davews

Hi
I am moving out to Barbados and have been trying to get some information on how much duty I would have to pay on my personnel affects.

I went to the customs office at the port and spoke to a woman there I am not to sure if she was right, she implied that as long as they were more than 3 years old there would be no duty.

Dave

Sunniebgi

3 years is about right.. I know the other post says one year, but I think it's 3. of course, if what you have is in great condition, you may want to try to find the receipts.

davews

thank you for your reply yes 3 years sounds more realistic but finding reciepts not so easy

Dave

cartoon

We had to pay duty on all the stuff we shipped here.

They just wouldn't release anything and we had to basically go down and haggle. We didn't have receipts for anything, some of the things were gifts anyway so they hadn't cost us anything.

OK, we did bring a lot of paintings and I guess they thought we were just going to sell them here.

satellite_ian

At the risk of repeating myself lol. Last September when I imported a whole house full of personal effects the advice from my shipping agent and from customs was that personal items over 1 year can be imported duty free. The shipping agent brought the whole container - still sealed - to my property and it was opened in front of customs and environmental staff. The environmental people come to make sure there are no issues with wood etc. As a result I got all my stuff in without paying a cent in duty.

If you have items that are not obviously "personal" then the rules maybe different - perhaps that was behind Cartoon's situation given the paintings.

Ian

Sunniebgi

interesting about the paintings and the shipping. summer of 2008 I spent 6 weeks in North Carolina going through my parents home packing up all of the items that were mine personally and those that I had chosen to take from my parents estate. I had found a company near my hometown who would pack and ship my items to Barbados and I did my work on customs brokers here and round one who was much more reasonable than the other. They came and tightly packed a pallet size container. You can imagine a small space crammed with things, many Cartoon, were old reproduction paintings and the old wooden frames they were mounted in (were are talking 50 plus years in age for some). In my choosing of items I actually thought these would be the easiest for me to get to Barbados. and in addition a ANTIQUE OAK SELLERS HOOSIER KITCHEN CABINET.

it wasn't until I was speaking with the customs broker and having sent him a list, did he advise that any item that was wood would likely be destroyed if not verifiable that it had been treated.. and here I was bringing in old, surely not treated wooden picture frames and my hutch.

and we are talking these buys packed these things tight.. on the pallet, wrapped in a strong cardboard shell and strapped tight side to side and top to bottom.. things were not going anywhere.

I worried.. had my story.. but certainly not willing to have my items destroyed or sent back to where they came.

They arrived.. I stayed in contact with the broker. Next thing I know. the pallet container and my broker appear at my house. no customs agent nothing. they reviewed my list, looked at the tightly packed container.. and sent it on. I think I may have paid a very nominal brokerage fee and duty because the outcome wasn't much more than what he had originally quoted.

and I was a very very happy person.

the moral of this story is.. honestly.. and sadly.. I still firmly believe it's which customs officer AND which broker you use as to how much you end up paying in duties... Sad but true...

cartoon

Will we ever know?

There were 6 or 7 paintings from my house in England, a few small ornaments and wedding photos.

Everything was 3 or 4 years old.

The rest of the stuff is in storage in the UK now.

afrocomb

Hi Guys.

I am very new to this forum! does anybody know of any good customers brokers who are going work for there moneyand not Rip me Off! plz..

Sunniebgi

RICHFIELD CUSTOMS BROKERS INC.
18 EAST, VAUXHALL GARDENS, BRIDGETOWN, CHRIST CHURCH, 15073, Barbados
Telephone: 2464372045
Fax: 2464370980

I can't remember the guys name, but I had good success with them.. I'd suggest calling to make sure he is still doing this. (you never know)..

afrocomb

Many thanks thats will be great help....

nilocp

That would be Adrian Harewood.

robbabank

Thanks to all.

Sunniebgi

Thanks nilocp

remember the name Adrian, but for some reason couldn't find my other documentation. anyway.. saved me a boatload of money (no pun intended)...

Was originally quoted something like 2000.00BBD to clear my shipment and deliver to my house (by another company quoting me from the port in Barbados to my door in Barbados). paid about 800.00bbd for it through Adrian.. and he never quoted anymore than about that.. soo..

robbabank

Thanks Guys

I think i need to hook up with this Adrian guy..