Customs nightmare on importing personal effects

[GJ&Rach 12]

Gj shipped his personal effects from the netherlands on oct 9th. 1 small pallet, it fit in a car. smart tv, computer, weight set...various toys and keepsakes and such. About $5,000 of stuff. They got held up in customs for x-ray, then devanned, and the entire container was gone through and hand inspected. Finally, on Dec 4th, after an extra week of delays getting it from chicago to st louis. The shipper here in the US sent us the forms to fill out, he had his passport with the visa and entry stamp, and a copy of his I-94, a packing list of exactly what was in it and bill of lading, and the cargo release from the shipper to the warehouse where it was shipped to for us to pick it up.

I called the warehouse before it arrived and they said we needed a customs release, and all we had to do was take the forms to the customs office and they'd give us the release to bring down to pick it up. I called customs, explained that he was bringing his personal effects in and we needed a customs release and they said to bring the paperwork to the office and they'd give us the release. I asked if there was any fee or anything else we needed and they said no.

So it's a whole day trip to do this. We're 3 hours from the warehouse each way. Had to make arrangements for the kids and take a day to do it. We got to the customs office with the paperwork, gave them a copy of his passport, all the paperwork. They looked at it, and then said..."2 things and you aren't going to like it. First, our system doesnt say anything about it being inspected, so we are going to have to go down and look in boxes and things. Second, you've got to get a broker." We asked what the broker was for, you need a broker to talk to us as a middleman between you and us. we asked when they could go down and look at it since we were from out of town, he said oh, it's down at XXX (which for the record is about 10 minutes away) so maybe tuesday or wednesday next week, you aren't going to get it today."

We explained that it had already been through the most intrusive examination in New Jersey but they insisted it had only been through an x-ray. We called our agent in New Jersey whom we'd been dealing with regularly already due to the unbelievable wait on all the customs exams and the "lost week" sitting in chicago, he told us yes it had been examined and he had proof, he asked for an email to send it to. I asked the customs agent, with him on the phone still for an email to send proof to that it was already done, then handed him the phone. The customs agent said "our system doent show it was done. I'm going to sound harsh here, but we get paid a lot of money to do this job, and we make the rules. We say we need to put eyes on it, so that's what we're going to do" then handed me back the phone. Customs agent then handed us a list of brokers in the area, a couple of which were downstairs that he suggested we try.

So we went down and found the first one, she said "they do this all the time if you're importing this just happens, and you're lucky this isn't a commercial shipment, then this is much worse." So we had to sign power of attorney for her to represent us, and said she'd talk to them. She said her fee was 85$, to be paid in cash or money order, and the warehouse has a 50$ extra fee for the customs exam also.

She told us to go find a coffee shop and wait, she'd see what she could do. This was at about 930 am. About 10 minutes later she calls and says they'll go look at it at about noon, so maybe you can get it today. Then she calls again about 1015 and said they were on their way right then already, and to come by and pay her before we go get it.

Found an ATM, got the cash for the broker fee, warehouse fee, and extra customs exam fees (lord we'd already paid about 250 in extra customs exam fees from the intrusive exam they did in jersey!) then went to the warehouse since she said they would leave the customs clearance fee with them. We called the warehouse at around noon hoping they'd be done and to make sure they left the release. They said they had, and it was all ready to be picked up.

Got to the warehouse, apparently they weren't charging us the extra 50$ because the customs lady got there (we'd dealt with 2 other men, no idea who she was) and took one look at it, saw the customs has opened this box tape all over everything and said she didnt need to touch it and left.

So apparently we were forced to use a broker we didnt need, for an exam we'd already had. I'm considering filing a complaint with customs. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Edited December 7, 2013 by GJ&Rach

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

**** Moving from AOS forum to Moving Here forum ******

[GJ&Rach 12]

Heh, a nice platter that went with a set of pretty cocktail glasses is missing altogether, his computer case (steel!) is horribly bent up, other things missing, chipped, broken.... GRRRRRRRR

[Lynkali 163]

I am sorry for your pain and problems ... if I understand correctly, you didn't use any shipping company? Just shipped it yourselves?

Although we paid a bit much for the small amount of items we shipped, I'm fairly happy with the service that the shipping company we used gave us. (A Finnish company, Victor Ek for anyone interested.) We were ALSO chosen for extra inspection upon arrival in the USA, despite the fact that nearly everything he shipped was books and clothes -- so that did add one extra week to the process, and we did have to pay customs $100 plus a "brokerage" fee to the shipping company of $50. But overall it was stress-free, the items arrived in perfect condition and relatively on-time, minus the week for customs. And they delivered right to our door, we did not have to go anywhere to get the items.

So for others reading, I'm not saying you shouldn't ship privately, but having a shipping company certainly is convenient and probably worth the extra charges, just for insurance and ease-of-delivery.

So sorry for your problems, GJ&Rach!

[Bugs 455]

This is exactly why I came with two empty bags the last time I visited my fiance and took a lot of her stuff on the plane with me - went through with no problems. It was enough so that she only needs two bags herself for the rest of her stuff when she flies out here in two weeks. We wanted to avoid shipping anything altogether.

[GJ&Rach 12]

He used a shipping company out of rotterdam, which connected to a freight forwarder. His shipping company asked him if he wanted to pay extra to have them deal with the customs stuff when it arrived here (by their agent in the USA, CaroTrans, Who's agent is the person we had actually talk to the customs officer on the phone and was told "bug off basically), or whether he wanted to do it. He paid the extra for them to do it. All he was supposed to have to do was fill out the forms and get the clearance and pick it up. Apparently the intrusive physical exam is done by a third party also so they are paid extra/separately from the free importing rule.Since things missing were in boxes customs opened, and were resealed without them, and the packaging when we picked it up looked fine, things were damaged/removed when the exam was done. Which of course, Customs won't do anything about.

Edited December 7, 2013 by GJ&Rach

[Lynkali 163]

He used a shipping company out of rotterdam, which connected to a freight forwarder. His shipping company asked him if he wanted to pay extra to have them deal with the customs stuff when it arrived here (by their agent in the USA, CaroTrans, Who's agent is the person we had actually talk to the customs officer on the phone and was told "bug off basically), or whether he wanted to do it. He paid the extra for them to do it. All he was supposed to have to do was fill out the forms and get the clearance and pick it up. Apparently the intrusive physical exam is done by a third party also so they are paid extra/separately from the free importing rule.Since things missing were in boxes customs opened, and were resealed without them, and the packaging when we picked it up looked fine, things were damaged/removed when the exam was done. Which of course, Customs won't do anything about.

Then it sounds like the shipping company is almost more at fault than Customs -- they were supposed to handle ALL of that. You shouldn't have even had to pick up the items, at least that's how it went for us. Again, I am sorry, but I have no suggestions other than file a complaint with both Customs and with your shipping company directly, since they really did not fulfill their contract.

[JRF 117]

This is exactly why I came with two empty bags the last time I visited my fiance and took a lot of her stuff on the plane with me - went through with no problems. It was enough so that she only needs two bags herself for the rest of her stuff when she flies out here in two weeks. We wanted to avoid shipping anything altogether.

Reading the stories about shipping things to the US confirms my decision to do the same thing, take empty bags with me when I travel for my wife's interview. US Customs opens, inspects and destroys anything of value shipped from Vietnam. She will need almost all new clothes because of the weather difference in LA, and her sister gets anything else of value.

[D N Medellin COL 75]

"So apparently we were forced to use a broker we didnt need, for an exam we'd already had. I'm considering filing a complaint with customs. Any thoughts or suggestions?"

Count your lucky charms, in any other country of the world where you ship any items to, in your case a portion of a container, the shipment in total would either end up lost, stolen or because of corruption a fine placed on the items equal to double the worth and the end result you lose eveything. File a complaint? Really.

[Virtuous45 31]

He used a shipping company out of rotterdam, which connected to a freight forwarder. His shipping company asked him if he wanted to pay extra to have them deal with the customs stuff when it arrived here (by their agent in the USA, CaroTrans, Who's agent is the person we had actually talk to the customs officer on the phone and was told "bug off basically), or whether he wanted to do it. He paid the extra for them to do it. All he was supposed to have to do was fill out the forms and get the clearance and pick it up. Apparently the intrusive physical exam is done by a third party also so they are paid extra/separately from the free importing rule.Since things missing were in boxes customs opened, and were resealed without them, and the packaging when we picked it up looked fine, things were damaged/removed when the exam was done. Which of course, Customs won't do anything about.

I'm so sorry to hear of your misfortunes. No one should have to go through a situation like yours..and that is one reason why corruption will not end. Can you imagine how the culprits are getting rich off unsuspecting clients, they were employed to assist? I say you take your story to your local TV station and tell them your story, or do a Youtube video and post it...let it be broadcasted worldwide so that others will become aware of their practice..then you will see something happening. You will have to pay a lawyer to suite them, and then there is no guarantee that you will be compensated (plus you will be paying out more).

But at the end of it all, you will have to decide what you are going to do. I know that is what I would do.