sent for a gift from US for a friend. It came to just over the £15 limit for VAT so customs added over £3 VAT, Post Office added £8 to collect the £3. So with postage this almost doubled the original price. Package had in large letters DO NOT DELIVER UNTIL CHARGE PAID. Our postperson was obviously too ashamed to do this, just put it through the letter box!
Result!
Still PO'd though.

RtS