F'in US Customs
Aug 23rd 2011, 1:22 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 50
Re: F'in US Customs
Sorry to butt into your thread, but I'm confused by this. When our stuff shipped, it cleared customs without a penny charged. We paid a one time fee of $2000 to our shipping company upfront before we moved and that was it. Our shipment arrived at our door about 4 months later. Why are some people charged customs fees and others not? Bad luck?
Aug 23rd 2011, 1:23 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 50
Re: F'in US Customs
oops, make that 2000 GBP, not $.
Aug 23rd 2011, 1:52 am
#19
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,015
Re: F'in US Customs
Sorry to butt into your thread, but I'm confused by this. When our stuff shipped, it cleared customs without a penny charged. We paid a one time fee of $2000 to our shipping company upfront before we moved and that was it. Our shipment arrived at our door about 4 months later. Why are some people charged customs fees and others not? Bad luck?
Aug 23rd 2011, 3:57 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: F'in US Customs
I think everyone is warned that it could happen, our shippers stressed not to put anything in the least bit suspect in for that reason. However, I believe there is a random element to the checks.
Aug 23rd 2011, 4:12 am
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Southern Virginia
Posts: 104
Re: F'in US Customs
Holy crap! So glad you got it though. I'd take an hour or so and write scathing complaints to all involved - you never,know, you may get some compensation. This is where it really pays to have military friends - they are able to move things around the world so much more easily - I have a friend who on occasion takes things for us and re-posts in the UK. A whole houseful might be a bit too much to ask for tho. MY in-laws literally shipped everything they owned including US and British appliances, and a US and a British vehicle in containers, on the Airforce dollar, four times!
Am glad you finally got your stuff and hope it helps you settle in and doesn't sour your new venture too much, best of luck to you
Am glad you finally got your stuff and hope it helps you settle in and doesn't sour your new venture too much, best of luck to you
Aug 23rd 2011, 3:09 pm
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
Re: F'in US Customs
This just happened to our stuff, however, I spoke to a legal friend of mine and he suggested I pose the following questions to my shipping company about the "costs" involved.
Firstly, I called Customs myself (armed with container information) and asked the status of my shipment. I found out my stuff had already been released by Customs (after a full physical examination) even though my shipper stated it hadn't cleared and was supposedly accruing storage charges. So, based on that info, my shipper couldn't tack on unnecessary charges (ie. storage, etc) and claim it had been sitting waiting for a Customs release.
Secondly, he suggested I demand an itemization with supporting documentation from the shipper in writing for the "costs". When I initially asked the shipper the status of my container they tried to tell me "as of this moment" you owe XX amount. The final bill, which I received yesterday was less than the figure they originally gave me. Go figure.
I don't know when your container arrived, but mine landed on July 27, clearing Customs on Aug. 8 after both a VACIS and full physical examination. Total cost to me was $1600...no, I'm not thrilled about it, however, I do feel if I hadn't chased up my shipper, they would've fleeced me with extra costs. They tried to tell me the same as you, so it might be worth checking up on it?
Good luck - I hope things work out for you.
PS-I'm worried about the state of my items also. I heard that Customs contracts companies out to do the physical exam...fingers crossed my stuff is still there/intact. At least I have the docs of the company who performed it, so I can file a report...geez.
Firstly, I called Customs myself (armed with container information) and asked the status of my shipment. I found out my stuff had already been released by Customs (after a full physical examination) even though my shipper stated it hadn't cleared and was supposedly accruing storage charges. So, based on that info, my shipper couldn't tack on unnecessary charges (ie. storage, etc) and claim it had been sitting waiting for a Customs release.
Secondly, he suggested I demand an itemization with supporting documentation from the shipper in writing for the "costs". When I initially asked the shipper the status of my container they tried to tell me "as of this moment" you owe XX amount. The final bill, which I received yesterday was less than the figure they originally gave me. Go figure.
I don't know when your container arrived, but mine landed on July 27, clearing Customs on Aug. 8 after both a VACIS and full physical examination. Total cost to me was $1600...no, I'm not thrilled about it, however, I do feel if I hadn't chased up my shipper, they would've fleeced me with extra costs. They tried to tell me the same as you, so it might be worth checking up on it?
Good luck - I hope things work out for you.
PS-I'm worried about the state of my items also. I heard that Customs contracts companies out to do the physical exam...fingers crossed my stuff is still there/intact. At least I have the docs of the company who performed it, so I can file a report...geez.
It's a common occurrence because these shippers are holding your belongings hostage. However, *I think* if you can get copies of the documents from the shipper you might well be able to send a trucker to pick this stuff up yourself, I'm just not sure exactly what you'd need to make that happen.
Jan 16th 2012, 2:02 pm
#24
Banned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 53
Re: F'in US Customs
so is this scam common? how can you stop it or get the money back??
Jan 16th 2012, 3:50 pm
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 508
Re: F'in US Customs
Common as dachshund crap on your shoes in downtown Munich.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/moving-c...isra-jj65e.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/moving-c...isra-jj65e.htm
Jan 16th 2012, 4:02 pm
#26
Banned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 53
Re: F'in US Customs
how can i tell if my firm is or is not going to rip me off???
Jan 16th 2012, 4:41 pm
#27
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: F'in US Customs
By either getting ripped off or not...
But there is a reason that I recommend folks find out who gets contracted to do the local side of things and to then search them out on the movingscam website, no guarantee either way, but it's a good way of seeing who you should at least avoid.
But there is a reason that I recommend folks find out who gets contracted to do the local side of things and to then search them out on the movingscam website, no guarantee either way, but it's a good way of seeing who you should at least avoid.
Jan 16th 2012, 5:19 pm
#28
Banned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 53
Re: F'in US Customs
By either getting ripped off or not...
But there is a reason that I recommend folks find out who gets contracted to do the local side of things and to then search them out on the movingscam website, no guarantee either way, but it's a good way of seeing who you should at least avoid.
But there is a reason that I recommend folks find out who gets contracted to do the local side of things and to then search them out on the movingscam website, no guarantee either way, but it's a good way of seeing who you should at least avoid.
Jan 16th 2012, 5:46 pm
#29
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: F'in US Customs
Well if you're using one of those carriers, it won't be a problem...if you're using a mover, who'll bung stuff in a container etc, you'd ask them who they contract.
