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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask you you to help me send a parcel to Germany?

60 replies

Zitouna · 16/01/2022 12:54

Here for traffic. I sent a parcel to Germany in November - presents for my friend who has just had a baby. Sent via the post office, who checked all the forms for me.

It has just been returned to me - the only information is that it was refused by German customs due to ‘non-compliant postal item identifier’. Which I think means the customs form is wrong. But I’ve checked against the advice and can’t see anything wrong/missing.

I want to resend (quickly, because the baby will be too big for the things soon!) but don’t know what to do differently! If I send with a private courier (DHL?) will they advise me? Has anyone successfully sent presents to Germany from brexitland?

OP posts:
ByStarlight · 16/01/2022 13:36

We are in Europe and have received parcels from family and friends when marked as “children’s gift” on the declaration form. Maybe this would help when you resend?

ny20005 · 16/01/2022 13:38

It's not enough to write Childrens gift. You have to write exactly what the parcel contains & quantities.

SilverHairedCat · 16/01/2022 13:39

What was on the customs declaration label? Did you send any foodstuffs?

EileenGC · 16/01/2022 13:40

Can you use DPD or DHL? Much quicker and cheaper in my experience, plus you can arrange collection from your house directly.

Natsku · 16/01/2022 13:43

What did you put on the form? Is it just baby clothes you're sending? In which case you need to write baby clothes gift and the value of them, probably best to list each item and its value separately to be on the safe side, and you need to make sure the recipient has the same list as they have to declare the parcel on their side and need to be putting the exact same information as you have put (surprises are impossible now thanks to Brexit)

Snowiscold · 16/01/2022 13:43

What did you send? It matters. Any foodstuffs / chocolate or body creams?

ByStarlight · 16/01/2022 13:47

@ny20005 - yes, that’s correct. I should’ve given more details.

The experience we had that was one gift parcel didn’t have “gift” written on it, but did indeed have the descriptions, values and quantities of the contents. This one was withheld for customs fees/taxes. We paid them and received the parcel several weeks later - but the letter notifying us about the fees stated that if the tax wasn’t paid within a certain number of days, then the parcel would be returned to the sender. Other parcels that were sent that did have “child’s gift” written as well as the itemised contents info arrived straight with us, no extra customs fees or letter that the post was withheld.

Therefore I’m wondering if this is what happened to the OP’s parcel - withheld for customs taxes and the recipient either didn’t pay those in time or didn’t see the letter notification, and then it was returned to the OP?

Snowiscold · 16/01/2022 13:49

Yes, the recipient has to pay customs/handling charges, and these can be quite a lot.

whiteroseredrose · 16/01/2022 13:50

Watching with interest as PIL are now in Spain.

I've seen from the local Facebook page that this is happening a lot however careful you are with the forms. Parcels opened then returned to the UK.

Original poster
Zitouna · 16/01/2022 14:38

It was a baby wrap sling and an all in one coat - I wrote baby carrier x 1 and baby clothes x 1.

Parcel has been opened so obviously inspected

OP posts:
Original poster
Zitouna · 16/01/2022 14:41

Had crossed the box marked ‘gift’.
The value I put was a bit approximate as I couldn’t remember exactly how much I’d paid, but then no labels on the items so they couldn’t have checked exactly. (Also, rubbish that you have to write on how much gifts cost so recipients can see!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Zitouna · 16/01/2022 14:46

I didn’t know the recipient has to declare the same! They knew what was coming but they didn’t know the exact values

OP posts:
MimosaFields · 16/01/2022 14:47

If the value was over a certain amount, the recipient would have been asked to pay customs. In Spain the limit is about 45€ so quite low. If the recipient doesn't pay, the parcel is sent back. You are better off buying locally or via Amazon Germany and get them to deliver to your friend's house

Snowiscold · 16/01/2022 14:49

I know people who had to pay customs charges on really small-value gifts - like £7 worth of gift.

prettybird · 16/01/2022 15:36

No help to you in this case but if you're sending gifts in future it's worth buying from Amazon.de (the German site) and sending it direct to your friend. I believe that the German Amazon website has an English version.

I do that with the Amazon.fr site to send to my brother who lives in France - but I don't think that it does an English version (which doesn't matter for me as I speak French Smile)

CecilyP · 16/01/2022 17:02

Has anyone successfully sent presents to Germany from brexitland?

Not Germany but Holland. Itemised the contents and put a nominal value. Posted at the post office and cousin received 4 days later with no problem. I didn’t list everything, just groups, so ‘baby clothes’ should have been fine. I Also received a similar box in the other direction with similar label.

CecilyP · 16/01/2022 17:09

I didn’t know the recipient has to declare the same! They knew what was coming but they didn’t know the exact values

I doubt if my recipient did. Customs would have no means of contacting her other than writing to her - not possible in the timeframe. Once through customs, it would have just been delivered by the normal postman.

Igneococcus · 16/01/2022 17:11

I sent a parcel to Germany before Christmas with Royal Mail. I itemised the content and put the value for each. Postage date was the 17th December and it arrived some day this week but that's probably due to Christmas and New Year.
I got a parcel from my sister in Germany who shipped it with DHL and she even had to put the weight of the individual items on the form. I got it without having to pay taxes on it despite the value being above the limit, weirdly.

dementedma · 16/01/2022 17:18

My sis in Belgium has asked that we dont send any parcels out for the nieces and nephews as they have to pay a fee to get them

CecilyP · 16/01/2022 17:20

In Spain the limit is about 45€ so quite low

Ah yes could have been the value of the items. But would they not have been delivered and they pay the duty? I’ve definitely had this with things (though not gifts) sent from the US.

Clovacloud · 16/01/2022 17:47

My DD sent a box full of chocolates and other foodies things to her best friend in Germany via Royal Mail in November but it took about 3 weeks to get there. I think she’s sent about £30 worth and it got through just fine. Try DHL or DPD might be a bit quicker.

girafferaffle · 16/01/2022 17:50

@igneococcus DHL have always sent me an invoice for the charges in the post after delivery. Not used them for a while though so might have changed!

Snowiscold · 16/01/2022 17:52

@Igneococcus

I sent a parcel to Germany before Christmas with Royal Mail. I itemised the content and put the value for each. Postage date was the 17th December and it arrived some day this week but that's probably due to Christmas and New Year. I got a parcel from my sister in Germany who shipped it with DHL and she even had to put the weight of the individual items on the form. I got it without having to pay taxes on it despite the value being above the limit, weirdly.
But when did you get it? Customs/handling charges for goods coming into the U.K. only began on Jan 1 2022.
BaronessBomburst · 16/01/2022 17:53

My family get around this my ordering gifts from Amazon.nl, or other Dutch websites. I order for them using UK based websites. I also have a pile of presents in my wardrobe which I'll only be able to give them when we next go back to the UK. Sad

Customs · 16/01/2022 17:57

Can you post a picture of what you put on the parcel?