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Customs Crackdown?
 

Anyone else noticed a larger portion of their imports being inspected by Customs recently? Both DHL and EMS/Parcelforce.

Its very very very rare anything I import gets checked, probably five times in three years, but in the past couple of weeks almost every parcel is getting checked, and its taken them a day and age to release them with their random 'we made this up' charges.

Nothing Branded/VERO but somewhat under declared of course, (like everyone else who sells on ebay and buys from China before the preachers start).

Never had a seizure, and always pay the duty and charges in advance with DHL, so curious if its a customs sweep they have going on? Seems to be a link, as both DHL and Parcelforce customs teams are stopping them, even one customs stop in china which has never happened before in my ten years of trading on ebay!

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

not noticed it.

maybe the run up to xmas, or maybe they are looking for something right now due to intelligence tip..

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Potentially, but it seems a bit random that this one address keeps getting tugged. We are on a severe terror threat alert, but China isn't on the 'danger' list so to speak

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

A lot of phakes being imported.....

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

They do target addresses that they have on a 'watch list' although I have not idea what they actually call it. If a package gets stopped on route to 1 address and they find something wrong that house seems to get flagged and a larger % of packages to that address get stopped

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Yes true - but I've never had a seizure and never imported phakeys, but they have stopped a couple of parcels recently and whacked on some insane charges that outweigh the value - but thats always been a customs thing hasn't it?

..maybe the 'watch' list is triggered for the multiple lower value shipments, but I cant see it myself, how would they know how much say ten metal bars would cost?

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Fairly easy to calculate the cost of bullion, haha. Even if you aren't talking about a precious metal it's still pretty easy to appraise a shipment of any type of metal.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to point that out. :humble:

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

It could be that because they caught a few items coming in under declared you got you address flagged

They do have a massive list of how much thing costs. Even if they cannot find out said item on said list then they do have access to the internet and they can work it out.

It is also just that time of year. They take on more staff around this time of year which leads to them clamping down a bit more as they have the resources to do so.

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Yes this is probably it....however none of my shipments have ever been opened, even the ones released from customs with additional charges. I guess we can never understand how customs works, afterall they are just a money maker for the government and Parcelforce with their 'handling' charge.

New address time it seems for moi.

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Packages don't have to be opened to see what is inside :)

They scan things and most the time it's pretty easy to work out what is in the package and add the charges

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

That would be close to impossible with my gear :)

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

All the shipments clear automatically

If they dispute over your invoice (undervalue) and if it's too low then they open one carton to workout the price, its not hard to work out the price

If they belive it's not right they will seize the goods and make take this matter further

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

I don't think this is very accurate, they rarely seize goods if the paperwork they feel is inaccurrate. They generally just add on their own make believe charges based on weight or write to you asking for the original payment invoice to clarify declared values, which are easy to fudge.

As I've said, I've never had a box opened.

I only import in small quantities to avoid any of this bother.

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Sure seems to be one way

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

not agree,
yes the first step they will ask you to provide Invoice

let say you written custom value 600usd and goods worth over 3000usd

now off couse you need to provide same invoice which is 600usd but here you have time to say this is the right invoice for 300usd as error can be made from shipper side since this was written by shipper

but once you confirmed its 600usd then they will review it and check the goods its really 600usd if they cant work it out then they normally seize the goods

and u will get letter from hmrc where u will given option to appeal

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Don't agree at all, and there is no way for them to check how much a ball of alloy is really.

Hey ho, we are all speculating based on on our personal experiences anyway, my question was merely to see if there was a pattern emerging with customs at the moment.

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Hey guys, new here and trying to get some of your knowledge.

Recently purchased 50 Yeti cups from China (Alibaba). The seller shipped using FedEx.

On 11/27 it was marked arrived in Memphis,TN with "package marked for clearance".

It was suppose to arrived Dec 1st according to FedEx. I called them and they said it held by customs. I call customs in Memphis but he said there's nothing he can do and didn't even ask for tracking number. Am I out my goods or is there still a shot of receiving them?

I've ordered merchandise through China twice before and have used DHL with no issue. First time experiencing something like this.

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Fedex are awful with stopping packages.

DHL are the best.

Dont use Fedex.

You may or may not see your parcel. you may or may not have a customs charge to pay. you may or may not have the FEDS arrive at your house with a taser and shotgun beating down your door and arresting you in your underpants.

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Fedex is a fukn joke

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

I just had big shipment from Denmark, and ALL of parcels have been opened and checked, wierd, never happend before...

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Who opened these parcels uk Border force? It's normal at this time of year

Re: Customs Crackdown?
 

Update: it appears Customs opened up the package as I only received part of the shipment. It had been repackaged and had customs tape. I assume the Yeti cups did not have proper paperwork and the items were seized. Waiting on a letter for confirmations.