Bad experience in Philippine Bureau of Customs to pick up a package

[george and aaiz 0]

Mahalnamin,

Customs taxes are really expensive. I'm not sure what the rate is in the PI but your said you were charged arond Php 7,400 (Around $180) on a package thats is worth around $390. To be honest, that's not all that unusual.

And while Im being frank, I dont know what the fuss is all about. You were being charged 7,400 and you cried. So they charged you 1,500 and you still crying.

In this particular scenario, you knew that there were something fishy going on when they asked how much did you have. As a matter of fact, you actually lied about how much you had knowing full well that they will probably accept it. You were part of the problem as much as President Macapagal Arroyo.

We have a saying that "pag binatu ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay". For me, pag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo din ng bato"I exactly know what does that mean.., But to be honest and frank too, I'm not that kind of person who will not let myself got stuck in the middle and I'm not going to defend myself. I wouldn't let myself to be used just for their personal satisfaction of other's money, me and my fiance' will not feed them. if you are in in that situation you will do what you can do. I'm not a crying baby there, I just want my package that time but I think I wouldn't have it so I called My Man.. I DIDN'T CRIED in the Customs face.

"I am nice to people who are nice to me, and treating me fairly,

but I'm like a roaring dragon if someone mistreats me"

Just as I am a Good citizen, I'm willing to pay what is right, not just merely estimated.

How did you know they were using you initially. They were just trying to tax/charge you 7,452.67 pesos. By their calculation, that is the right tax for the items that were in the package.

There was a story about a korean and her LV bag, another about an old woman, and one about how they made you wait over 2 1/2 hour but there was nothing in your initial post to indicate that the amount they were charging you was fraud. You didnt know what the tax rate was and the exact amount of the package. All you've got is an estimate and the fact that you think their estimate is not right

So after you cried outside, you went back to the office to talk the examiner to lower the fee to what "you think" is right. And they did. To be honest, this is when fraud started.

Im not judging you. That is probably what I'll do too. I mean I'll probably try to talk them into lowering the fee too.

What I would not do though... Is talk about how shitty the whole process is, blame other people like the president or the system, when I instigated the whole thing.

im a filipino. my fiance is half-filipino. we know our country. the good, the bad, the ugly. i feel your sentiments ms. Mahalnamin.. it just saddens me how you referred to our country as a "shitty country" Rizal will truly be disappointed.

[David-and-Mae 15]

Well, I think next time just dont declare much value on your items. My aunt told me that even that was so expensive, just have it like the half of the price of the item. I told my fiance' that I wouldn't like him to use USPS when sending very valuable items like this.

Actually, declaring the right value of all the items in a package is for the package's insurance that's why they charge you expensively. By not declaring the right value means you are taking the chance and risk no matter what happens to the package. Even FedEx charges so high even on a small box but since we like taking our chances and have a strong faith that our package will arrive safely to its destination, we kind of not declare the exact value of the items. But I'm not suggesting that you should follow our lead... na-ah .

--Mae