Swiss Customs - how does this work then?

[MmeLindt]

I just received a parcel of Xmas presents from my mum in UK. She had written on the customs slip "toys and childrens clothes" and put the value at £40.

I had to pay CHF 8.20 tax + 18.00 services for the parcel. They valued the presents at CHF 108.00.

Is there any way to avoid this?

BUMP

Oh this struck a chord as dh (at home with the kids) today has been moaning at me, as he had to take delivery of a parcel and pay 25 CHF tax and service charge on it. It's his Christmas present, he said I should have sent it to his Mum and asked her to bring it when she comes for Christmas - I think the poor women has enough to do already. Am tempted not to give him the Stupid thing now! Anyway am waffling.

There is some sort of value below which the charges don't apply (or are not applied by the officials at least). Experience suggests that it's around the 30 GBP mark, although I wouldn't swear to that. The trick is to get Mum to underestimate the value. But this is a real nuisance and I only shop online from non-CH sites where really necessary and encourage relatives to trnasfer money to my account and then I'll buy the presents here.

Oh and they must be using some exchange rate, different to the real/current one. Some months ago 40 GBP would have been nearer to 108 CHF (although that's still a bit high).

I might check the paperwork on our parcel tonight (although ours came from Germany)

Interesting to see that my typing, grammar and punctuation skills disappear completely when I'm cross

Thanks Gipfeli. It is annoying as she obviously did not know (neither did I) and would have put £20 on the ticket if she had known. The perils of being honest.

Just unpacked the other parcel (from German SIL). She had similar value, no in fact more but we were not charged for that. Is it random then?

Bit pissed off at SIL as she has sent the gifts unwrapped. Lazy bint.

Thanks for the bump Puzz

Yes I think we learnt the hard way with parcels from my mother the first time.

And yes, I think there is some element of randomness in it.

Think you need to state contents as gifts too.