Dutch customs nailed me big time

**Robin** · 20th June 06, 04:05 AM

My XMarks kilt is locked up in a dungeon by the customs

I have to pay 19% VAT + import duty...a whopping €200 in total...I can cry now

To make it worse...I need to deliver a commercial invoice...I don't have it...and proof of payment...will take another 3 weeks before I get my Visa overview. They might even return it to sender, because I can't deliver the paperwork in time....Catch 22

I'm seriously f****d up

**davedove** · 20th June 06, 04:21 AM

Good luck, Robin. Government bureaucracies are a pain, no matter what country you're in.

**RockyR** · 20th June 06, 04:28 AM

You're outside the UK and had to pay VAT? Contact the company and tell them you're not in the UK and they SHOULD take it off. If they tell you that you'll get reimbursed by the Govt later, DON'T bellieve them. I'm still waiting on reimbursement from a trip in January.

If they didn't send as commercial invoice, call the comapny and ask THEM to fax a copy of the invoice to the customs agent you're dealing with.

You can call your credit card company and ask them to print out a list of transactions that have recently occured (in particular the one the this company) and fax it to you. Alternatively, you can ask the company you bought the product from for the credit card receipt to be faxed to the customs agent as well.

I have to deal with these situations EVERY WEEK. Fun, isn't it?

**Robin** · 20th June 06, 04:38 AM

The kilt was made in the USA (by Barb)...that's outside the EC...in the Netherlands they charge the receiver for the VAT+import duty when good come from outside the EC.

I called customs...they need proof of payment and a commercial invoice...I have neither.

**Valencian Kilted** · 20th June 06, 04:42 AM

uffff..... that's why in Spain we call it "burrocracia"...

Sorry to hear that Robin, I hope everything goes as fast as it can, at least Netherlands seem to be a more practical country than mine!

Patientia et canem,....

¡Salud!

T O N O

**Big Paul** · 20th June 06, 05:00 AM

Sorry to hear of your troubles.. Thats a big bummer..

**David Thornton** · 20th June 06, 05:02 AM

Robin, sorry to hear that. If they are looking for a commercial invoice, they may think that the kilt is for re sale. Explain that it is a personal purchase and that may help with both the need for the com invoice and part of the duty.
David

**Robin** · 20th June 06, 05:20 AM

Oh...how sweet...they also charge handling cost, administration cost and a fine for uhh...for what?

€236,61 in total now...it's my lucky day

1st offence shoplifting = €100...so I guess I'm a really tough criminal now...next time they'll prolly burn me to the stake :rolleyes:

**cavscout** · 20th June 06, 05:37 AM

Holly Smokes !!! Sorry to hear about that.

The Pakistani sporran I have was shipped with the customs form labeled "Free Sample". I used this method on a set of sporran straps I sent to a gentleman in Japan. I never heard if he was hit with any tax, duty or fee.

**Freelander Sporrano** · 20th June 06, 06:10 AM

I know this doesn't help much now ...So sorry.

However next time you order a kilt get it sent to you a returned repair or alteration. It's bending the rules and it works...now and again.

Customs is a world outside the usual run of things. Living in Norway I sympathise with your problems

Let customs send it back to Barb and then get her to re send it as a repair