Knit Your Square to Give Your Share - PART 4

mrs-moneypenny

ginnyknit wrote: »

Hope everyone is doing ok especially Mrs M's grand babies. Sending hugs to all

ginny they are my nieces its my younger brothers children.

kathy last week was only an xray in two weeks ive got to have the tooth preped for the crown not looking orward to that

update
6 mays prem body warmers all ends sewn in and buttons on

hope all are well im supposed to be in the garden but just popped in for a minute to say hello

Mrs_Twins

Hi ginnyknit,
You are most welcome! Thank you for making a second Blanket too!

I have had a shock.....On Friday I had a customs bill from the states £84.00! I have 100 Flags coming from the States for the Olympic Blanket. For our Alzheimers fund raising.

Does anyone know a way around these custom charges please?
As you can imagine I am terribly upset. I never gave it a thought when the Lady in question said she was making so many.

She did say on taking the parcel to the post office that it was for a non-profit charity organisation.

Being that we are all in this type of field 'charity work' I wonder if anyone can help me please?

I am not asking for donations to help me out, some ladies have already enquired whether they can do so. I have thanked them but said it is my problem and I will deal with it. I'm not ungrateful but I don't want to 'sponge' on anyone. This isn't the reason why I am asking you I just wonder if anyone has been in the same boat as myself.

I think it's such a shame when we all work so hard for different charities around the world. The last thing we want is charges like this.
I am filling out a form to say I am disputing this charge, but of course nothing will happen until next week.
Thanks for listening a very 'upset' Mrs Twins today!
Love Suex

roamin_in_the_gloamin

If you are not official registered as a charity you might find that they will insist on you paying which is a real pain in the butt. Previously, I have had a fight with French customs for much the same thing....I was advised the the customs label should therefore always read GIFT....NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. Not sure Sue if that will work in this case but perhaps for future shipments. Your best course of action for this one is try and negotiate/plead on behalf of your charitable donations, show them your websites, beg if need be . What a sod to look forward to the start of next week.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_CL_000014

I am off to read that lot and see if there are any get outs
x

psso

Oh my word Mrs Twins, how on earth can they charge that amount ?

Whenever I`ve had anything from abroad (usually ebay stuff) the customs ticket has always been filled out as `Gift` so have never had to pay any charges, sorry I can`t be more help.

ETA crossed posts with Jean, but same info.

ginnyknit

OOps Mr MP so sorry , wasnt thinking you were an old biddy like me, just thought they were grandbabies I had a premmie and know how difficult it is, never mind having 2.

Mrs Twins, its ridiculous the postage problems. I help 2 charities, 1 sending baby things to Rwanda, which was ok when it was going through the Ambassadors wife (who got us involved in the first place) but when she moved on it got harder. 2. I am part of a small group who are sending things to the Gambia, that has to go to a central point and be put in a container otherwise they have to pay tax when it gets to them -kinda defeats the object of charity work at times. Hope you find a way of cutting costs and get the cash back, thats a huge amount - hugs ginny

roamin_in_the_gloamin

I have always accepted that in some of the third world countries there is a "payment" to be made to officials in order to release goods meant for charities but that kind of figure you mention Sue for goods into the UK is a bit steep.....read the link I posted there are a few hints and tips.x

Mrs_Twins

Thanks to everyone that has commented. My husband is finding time to sit with me this evening and to go through all of this.
I am so...upset as you can imagine. I'll keep you all informed.
I am going to put a note up on the 'SIBOL' web site in a few days time when this is all sorted to make others aware.
Your comments by everyone have been very much appreciated. I just wondered whether this had happened to others, and how you got round it.
Be back soon,
love Suex

sock-knitter

evening all, hope everyone is as well as can be. i feel well for a change, no migraine or dizziness today. in fact today can definatly be classed as an excellant day for me. hope tommorrow goes as well, i have been asked out on a date. an old fashioned type of date, walk to the park, fish and chip supper on the way back

mrs twins so sorry to hear of the hefty amount of customs tax, hope u can sort it out soon

hugs all
sharon xxx

Kinsey

Shaz, wow! A proper old fashioned date, good on you. Hope it goes well.

mrs-moneypenny

morning all
MrsTwins so sorry to hear about the hefty customs charge that really is bad cant offer any advice but gad good advice and support have already been given
Shaz how lovely enjoy your date and i hope it goes well

hope all are well