Border Force - a word of warning!

[moteyi]

* * * * Please delete if this discussion isn't allowed * * * *

I recently won an auction on a well know FB group for a box of 25 Punch DC's. On my return home today I had a letter from Border Force South - which I have attached.

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My understanding is that I really have no recourse on this and that I have just lost either a box of aged cigars or ?400 depending on how you look at it as the seller is only prepared to reimburse me if the cigars are returned to him which ain't going to happen as far as I can see.

Posting this is therefore primarily intended as a warning to others who buy from overseas or who are thinking of buying from overseas.

Suffice to say that I have learnt my lesson, and will restrict my buying to trips abroad in future, particularly as getting caught a second time could lead to prosecution.

[RobustoClubHavana]

Standard procedure unfortunately
You win some you loose some
I lost a box of Partagas SDC No 1 from 98 from an overseas seller


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[ha_banos]

Uh oh. Sorry to hear this. We all know the procedures. Even for private sales.

As you suggest, incorporating purchases with a nice trip is the safest bet.

Or factor the costs of travel into UK purchases. Often the trip would still be a cheaper option!

Also this puts a lot of rare and aged material out of reach.



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[Shaun]

Also this puts a lot of rare and aged material out of reach.
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Not really, just declare the package properly as cigars.

[moteyi]

I mistakenly thought that because it was within the eu it would be ok.

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[Kickback]

They'll be enjoying a lovely smoke at their Xmas do later this year.

[Shaun]

I mistakenly thought that because it was within the eu it would be ok.

I think you have been very unlucky in that case, but just an FYI sending tobacco from the EU to the UK is illegal if the UK duties have not been paid before the package is sent, this is why many shops stopped sending tobacco inside the EU. Bizarrely if this had come from a Non EU country you would probably have been offered the chance to pay the duties.

[ha_banos]

Not really, just declare the package properly as cigars.

What I meant was if you are unprepared to import.

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[Shaun]

What I meant was if you are unprepared to import.

True! Did you see above this was an EU import, most parcels are not even checked. Maybe there is a crackdown, they do them periodically.

[PeeJay]

Cigars are only seized if they have been labelled as something else when they are examined. If they had been correctly labelled than you would have been asked to pay the duty as with anything else you can import. Importing cigars from anywhere in the world is not illegal but you have to be prepared to pay the duty. By mislabelling them you are attempting to avoid duty so they are seized and lost. Bummer but that's the law.

[moteyi]

And that would be why they were seized as they were described as books.

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[Vitola]

Is it not the responsibility of the exporter to correctly describe the goods, not the recipient?

[Shaun]

Cigars are only seized if they have been labelled as something else when they are examined. If they had been correctly labelled than you would have been asked to pay the duty as with anything else you can import. Importing cigars from anywhere in the world is not illegal but you have to be prepared to pay the duty. By mislabelling them you are attempting to avoid duty so they are seized and lost. Bummer but that's the law.

The rules are different for EU and non EU imports.

[Shaun]

And that would be why they were seized as they were described as books.

But on an EU to EU parcel no customs declaration is needed.

Is it not the responsibility of the exporter to correctly describe the goods, not the recipient?

Yes, but see above.

[PeeJay]

I suggest we end this discussion before we stray into forbidden waters