View Full Version : Customs confescated my parcel !!!!
As per the title really, my parents sent me a parcel with 2 cartons of sigs from Greece as they are cheaper there.
Time went by and they didn't turn up so I asked them to send me another 2. Just as the 2nd parcel was due to turn up a letter from customs came through saying they have confescated the 2 cartons from the initial parcel as they believed it was for profit and not for personal use!
So I wrote them a letter explaining the case i.e. it is for personal use & the 2nd parcel was sent as the first was thought to be lost and they came back saying that
"Although we believe what you're saying we stand by our initial decision which we believe was correctly made under the circumstances"
Are they allowed to do so? My other options are take them to court were if I lose I will have to pay their fees.
Any suggestions please??
Cheers
philipMac
01-07-07, 05:02 PM
Stop smoking?
tigersaw
01-07-07, 05:34 PM
Are they allowed to do so?
Hell yes. I wouln't even consider taking them on either.
Biker Biggles
01-07-07, 06:23 PM
Send in a complaint and make it official.If you have it written that they believe the tabs were for personal use and not for profit then they should not nick them.
Truth is they are trying to fob you off cos they have already either smoked them or sold them.
Send in a complaint and make it official.If you have it written that they believe the tabs were for personal use and not for profit then they should not nick them.
Truth is they are trying to fob you off cos they have already either smoked them or sold them.
*sigh* I wasnt going to bother giving any more advice given the amount of grief I get for it. :smt013:smt013:smt013:smt013:smt013
But when someone posts something which is wrong I dont really have much choice. In future before anyone posts, could you PLEASE make sure you are factually correct before doing so? :rolleyes: ie BB perhaps make sure you are fully aware of what the law defines as personal use hmmm?
He mentioned sigs so Im presuming hes talking about cigarettes. You know, the things its ILLEGAL to import without paying duty on unless you bring them in yourself for personal consumption. :rolleyes:
Customs ARE NOT fobbing him off. The importation of cigarettes is for personal use.
Thats personal use by the PERSON BUYING AND IMORTING THE GOODS THEMSELVES [just in case that wasnt clear enough for you all :rolleyes: ].
He can complain all he likes - the fact is it is not for personal use. He didnt buy them PERSONALLY in Greece did he? :rolleyes: Hence complaints are pointless. He can take HMRC to court for all I care, he WILL lose. The law is very very clear on this definition of personal use.
For the record, they get destroyed and before you start, I have actually seen this happen. But then wtf would I know. I only worked for Customs for 13 years. :evil:
so, lyn. what are you saying?
sorry.
Biker Biggles
01-07-07, 08:15 PM
Sorry.My comment was not meant to be taken too seriously.I should have added a few :rolleyes: ;) :cool:
Having said that I always advocate having a pop at mindless bureaucracy and petty officialdom.I wouldn't advocate taking anyone to court or losing lots of money though.:nomore:
I thought every body knew that you couldn't just put stuff like this in the post. One of those sort of assusmption thingies I suppose.
Mate of mine at work on Friday had to sort out a 'friendly' disagreement. A lad from NI was trying to explain to his mate from Sheffield what was involved in travelling home. In the end my mate had to show the Sheffield lad a map and point to Ireland. "Look - see that? Surrounded by water? It's Ireland."
His answer?
"How was I supposed to know? I'm from Sheffield".
Pure class!! Had to re-insert my lungs after that one. Followed by much shaking of head in disbelief.
all thanks for your help
lynw - i'll take your word for it based on your experience :) I think it's quite conclusive when you redefine "personal use"
again thanks
Warthog
01-07-07, 09:48 PM
Judging by the size of Lyn's letters, I really don't want to be going here but anyway, I am curious: What if he posted it to himself? I mean, customs are surely only concerned with people trying to make a business out of importing cheaper ciggys and not paying tax. But if it is a present or something, and still quite clearly for personal use, I can't see the problem. To summarise, where is the difference between him buying cigs in Greece and taking them back in hand luggage, and him getting the same cigs sent to him by mail. I don't get it. Please don't yell...
It's the tax. Fags and booze are heavily taxed items in this country ergo you aint allowed to 'sneak' in fags & booze wot you aint paid tax on. Posting such items means that they're not being declared at customs proper like.
Does this help any?
Moffatt666
02-07-07, 07:52 AM
I just can't see why we didn't adopt the legislation to pay all purchase taxes in the country of purchase. It would save HMRC millions lost through import/export scams where tax not paid and is then reclaimed. And by HMCR, I meant the taxpayer. But nooooo, not if, god forbid, legislation would actually BENEFIT those who keep the country afloat.
Warthog
02-07-07, 08:47 AM
It's the tax. Fags and booze are heavily taxed items in this country ergo you aint allowed to 'sneak' in fags & booze wot you aint paid tax on. Posting such items means that they're not being declared at customs proper like.
Does this help any?
If you buy two packs of fags and bring them in on a ferry, do you have to declare them at customs and pay tax? I don't smoke so I don't know! Maybe that is where I am missing the overall picture.
MiniMatt
02-07-07, 09:03 AM
If you buy two packs of fags and bring them in on a ferry, do you have to declare them at customs and pay tax? I don't smoke so I don't know! Maybe that is where I am missing the overall picture.
As I understand it, and I'm not a customs bod, but no, you wouldn't have to pay tax in that circumstance.... if you stayed schtum about the "I don't smoke" bit. As if you didn't smoke and you were bringing them back then that could only be for resale and not personal use.
The key bit is personally imported, as in bought through with you personally. Not posted, bought back by you.
Flamin_Squirrel
02-07-07, 09:19 AM
If you buy two packs of fags and bring them in on a ferry, do you have to declare them at customs and pay tax?
Not according to the HMRC website.
Not that it means that they wont seize them/your property/your car/first born etc if they arbitrarily decide you should have done.
If you buy two packs of fags and bring them in on a ferry, do you have to declare them at customs and pay tax? I don't smoke so I don't know! Maybe that is where I am missing the overall picture.
If your missus smokes, and she has a packet of fags on her, then asks you to hold onto a couple of packets of fags for her whilst you go through customs, which were purchased without paying UK duty, then you are smuggling, if you haven't declared them.
I think. Actually, I'm fairly certain.
If your missus smokes, and she has a packet of fags on her, then asks you to hold onto a couple of packets of fags for her whilst you go through customs, which were purchased without paying UK duty, then you are smuggling, if you haven't declared them.
I think. Actually, I'm fairly certain.
Confirmed. The point is that they have to be for personal use.
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