THANKS A LOT BREXITEERS (and good luck when you order items from abroad)!

[customchaos]

I recently bought some art through an online website (think, a bit like Etsy, but not that one). So the item was £400, plus £140 delivery, which I did think it was a lot, but it was being shipped from Russia. Anyway, two weeks later, I get an email from the website company, to tell me the item is being held at the depot and I am required to contact Parcelforce to pay a customs tax. I phoned up and the tax is to the tune of £140. For an item costing £400! Apparently this is the new post-Brexit norm. Just to get what you have ordered over the border!

I’ve also ordered more art from Bulgaria which is apparently in its way now and I’m really worried as this was more expensive (just under £3000). Does this mean I going to be charged another ridiculous amount as customs tax?

I’ve been on to HMRC today and they are no help, beyond saying “yes this is because of Brexit,” “No we’re not sure if you’ve been charged the right amount or why,” and “You will need to pay first and them make a claim if you think you’ve been overcharged.”

So basically, is this the end of ordering from abroad? What madness is this?

As I understnd it, when you retire to an EU country your pension from UK isn't index-linked (except for Switzerland or Gibraltar) so unless you have a heck of a lot of savings you could end up in a dodgy financial situation.

That’s not true.

(And neither Switzerland nor Gibraltar are in the EU).

You can carry on receiving your UK State Pension if you move to live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension from these countries.

Both the WA and the TCA allows for UK State Pensions to be increased each year in the EU in line with the rate paid in the UK.

@LostToucan,
Then I must be misreading this -

www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad/rates-of-state-pension

Hohoho.

Yes you are. You do realise that the EU is part of the EEA?

As in (from your own link):

Your State Pension will only increase each year if you live in:

the European Economic Area (EEA)
Gibraltar
Switzerland
countries that have a social security agreement with the UK (but you cannot get increases in Canada or New Zealand)

@AnitaB888 I can guess how you voted in the referendum. My point is that now I cannot flit between countries. Not everyone is skint and can afford to try to fulfil their dreams

@LostToucan

OK, my mistake.

I am puzzled as we have some people moaning on this site that they /friends/relatives can't afford to live as retirees in the EU any more because of Brexit.

If pensions are the same as before Brexit, then I don't see what the problem is apart from poor budgeting.

I am puzzled as we have some people moaning on this site that they /friends/relatives can't afford to live as retirees in the EU any more because of Brexit.

Puzzled?

Really?

So you haven’t actually understood what the removal of FoM for UK citizens actually means then in terms of securing a visa, providing proof of income, putting in place private healthcare arrangements?

@LostToucan,
You say UK is part of EEA but this is the latest information I can find and it seems unsure-

The United Kingdom was a member of the European Economic Area as a member of the European Union. Questions have been raised as to whether a state that withdraws from the EU automatically withdraws from the EEA, or whether such a withdrawal requires notice under Article 127 of the EEA Agreement[5] – and, if the courts so decide, whether such notice given by the UK would require an Act of Parliament.[6]

The EEA still applied to the UK during the Brexit transition period, based on Article 126 of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK.
It seems questions have been raised as to whether a state that withdraws from the EU automatically withdraws from the EEA, or whether such a withdrawal requires notice under Article 127 of the EEA Agreement – and, if the courts so decide, whether such notice given by the UK would require an Act of Parliament. ??

Whoops - double cut-and-paste !

You say UK is part of EEA but this is the latest information I can find and it seems unsure

No I didn’t.

I said the EU is part of the EEA.

@LostToucan
"So you haven’t actually understood what the removal of FoM for UK citizens actually means then in terms of securing a visa, providing proof of income, putting in place private healthcare arrangements?"

No I don't. I have no desire to live anywhere else apart from UK so it's not relevant.
However those people who choose to retire to EU must be aware of these issues.

I live in the EU and I used to buy loads from British companies and brands. My DD has two lovely dolls handmade by a lady in Kent and I just can't justify buying any more of her items.

If pensions are the same as before Brexit, then I don't see what the problem

You really don't know what being a 3rd country citizen really means do you?

@LostToucan
"You say UK is part of EEA but this is the latest information I can find and it seems unsure

No I didn’t.

I said the EU is part of the EEA."

Ah-ha, I think I get it now.

@turquoisewaters

Brexit will bring economic opportunities that the UK will identify and seize. It's important not to focus only on the negatives

This is just a collection of empty words.

What economic opportunities? Any opportunities we seize will not replace the ones we have lost.

Brexit is losing a sixpence and finding a penny on a national scale.

@AnitaB888 what about other people though?

In your messages there's an awful lot about what you want but no care for what other people want. Yes you don't care about the EU, going there, buying products from the EU, living there etc but what about others who do and now can't?

@turquoisewaters

Brexit will bring economic opportunities that the UK will identify and seize. It's important not to focus only on the negatives

What are they? or i this a belief?

No I don't. I have no desire to live anywhere else apart from UK so it's not relevant.
However those people who choose to retire to EU must be aware of these issues

Great. Glad you’ve clarified that it’s not relevant to you.

You might want to refrain on commenting on being puzzled about why some people are pissed off about Leave voters effectively voting to remove their rights to retire in the EU in a simple and straightforward way then.

OP: because of brexit I've had to pay tax on my artwork from Russia.

Reality: Russia isn't in EU or has an FTA with EU so taxes would have been paid anyway

OP: but brexit...

@jasjas1973
"You really don't know what being a 3rd country citizen really means do you?"

A third-country national is a citizen of a state that is not member of the EU nor a citizen of Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

How is that relevant?

@LostToucan

"You might want to refrain on commenting on being puzzled about why some people are pissed off about Leave voters effectively voting to remove their rights to retire in the EU in a simple and straightforward way then"

And this affects how many people?

@WhenISnappedAndFarted,
"In your messages there's an awful lot about what you want but no care for what other people want. Yes you don't care about the EU, going there, buying products from the EU, living there etc but what about others who do and now can't?"

I cast my vote for me not the world and his dog. And so did everyone else.
If you think that I was the only person who had a personal agenda then you have a lot to learn about human nature.

And this affects how many people?

How many people’s lives do you need it to affect for it to matter?

Hi turquoise waters and AnitaB888
Interesting ariticle here about a Uk medical manufacturer who now can’t export effectively to Europe due to brexit rules so they are hiring in EU and putting own staff on short hours and likely to have to fire them soon.
So can you provide an equally specific example of a brexit opportunity generating equal number of jobs now
And if not ...
Are you going to say this is an untrue story ? Or just say all worth it for wonderful brexit / who cares
This company will also stop paying as much tax - so maybe think of it as you just lost your doctor and the country can never afford to hire a new one (which will be the actual picture as this happens many times over)

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/21/sussex-medicines-firm-takes-production-line-abroad-white-van-beat-brexit-ban?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Key thing AnitaB888 unless you are really rich you will be negatively affected by brexit because the Uk is about to get a whole lot poorer

@AnitaB888 I only know (who would admit to it) one Brexiteer and I'm not going into the reasons why he voted because it is disgusting.

Everyone else I personally know voted remain and they did it not only for themselves but also for the country and for the younger generation. So no, not everyone did it for themselves.