Customs fees

[shakysgirl 1]

Our stuff finally arrived from the UK to the port in NYC- we waited nearly two weeks for it to go through customs. My husband has now received a phone call that they will not release our belongings until we pay a $400 customs fee. We have 5 days to pay this fee or the moving company contracted by Robinson's (who we used in the UK) will charge us a substantial storage fee. It's not the fee that irritates me, it is that no one from Robinson's ever told us that this could be an issue.

So for anyone shipping your life's belongings to the US: keep in mind the customs fee!!!

[Amy and Brian 1]

They shouldn't be charging customs fees for personal belongings, should they? Or do you have other stuff in there as well?

When I moved from Texas to Canada, I know I had problems. None of my stuff should have had customs fees but the woman at the place I was using to ship my stuff screwed up on all the forms and when things got to Canada, the customs officials insisted that everything being shipped to me was from a company and not my own personal belongings. They wanted to charge me arond $500 for my own stuff! It took me at least a week of non-stop phone calls to finally clear things up and in the end I settled for paying around $50. I sent my dad (who still lived in Texas) back to the shipping company to complain, but that was more for personal satisfaction than anything else

[zyggy 9]

They shouldn't be charging customs fees for personal belongings, should they? Or do you have other stuff in there as well?

When I moved from Texas to Canada, I know I had problems. None of my stuff should have had customs fees but the woman at the place I was using to ship my stuff screwed up on all the forms and when things got to Canada, the customs officials insisted that everything being shipped to me was from a company and not my own personal belongings. They wanted to charge me arond $500 for my own stuff! It took me at least a week of non-stop phone calls to finally clear things up and in the end I settled for paying around $50. I sent my dad (who still lived in Texas) back to the shipping company to complain, but that was more for personal satisfaction than anything else

There is no customs fee for moving personal belongings..

However, did you give your shipper CBP Form 3299 with a copy of your I-94 when you sent the goods.. If not, then you are liable for the duty for your articles until this form is produced. The customs broker should be able to assist you with the necessary paperwork to clear this up with CBP.

Edited April 10, 2006 by zyggy

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Get back to the moving company - all the fees SHOULD have been included in their price. If they've messed up you might want to MENTION that you belong to a forum where HUNDREDS of UK immigrants (and therefore future customers) will be reading about which companies are recommended, and are efficient and value for money, and which are not

[Euro 3]

Our stuff finally arrived from the UK to the port in NYC- we waited nearly two weeks for it to go through customs. My husband has now received a phone call that they will not release our belongings until we pay a $400 customs fee. We have 5 days to pay this fee or the moving company contracted by Robinson's (who we used in the UK) will charge us a substantial storage fee. It's not the fee that irritates me, it is that no one from Robinson's ever told us that this could be an issue.

So for anyone shipping your life's belongings to the US: keep in mind the customs fee!!!

wow, I shipped stuff i used Excess bagage & didnt have to pay a customs fee!!.unless it was all in with the shipping fee, dunno

[meauxna 15]

They shouldn't be charging customs fees for personal belongings, should they? Or do you have other stuff in there as well?

When I moved from Texas to Canada, I know I had problems. None of my stuff should have had customs fees but the woman at the place I was using to ship my stuff screwed up on all the forms and when things got to Canada, the customs officials insisted that everything being shipped to me was from a company and not my own personal belongings. They wanted to charge me arond $500 for my own stuff! It took me at least a week of non-stop phone calls to finally clear things up and in the end I settled for paying around $50. I sent my dad (who still lived in Texas) back to the shipping company to complain, but that was more for personal satisfaction than anything else

There is no customs fee for moving personal belongings..

However, did you give your shipper CBP Form 3299 with a copy of your I-94 when you sent the goods.. If not, then you are liable for the duty for your articles until this form is produced. The customs broker should be able to assist you with the necessary paperwork to clear this up with CBP.

Redundant dittos. There should not be a Customs charge for bringing your own used goods over.

[shakysgirl 1]

Hey thanks for this input. I have been in contact with Robinson's and I am still fuming. This is a direct quote from the representative of Robinson's:

The normal procedure is the consultant would advise what occurs when they do your survey, then we would state in our quote that our price does not include Customs inspection fees, duties & taxes, after you have excepted our quotation I would discuss with you what happens when goods are shipped. Unfortunately we can not guarantee if Customs will inspect your goods as this are done on a random basis. This particular container was targeted by US Customs & it is very unfortunate that you have incurred the extra costs due to this however it is one of those things we can not guarantee.

Do you think I should fight this fee with Robinson's or just give in and pay? They are basically holding our worldly belongings hostage right now.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

But why are they charging fees? Surely these are 2nd hand goods - and therefore of no retail value and thus exempt?

I may be wrong here but I thought only new goods, or goods purchased new from abroad were subject to customs fees?

I have to go look now! lol

[meauxna 15]

Hey thanks for this input. I have been in contact with Robinson's and I am still fuming. This is a direct quote from the representative of Robinson's:

The normal procedure is the consultant would advise what occurs when they do your survey, then we would state in our quote that our price does not include Customs inspection fees, duties & taxes, after you have excepted our quotation I would discuss with you what happens when goods are shipped. Unfortunately we can not guarantee if Customs will inspect your goods as this are done on a random basis. This particular container was targeted by US Customs & it is very unfortunate that you have incurred the extra costs due to this however it is one of those things we can not guarantee.

Do you think I should fight this fee with Robinson's or just give in and pay? They are basically holding our worldly belongings hostage right now.

Did you point out to the rep that he misused "excepted"? grrr.

Did you read zyggy's post carefully? Did you google the form? Did you read what Customs itself says on the topic? http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbo...nitedstates.doc

No way I'd pay $400 I didn't owe. Remind the customs broker/shipper that you are an immigrant and entitled to these exemptions (it's nothing to do with your container being inspected!) and they need to broker this form for you.

Man, you have to hold these people up all the time! We do importing here and use a separate Customs Broker in the US so that our shipper can't play these games.

I'd be making Robinson's life uncomfortable while I was downloading and completing the required form.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

This $400 fee from customs appears to be something to do with a US resident's personal exemption amount - I saw it mentioned here: http://www.traveloasis.com/uscustravin.html

So that wouldn't apply to you.

*makes a note to avoid Robinson's for shipping her own goods*

[zyggy 9]

Hey thanks for this input. I have been in contact with Robinson's and I am still fuming. This is a direct quote from the representative of Robinson's:

The normal procedure is the consultant would advise what occurs when they do your survey, then we would state in our quote that our price does not include Customs inspection fees, duties & taxes, after you have excepted our quotation I would discuss with you what happens when goods are shipped. Unfortunately we can not guarantee if Customs will inspect your goods as this are done on a random basis. This particular container was targeted by US Customs & it is very unfortunate that you have incurred the extra costs due to this however it is one of those things we can not guarantee.

Do you think I should fight this fee with Robinson's or just give in and pay? They are basically holding our worldly belongings hostage right now.

Did you point out to the rep that he misused "excepted"? grrr.

Did you read zyggy's post carefully? Did you google the form? Did you read what Customs itself says on the topic? http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbo...nitedstates.doc

No way I'd pay $400 I didn't owe. Remind the customs broker/shipper that you are an immigrant and entitled to these exemptions (it's nothing to do with your container being inspected!) and they need to broker this form for you.

Man, you have to hold these people up all the time! We do importing here and use a separate Customs Broker in the US so that our shipper can't play these games.

I'd be making Robinson's life uncomfortable while I was downloading and completing the required form.

Yeah.. if you don't work fast to clear your shipment with Customs, they'll put it in a bonded warehouse until you do clear it... then just wait and see the fees pile up... You have 5 business days from the time of arrival.. get moving..

Edited April 11, 2006 by zyggy

[Ladylethal 12]

I figured they´d charge a fee, but didn´t expect it to be so "do it now or you´ll regret it". Bummer!

[zyggy 9]

I figured they´d charge a fee, but didn´t expect it to be so "do it now or you´ll regret it". Bummer!

Laura..

There is no customs duty if you bring your own personal effects... Unfortunately in this case they do not know that it consists of used personal effects because the OP didn't provide a CBP Form 3299 to their shipper. So in the eyes of the CBP, they are goods subject to duty. It won't be when they get the CBP Form 3299 to CBP. When that happens, CBP will clear the shipment.

If a shipment hasn't cleared in five business days, they send the goods to a bonded warehouse until it is cleared. Bonded warehouses are not cheap... the second it goes in there, the price to get your goods out is going to skyrocket.

The OP needs to work with her shipper to get them this form, or find out who their customs broker is so she can get the form to them.. Or in the final case, find out where the shipment is so she can get a hold of CBP herself and get them the necessary paperwork to clear the shipment.

Edited April 12, 2006 by zyggy

[eau_xplain 2]

Contact a customs broker in your area so they can help you find out what has happened to your shipment and what needs to be filed in order for it to be classified correctly as personal goods.

You also need to look at what your forwarder (Robinson's) is saying about your shipment having been called for intensive exam by US Customs. Even if it was called for intensive, unless you brought in a full container, exam fees should not go as high as what they are asking you to pay.

Good luck and I hope you find someone in your area who can help you sort this out.

Edited April 12, 2006 by eau_xplain

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Everyone of my 27 boxes was opened and inspected by CBP and I paid nothing in fees....

but I did file Form 3299....

Kezzie