ray2gill

I would be interested in any response as our container is full and just waiting to be collected now.

I felt sorry for the 4 guys who we doing our packing from Executive Move as they were loading the container in a temperature of 47c yesterday.

We have declared several items as they are new. As my birthday is in a weeks time my daughter bought me a sewing machine to take with me as a gift. Am I likely to be charged duty on it? It was listed as a gift on the declaration.

Pollyana

Highly unlikely to have any duty charged -although they can be a law unto themselves. But as it clearly isn't something that you are looking to make a quick profit on you should be fine.
Don't quite see what the comment of "rubbish" refers to? All Moneypen said was that no shipper can give you a guarantee that there won't be any extra AQIS fees this end - and she's right. Although there is a standard fee for inspection, that fee is added to for any items that need cleaning or destroying, and no-one can predict that in advance. Claims that ALL AQIS fees are included are extremely dubious as the shipper could find themselves liable for $$$$$$ depending on what AQIS feel like on the day.

Red_V_Roger

That's why my closing comment was "Obviously if it had required cleaning etc this would have been extra."

Moneypen's opening comment of "Any UK shipper who gives you a quote for AQIS is talking out of their backside and possibly taking you for a ride." was rather unqualified IMO

MillsyandtheTroop

Just to add we had two quotes - Dorree Bonner and John Masons - JM £500 cheaper for practically same service - also, JM very flexible and helpful about dates! Know who were going with!

You're from NW England too? We're from Chorley - moving to Melbourne hopfully Sep! Where you headed?

A & C

sa2uk2oz

Three families we know over here and ourselves all had to pay inspection fees. Whats more, the boxes they open are taped back up and things just thrown back in without being wrapped as they were originally, resulting in a few breakages.. ie mirror, glassware. I think we paid around $300 inspection and we only had about 5 cubic metres of goods.

homewardbound

My shipment arrived au 24th June and cleared customs on the 10th July. I got a bill for $440 from Chess to pay the customs clearance fee on 26 June and a threat that if the bill wasnt paid within 7 days storage fees would be incurred.

Promptly paid but nowhere to get the shipment delivered to.

Anyway on the 10 June got a call to say all has cleared fine no extra charges and i had 7 days free storage. Thankfully house found and delivery will be 28th July - squeezed another week out of the free storage LOL.

I went with JM who were brilliant to deal with, Chess are ok but not the friendliest bunch but time will tell on the 28th!