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#1 2012-04-25 10:52:17
- Goodyear welt
- Ivyist At Large
- Posts: 1430
Customs Nightmare.
On my last visit to my tailor in England I had a final fitting and everything was good apart from the hem on the trousers. There was no time to wait for them to be done as my flight was due later that day. They said they'd post the suit to me, which they have. However customs have it and are asking for a receipt. I've thought about saying they made the suit a few years ago and I've just had it altered. Or telling them to post it back to sender. Import toll is going to be about £300, ($450ish) and I don't want to pay it. Anyone been in this situation? What was the outcome?
Anyone got a good blag I can come out with?
Too high above the waist was the badge of the hopeless nerd/engineering student. High waters were also not cool, the right length is the right length and you either grasp it, have the eye, or you don't.
The Horses mouth. 2014
#2 2012-04-25 18:09:14
- David Reeves
- Member
- From: New York
- Posts: 178
Re: Customs Nightmare.
Goodyear welt wrote:
On my last visit to my tailor in England I had a final fitting and everything was good apart from the hem on the trousers. There was no time to wait for them to be done as my flight was due later that day. They said they'd post the suit to me, which they have. However customs have it and are asking for a receipt. I've thought about saying they made the suit a few years ago and I've just had it altered. Or telling them to post it back to sender. Import toll is going to be about £300, ($450ish) and I don't want to pay it. Anyone been in this situation? What was the outcome?
Anyone got a good blag I can come out with?
Your maker may be able to help you, ask them.
#3 2012-04-25 23:12:44
- fxh
- Big Down Under.
- From: Melbourne
- Posts: 4122
Re: Customs Nightmare.
Goodyear - what country are you in? And do you mind saying what that charge is - customs duty, VAT/GST, handling charges or what?
I ask because we have recently had a Productivity Commission Inquiry here, Australia, into online retailing and o/s online imports, and it specifically addressed the issue of our GST/VAT and Import duty free threshold of aud$1,000 on any one order. Despite special pleading from usual mercantilists and moribund australian bricks and mortar retailers who have enjoyed a "what the market will bear" markups the commission advised the government that the current threshold of $1,000 was appropriate.
Basically under aud$1,000 a purchase is not subject to any charges on entry to the country or receipt at the customers end. Most, but not all by any means, UK sellers deduct UK VAT @20% which is not payable either. Some just pocket the 20%.
On a related note re internationalism, I notice Ms fxh's new Lands End hard catelogue arrived to day from ZURICH!
To do: insert constantly changing witty, knowing and slightly ironic literary quote or reference.
http://sexyankles.tumblr.com/
#4 2012-04-26 01:10:57
- Axelist
- Talker of the talk, walker of the walk.
- From: age
- Posts: 780
Re: Customs Nightmare.
Goodyear welt wrote:
On my last visit to my tailor in England I had a final fitting and everything was good apart from the hem on the trousers. There was no time to wait for them to be done as my flight was due later that day. They said they'd post the suit to me, which they have. However customs have it and are asking for a receipt. I've thought about saying they made the suit a few years ago and I've just had it altered. Or telling them to post it back to sender. Import toll is going to be about £300, ($450ish) and I don't want to pay it. Anyone been in this situation? What was the outcome?
Anyone got a good blag I can come out with?
That's an awful sum. When you say you had it altered, they might ask for the prove that you bought it before and you send it to the UK.
Was an invoice included or did the customs officers estimate the value? If there was no invoice, you could try to convince them that the value is lower to reduce customs/VAT. If there is an invoice, it will be hard.
If there is no paper, you might try to tell that the suit was yours, a friend kept it for you (or you borrowed it to him for awedding) and now he send it back. In that case they maybe would ask for a prove from the sender which means you will have to talk to your tailor.
I think it would best to talk to a shipping company and ask them what could be done.
Just to get a repp..
#6 2012-04-28 10:56:42
- NJS
- Member
- From: South America
- Posts: 2055
Re: Customs Nightmare.
annadale wrote:
Pay up-dodging taxes is illegal
Was it Mrs Stewart who said that taxes are for little people? Anyway it seems to be true that rich bastards get away without paying them and you end up being hammered. That was an expensive alteration, wasn't it?
NJS
"The Man from Del Monte likes to say "Yes."'
#7 2012-05-01 08:26:36
- annadale
- Member
- Posts: 81
Re: Customs Nightmare.
It was Leona Helmsey who antoinetted the press and got time, Martha Stewart also did a bit of bird for not paying hers but was sharp enough not to come over as an arrogant twat..
#8 2012-05-01 09:14:36
- Reckless Reggie
- Member
- Posts: 456
Re: Customs Nightmare.
annadale wrote:
It was Leona Helmsey who antoinetted the press and got time, Martha Stewart also did a bit of bird for not paying hers but was sharp enough not to come over as an arrogant twat..
Right you are!
I'm Reckless Reggie of the Regent Palace,
I'm in love with every gal;
I flirt with Maudie and I flirt with Alice,
I'm a real life Regent's pal.