How strict are customs on what you bring back?

[littlegreydonkey]

we never got stopped either but it wouldn't stop me panicking that if we could just cram everything into two cases (we went out with one) all would be well - probably looked guilty as sin walking through customs but we were only ever about £200 over anyway. Now I live in NZ and clothes, shoes and toiletries are duty free - you only declare electricals over about £250. Mind you I always have to go through the red channel anyway and declare my doritos!!

 

[WDWfan uk]

When I saw this thread it reminded me of a post from Sue who <i>was</i> stopped by Customs and here is a link to that thread
Click here

 

[su su]

Thanks Shirley for posting that link. I know that when i go in September this year i shall definately be careful what i bring back. When I posted what had happened it caused a lot of discussion, with a lot of people more or less saying we deserved it, but i can honestly say that i really did not know about the limit. I still think we were only stopped because we had a lot of excess luggage. All I know is that i have never ever been so embarassed and it really made me feel quite ill, it made me feel like a real criminal

Sue

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by matty624
David, I presume you're refering to smuggling cigarettes or the like, not Reeboks!

Does it matter whether it's cigarettes or clothing? As far as Customs are concerned it's just which should be paid to HM Treasury. As far as I know it is up to you, the importer, to prove that you bought the item in the UK and are simply bringing it home, rather than up to Customs to prove that you bought it in the USA.

As Sue's post proves, taking a risk and NOT getting away with it can be quite an expensive end to your holiday.

Regards

Rob

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Lets be honest - we all go over our limit - how can you go on hols to the US and not be tempted

We were actually on the last but one day of our trip in 2002 down in the beautiful Florida Keys when we read the post Shirley has posted . . . I'll be honest and admit it frightened the life out of us and that night we repacked all our freshly packed bags, took all the labels off of everything, tried to scrunch up any new looking clothes and DH wore one of his new pairs of jeans home

Last year when we went I did try and keep to our limit, but failed, and felt very guilty when we went through the green channel. We're not talking about hundreds of pounds, but each of us were probably over our limits by £30-40. It's all the little things like school pressies, souvenir photos etc that you just don't think to include in your allowance. I would have been very cross with myself if we had been stopped and had to pay duty; that's deafeating the object of getting the stuff cheaper in the first place!

I always feel guilty, though, even when flying back from somewhere and nowhere near my limit

At the end of the day, if you do want to bring back more than your allowance, you must accept the risk you take each time.