Items Left At Hotels Abroad

shaun_from_Africa

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

How does the random tourist know this?
How does he prove it to customs if they stop him?
Or are you just going to let him take the risk and promise to pay any tax bill with his name on it?

All the person bringing it into the UK needs to do is to declare it at customs and give an explanation of where it came from and why they have it.
They will then do one of three things.
1/ Let him bring it in at no charge.
2/ Keep hold of it until they get proof that it was originally purchased in the UK and has had VAT and duty already paid.
3/ Ask for duty and VAT to be paid. If the person bringing it in doesn't do this, it will revert back to 2/ above.

gettingtheresometime

The only way I'd be happy with is to fly out myself & get it

dawyldthing

Hang on a minute. I would have had the guts to ask but knew I would be busy all day so thought I'd try and help. I knew there was a chance they would be coming back tomorrow so also knew time wouldn't be of essence.

Turns out it's the opposite end of the place so couldn't help after all.

It's a ring not a suitcase for crying out loud. How many times have you been through customs and been stopped? I've travelled to must be 25 countries now and never once been stopped. I know a friend got stopped with cigarettes a while ago and got them took off him but that's it. If someone asked me to bring a phone/ ring or something small Id do it. Suitcase - no chance.

Sometimes you have to try and help as others have helped before

Just hope the person does get it back in the end. Might be worth creating a facebook vial on Thomson or one of the pages to try and ask someone who is going out there after all or ask on the hotels facebook page as there might be people coming to or from the UK that can help.

Tell you what though pages like this show we are an uncaring nation

Voyager2002

dawyldthing wrote: »

Tell you what though pages like this show we are an uncaring nation

Disagree. In this particular situation there was a lot to go wrong, and it could have ended badly for the volunteer mule.It is not being uncaring to hesitate to take a risk, particularly for a total stranger.

JIL

We left a set of car keys in a Spanish hotel. To replace them would have cost a fortune, we arranged a courier, cost £45, took a week but I could track the parcel as it was enroute. It was delivered on a Sunday afternoon. However there was an empire state keyring on the keys and that had gone astray. Not sure at what point.

FBaby

I would never ever agree to bring back a ring for someone else. What if I lose it, what if someone decides to wrestle me down the ground to steal it, what if the person at the other end say that it is not the right ring and accuse me of having stolen the actual one. Honestly, a recipe for disaster when they are other avenues to deal with it.

Indeed, I expect the insurance company to be able to recommend a distributor. DHL are located in Cap Verde.

spiro

Something similar happen to me some years ago when we had to return from Sevilla in a hurry and left wifes jewelery in the room safe. Tried several major courier firms and they would not transport gold or gems across borders.

martindow

spiro wrote: »

Something similar happen to me some years ago when we had to return from Sevilla in a hurry and left wifes jewelery in the room safe. Tried several major courier firms and they would not transport gold or gems across borders.

I think virtually every company will exclude jewellery from their insurance.

spiro

martindow wrote: »

I think virtually every company will exclude jewellery from their insurance.

Wasn't insurance it was to do with customs and smuggling.

bicbil

spiro wrote: »

Wasn't insurance it was to do with customs and smuggling.

Main problem is customs, looks like another holiday to Cape Verde for us.
Won't be using anyone unless they are known to us.