I landed last Sunday in Toronto, and when at the Customs where they ask for the goods to follow list, the officer asked me was there any mattresses on the list to which i replied yes, he then goes on to tell me they wont be coming in, I queried this asking was he sure and he says definitely.
He marked big crosses next to the mattresses on my goods to follow list and told me to give this to customs when my shipment arrives. Is this correct? I really thought it was fine, can anyone help me on this?... many thanks in advance.

Sorry this happened to you. He was wrong. See the Wiki article called Mattress Fumigation-Canada. I've just checked the links in the Wiki article, and they're stale. That is, they no longer take you to a valid page. I'll do a Google search for the relevant tariffs, and fix the links. Anyway, you should be able to print out the tariff that concerns settlers' effects, and show it to the customs people when you clear your shipment. Although I'm sure this will be small consolation to you, you're the first person to whom this has happened in my 3+ years on the forum, to the best of my recollection.
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There have been numerous discussions about mattresses - but mostly about the sizing. Or the oft quoted need to get them fumigated.

I have to say, there are (possibly) hundreds of people on this site who have come over with their beds in tow and I have never once heard of anyone saying that they did not get their mattresses through customs. We brought a king size and a single bed with us. Did your guy give you the reason ?

(I've also not heard anyone confirm that they had to get their mattresses fumigated either so that's possibly one of those chinese whispers things - maybe it applies to other countries and the shipping companies are getting us all confused!)

I'd try and re-contact the customs people and ask them to clarify. Where did you land, out of interest? (Edit: sorry you did say above, - Toronto). You might have got the 'new boy' or the 'I'm having a very official day today' bloke. But whichever, I think he is the 'I'm sorry, I think you are mistaken' bloke !!!

CBSA officers aren't always right - I argued with one last week who tried to charge a non-resident duty and tax on something he'd bought in the US. She also believed the GST rebate was still running... But she was very nice after I set her straight good luck with yours!

I have checked the government websites. They are still current, and they still say what they said before. I have fixed the links to those government websites in the Wiki article.

Quite.

What she said.
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Lace, you're famous.

I've added the following comment to the Wiki article:

We've seen a report on the forum by an expat who was told by a CBSA officer at her port of entry that she would not be allowed to take delivery of her used mattresses when her shipment arrived. We advised her to question that decision when she got her shipment cleared and, if necessary, to refer CBSA personnel to the regulation about mattress fumigation, which states that items imported under Tariff No. 9807.00.00 (which concerns Settlers' Effects) are exempt.

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Thanks Judy, I'm sure I read it somewhere that they where allowed, I only bought them about 6 weeks before I landed so they don't even need fumigated, I think I will go down to the Rainbow Bridge Border and ask them to clarify whats right.
Its the big crosses he marked on the GTF list thats bothering me, maybe things would have went smooth if he had not done that.


Ann,

I landed at Toronto on Sunday, when I asked the guy if he was mistaken he replied that even if he went out of the country and back in with a mattress he would not be allowed either.


Biiiiink, I hope this officer is wrong too.

Can I have my name in lights please,
I will let you know how I get on with the Officers at Rainbow Bridge.

You're in Toronto, right? Isn't it over the top to make a special trip to the Rainbow Bridge?

You could just wait till you receive notification that your shipment has arrived and, when you go to get it cleared, speak to the CBSA staff at that point.

If you really want to take action sooner than that, you can make a toll free call to Canada Border Services Agency at 1-800-461-9999 (Monday to Friday, 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. local time).
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No I landed in Toronto, but I live in Niagara Falls, so its just down the road, but thanks that number might come in handy, though some people can't understand my broad accent over the phone, thats why i'm thinking face to face would be better.

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He sounds like a "Jobsworth guy" to me.

I was about to venture to suggest that everybody here give our names as having successfully smuggled used mattresses into the country without let or hindrance from over-zealous customs and excise officers ...... but then I though again and decided that we'd all risk losing our beds from under us if they decided to confiscate them retrospectively!!!!

Oh dear.
We are moving out to Abbotsford in August and have planned on taking 1 double, and 4 singles with us, none of them new. I didn't realise that it could be an issue. I really don't know what to do now.!!

This is a non-issue.

It's 7.15 a.m. in my time zone, and too early to phone Canada Border Services Agency. I'll phone them after their offices have opened. They undoubtedly will confirm that the guy who told Lace she couldn't import her mattresses was wrong. Then I'll come back here and report the results of my conversation.
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I phoned Canada Border Services Agency at 8.05 a.m.

The CBSA officer with whom I spoke said that

used mattresses that settlers import are exempt from the fumigation regulation.

I asked him what the best remedy was for a settler who had been told at her port of entry that she would not be allowed to take delivery of her mattresses.

He suggested that the settler in question discuss the matter with CBSA staff when she went to clear her shipment.

Hope that helps.
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