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First CUC invoices have been issued

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First Common User Charge (CUC) invoices have been issued 

Businesses that imported Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods via Dover or Eurotunnel, on or after 30 April 2024, which were eligible for checks at Sevington Border Control Post (BCP), have received their first digital CUC invoice from Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL). Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL) manages CUC billing and payments on behalf of Defra.  

The first digital invoices include common user charges incurred between 30 April 2024 (the date of introduction of the new SPS controls as part of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model) and 31 July 2024. Subsequent invoices will be issued monthly by email, in arrears, for common user charges covering the previous month.  

Invoices are sent from O2C.mail@gov.sscl.com with “Defra invoice” as the email subject heading. Invoices will state payment is due “IMMEDIATELY”. We encourage immediate payment because the charges are applied in arrears. However, bill payers, including agents who are acting on behalf of businesses, will have up to 30 days from the date on the invoice to pay the common user charges. Payment for the invoices issued on 5 August will be due by 4 September 2024.   

SSCL is the first point of contact for any CUC invoice-related queries, including where there is a query about the amount businesses have been charged and their ability to pay on time. Details of how to contact SSCL are included in your invoice. 

Detailed and updated guidance on CUC including how to set up payments and ways to pay the CUC invoice is available at here: Common user charge: rates, eligibility and invoices - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)