amdaley

13 minutes ago, skinner75 said:

I paid €29 online this morning for duty on the weed van I ordered from Silver Fox last November. Postie left the customs charge note in this morning

Last November 

Well I bit the bullet this morning & rang An Post customer services on 01 7057600
After 35 minutes I got to the top of the queue.
I gave him the two tracking numbers & he told me the first one is being sent back because of an incorrect Customs declaration. Nice of them to tell me.  I asked him if there was anything I could do to stop this & he replied no as An Post can't do anything if the declaration is incorrect. I said I thought that when there was a problem that An Post were supposed to contact either the seller or the recipient for information before sending it back. He denied that was the case?
The second package has had a customs charge attached to it, which I would expect & he gave me the Customs number as I hadn’t received any notification.
Putting in the number it told me that the service wasn't available at present & to try later
After lunch I tried again & paid the charge.
Now I’ve been on to the seller Kevin Dickinson at Coastal Dcc in the UK & he can’t understand why the first package was rejected as the Customs declaration form CN22 is exactly the same as that on the second package which has got through?
He’s going to check with his Post Office & get back to me on it. He’s afraid to send out replacements in case the same thing happens again.
The strange thing is that Royal Mail held onto the second package in Heathrow until last Sat before sending it over to Ireland? Maybe something has been sorted out?

I remember those Youghal trains.

Packed in like sardines.

Spent all my younger days on holiday in Youghal every year.

Can anyone help here please ?

2 minutes ago, declan64 said:

Just a quick update on my Hattons / DHL experience.

Hattons refunded me within the hour after I sent them the DHL receipt and they apologised for what had happened stating they had messed up on the sending side and my package should have gone out by Royal Mail and not DHL. Given DHL wouldn't have had any supporting documentation that VAT had been paid they went ahead and charged me. If they actually looked at the labeling they should have seen otherwise.

Anyway, I have the package and at no extra expense apart from some unwanted hassle. I think Hattons got the message and were all over it.

Think yourself lucky that Hattons didn't use Royal Mail, otherwise you'd still be waiting like a lot of the rest of us 

I've been told that the matter has been sent as a parliamentary question To ask the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if he will investigate issues arising between An Post and Revenue related to the calculation and collection of vat and duties on parcels, and the steps he will take to establish a clear process for handling such issues that avoids parcels being returned to the originator, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I won't be holding my breath but some good might come from it if only to highlight the problem.

Hello Everyone.

I am looking for an NCE Mini Panel if anyone has one they no longer use or need ?

I'm also looking for a quantity of Single Pole Double Throw Momentary switches.

If anyone has either please let me know.

I will of course pay for them in case anyone was thinking I was looking for freebies 

Regards.

Tony.

7 minutes ago, Georgeconna said:

As I said before, Big opportunity for the Irish shops here but they are a bit stuck in a rut with stuff like this although Marks did have cobalts at one stage

They still have them but at a premium.

3 minutes ago, BosKonay said:

Arguably, supporting local like http://www.marksmodels.com  works out cheaper, faster and less trouble?

Agreed but the problem is that Marks don't have the stuff that people need.

I have two packages of DCCconcepts stuff stuck in customs at the moment, none of which Marks even advertise let alone have in stock.

20 minutes ago, declan64 said:

I emptied my Hattons trunk earlier this week with the delivery coming via DHL.

I receive an email and text this morning from DHL looking for an import duty and fees payment (which they're not going to get from me).

I've contacted Hattons to either sort it or I'm asking DHL to return the items and looking for a full refund. I can live without the items for now and Hattons need to feel a little pain for this.

Hattons have been one of the last usable UK channels given their ability to handle Irish VAT and the very useful trunk service but something that was working a few weeks ago is clearly broken now.

Let us know how you get on with Hattons ?

31 minutes ago, irishmail said:

This is the transcript from my online chat earlier today before  the An post agent ended the chat.   Spoke to brother in law short while ago and he said he put value £20.00 and model railway items on the packet.   Obviously the staff in the Dublin 12 sorting office can not be bothered to read!  

Seán 17:06
Hi, john how can we help ?
john 17:07
I want to know why my letter was not delivered and may be sent back.
Seán 17:11
checking the tracking it seems that the item has been processed to be returned to sender I’m afraid. The customs
declaration which was provided electronically was insufficient. I would advise to refer to the sender to arrange for the item
to be re-issued with the correct information (as per the changes introduced on 1st July) once it arrives back in the country
of origin. If you check our website here: https://www.anpost.com/Media-Centre/News/Customs-declaration-Postal-items
you will be able to see what information is required for an item to be cleared. I am sorry I cannot offer you a more
favourable update on the item today but I hope this information helps you!
john 17:13
it is a gift from a family member. why was i not informed about this and why is it being sent back
what did it say on the declaration form?
Seán 17:14
It looks to be missing something called a TARIC code. You'll need to ask the sender to ensure that complete electronic
data accompanies the item including a 10 digit TARIC code. They can visit our TARIC code finder to see exactly what
information is needed: https://www.anpost.com/Commerce/Parcel-Solutions/International-Parcels/Find-a-TARICCommodity-
code
john 17:16
so why can it not be delivered? It must cost more to send back to uk and postage already paid for delivery to Ireland
Seán 17:19
As advised it failed its clearance check due to the declaration issue and therefore had to be returned for the information to
be fixed. We cannot deliver the item if it fails this.
john 17:21
What happens now, Tracking says will 'try and return to sender which dont sound hopeful. and the package contained
model railway items which are except from customs charges and is a gift from family.
Seán 17:23
The item was scanned leaving last night, the tracking will update on the Royal Mail website showing it being delivered
back to the sender. They an then get this info fixed and have the item resent and then there should be no issues.
john 17:25
so what you are saying is that we can not longer send items to our family between UK & Ireland now. This was not a
business or sales transaction.
Read
Seán 17:28
As long as the item is sent with the correct customs information there would be no issues with the item coming in.
Unfortunately I have given you all the information I can. It was nice talking to you have a great day.
Seán has closed the chat.
How would you r

Think Seán needs to take a course on how to deal with the public

I got the usual An post message this evening when checking online.

I've now sent the following email to my local Td's & Councillors as well as Michael Martin, Eamon Ryan & Mary Lou McDonald.

Nothing may come of it but at least its worth a try.

Hello *****.

Would you please contact someone in An Post & tell them to get their act together.

People all over the country are waiting for packages & parcels which are stacked up in Dublin 12 & elsewhere because An Post isn't following the customs rules regarding declarations.

 "Customs explained that An Post is responsible for entering customs data and collecting vat and duties due on behalf of the Revenue, but also responsible for contacting the sender or person receiving the package to make any necessary amendments if there is a problem with the electronic customs declaration transmitted by the sending postal authority to An Post."

 Instead of contacting the senders or recipients An Post is sending packages & parcels back from where they came. It's even happening to people who have paid the Customs Vat & the An Post charge.

Regards.

*I would urge everyone to contact their local TD's on this matter.*

5 minutes ago, irishmail said:

Pity Anpost do not have this information and inform 'their' customers of whats going on.  

I was chatting to one of 'their' 'customer' advisers a short while ago trying to find out what was going on then he decided to just end the chat!!!

Have lost all confidence in An post now.  Just feel sorry for our local friendly post person who ends up getting all the flack from irate and frustrated customers.

 

Where I live in South Kerry we have a fantastic postman John who never misses a beat.

When I moved here about 15 years ago someone sent me a birthday card but didn't have my address.

They wrote my name & the town where I live, that's all 

Credit to our postie he found me with the card.

I wish the rest of An Post staff were like that 

This message appears on the Royal Mail International incidents update site.

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5317

Start date: 16th September 2021
Latest Update: 16th September 2021
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Customs delays

Latest Update
We’re sorry for the disruption some customers are experiencing with some services to Ireland at the moment. This disruption is being caused by the implementation of new import controls which are resulting in the return of some items by the Irish Customs authorities. Royal Mail remains in discussions with our postal partner, AnPost with a view to help identify new processes that could improve the flow of mail items into Ireland and reduce the return of items. In parallel, we have a number of potential alternative services business customers may want to use to post to Ireland including Click and Drop .. We’ll provide further updates to customers as we have them.

This is the message I'm getting for one of my packages from the UK on An Post site. My second package is still in London I believe because Royal Mail won't forward it here because An Post can't get their act together.

Christ what a country we live in 

22 September 2021 17:09

We have your post in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

20 September 2021 14:37

Your delivery has been sorted DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

20 September 2021 14:33

We have your post in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

17 September 2021 13:13

Your delivery has been sorted DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

17 September 2021 13:09

We have your post in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

17 September 2021 13:08

Your delivery was received by An Post in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

1 hour ago, irishmail said:

I have a similar situation, a registered packet was received and sorted in Dublin mails centre yesterday, and this morning it still sits!  Was expecting an update so see it in local office for delivery. Oh well another day then!!   

Maybe the Dubs have a thing about sending items to Mayo.     

A thing about sending stuff anywhere more like

57 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

Olivia's always charged a fee for not charging VAT, which is why I as a US based customer have never and will not do business with them.

Only ever dealt with them once & never again 

2 hours ago, declan64 said:

I use the trunk feature Hattons provide and only get a shipment every couple of months. This tends to mean that a courier is required to deliver and I haven't had any issues (touch wood). I find the combination of the trunk and prepaid VAT from Hattons a god send to help manage costs. I cancelled an order with Olivias Trains recently as they were charging a surcharge of £10 for excluding the VAT on my order and £20 for a courier who would likely hit me for a another £20 to handle the VAT. Hornby are Irish VAT registered now but a rip off price wise. EBay is a washout of course for UK purchases or sales. Brexit has been painful for sure!

Trust Olivias to try something

1 hour ago, Blaine said:

Avoid postman padraig completely - use/ask for a courier instead. Parcel2go are good if the sender cant/wont do it

Doesn't always work that way.

I had two large boxes of cat litter coming from Amazon through DPD because of the weight. Both got stuck in the DPD depot in Athlone.

The first one went from DPD to the Customs Office three times before it was released. It took so long that I had already received a refund from Amazon because they thought the box was lost. I received it about two weeks later, plastered with "Released from Customs" stickers. The second box came through in about a week with no stickers. Perhaps they had learned from the first incident ?

The Mrs & I have never had an Amazon package not turn up when sent through An Post. Maybe we're just lucky.

Its total hit & miss with them especially when it ends up in the black hole that is the Dublin Mails Centre 

I have a registered package coming through at the moment & it looks like its playing a round the houses game.

How many times does a package have to go through there before its eventually free ?

My package arrived there on Friday & its already been sorted twice.

Maybe Broithes tracker dog is on holidays  

Yea that's it.

Hopefully but as other have said.

Some are stopped & some get through.

We'll see.

My Hattons package arrived today with the postman. Just regular international priority postage @ £5.

No communications from Irish Customs about it.

The customs declaration had a bar code  UY---------GB

This number & bar code was also on the postal label with a little IOSS in one corner.

I presume that this code gave customs all the information they needed.

39 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said:

If it’s struggling to get through Germany….what about France

I had visions of Frenchmen in a convoy of 2CV's transporting a load of boxes marked "Trains" 

At least the French have a transport system unlike Ireland where large parts of the country are devoid of any sort of decent transport  

19 minutes ago, Warbonnet said:

Hi everyone,

Due to a DB strike in Germany last week the train has been a tad delayed and caught in a backlog. They're currently about to get underway again but we're about 10 days away from arrival. 

Hurry up DB!!!

Cheers.

Fran 

So much for German efficiency  

22 hours ago, DoctorPan said:

I'm hearing reports of a sample A has appeared in Hawkins Street...

Can you still get down the street with the loco there