Urgent Request for Information re Death of British Citizen in Thailand

[Hummin]

25 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but I've been looking for GPS collar for my dogs for a while now. Would like to hear which one you bought and how it works for you.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9K1DWNC/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWw

[Sigmund]

13 hours ago, nightfox said:

Why would Amazon refund you the money since it was delivered to you. You just have to go to the customs warehouse and pay the import duty tax on the item, that's all. Since it only cost £25, the duty shouldn't be more then a couple of hundred bhat. 

Amazon "A to Z guarantee" refunds anything to everything,. At least in Europe.

 

Not sure what consumer protection you may have in your coutry...

Edited 22 hours ago by Sigmund

[Digitalbanana]

35 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

I had something sent to me by ups many years ago. Total value was about $75. Ups notified me that they wanted 1500 THB to do the customs clearance which p*ssed me off so I went to their offices and took the paperwork. Went the the holding warehouse at don mueang. Had to pay 30% customs which came to be about $130... As they add the shipping costs and insurance to the price and then vat. But once paid I took it with me.

That's different to Amazon using to ship a product to Thailand as Amazon has already paid the import duty but UPS still will not release the product from Thai customs into Thailand until you declare to Thai customs in person via the UPS office near the airport with pp that you are the legal importer.

[LukKrueng]

26 minutes ago, Hummin said:

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9K1DWNC/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWw

Thank you :)

[Satcommlee]

There can be lots of reasons, one common one is that the item does not have NTBC approval and has been shipped using a Radio Communications Device HS code.

In other words the manufacturer/importer has not put it on the approved list and as a result requires a document/import licence saying the device has passed regulatory approval in Thailand. Much in the same way you may not be able to import something without a CE mark or UKCA mark into Europe/UK.

You are very unlucky really, in reality this sort of thing just slips through but one wrong HS code on the import is enough to flag this..
 

 

 

 

[1sickpuppy]

On 10/24/2024 at 4:35 PM, NoshowJones said:

I bought an item from Amazon and used my UK debit card. I tracked my item and have had a notice for the last two weeks saying it is delayed at customs. I have heard nothing more. It is in the warehouse at Samat Prakarn. I am asked by Amazon if I want to buy it again. It is a computer watch and only cost £25.

Are Amazon going to refund it or not? Has it been confiscated?

ive had a few bike parts dissappear there as well, somebody there cant help themselves

[1sickpuppy]

7 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Thanks, all I can really do now is not order again from Amazon although I appreciate that it is not their fault and advise other posters to be careful, and as for the defamation rule. 

ive had bike parts from Ebay dissapear, samut prakon, i tracked it there stuff from China, ive lived here 29 years used to be no problem, just last 2 years

[Liverpool Lou]

9 hours ago, Dan O said:

Thailand proposed to change the lower limit on taxation of imports earlier this year to 1500 baht. Im not sure where it stands now but thats a pretty low limit. 

All that happened was VAT was introduced on items valued at less than B1500 that previously were exempt.   No limits were changed.

[Hummin]

3 hours ago, Satcommlee said:

There can be lots of reasons, one common one is that the item does not have NTBC approval and has been shipped using a Radio Communications Device HS code.

In other words the manufacturer/importer has not put it on the approved list and as a result requires a document/import licence saying the device has passed regulatory approval in Thailand. Much in the same way you may not be able to import something without a CE mark or UKCA mark into Europe/UK.

You are very unlucky really, in reality this sort of thing just slips through but one wrong HS code on the import is enough to flag this..
 

 

 

 

Some gps products do have a problem with customs, so express sending have worked well for me

[AAArdvark]

21 hours ago, Dan O said:

Amazon has nothing to do with the item being held and won't issue any credit or refund automatically. I doubt they would anyway as its a customs issue not an amazon issue. Call the transportation carrier. They have to do paperwork to clear the item from customs. If there is a tax due you pay thru them.

It is an Amazon issue since they would have already paid the customs as a separate item.  

[AAArdvark]

Amazon uses various shipping companies and provides the tracking information. 

[PeterA]

I would suspect they are waiting for payment for duty. If you have a tracking number, go to your local post office and ask about it. 

They may be sitting on the request for payment. 

It has happened to me a few times for that reason. 

[brfsa2]

17 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but I've been looking for GPS collar for my dogs for a while now. Would like to hear which one you bought and how it works for you.

 

If you have money (1000Baht) and already have an iPhone: Apple Airtags with a good case (500-1000Baht) so the dog wont eat it.

 

if you are on a budget: I cannot recommend anything, as they are all mostly crappy and nothing works as close as good as the AirTag. Besides the Airtag battery last like 1-2 years (if it's a genuine CR battery)

 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=airtag+dog+collar

 

The airtags have no GPS or Data, it relies on other iPhones and Bluetooth to report location. I use it on all my luggage, wallets, children school bags, etc.
last time I landed in bangkok my luggage got stuck at the Dubai airport, I knew exactly what was happening, when it left dubai and when it landed in Bangkok.

AMAZING Tech!

Edited 5 hours ago by brfsa2

[LukKrueng]

5 minutes ago, brfsa2 said:

 

If you have money (1000Baht) and already have an iPhone: Apple Airtags with a good case (500-1000Baht) so the dog wont eat it.

 

if you are on a budget: I cannot recommend anything, as they are all mostly crappy and nothing works as close as good as the AirTag. Besides the Airtag battery last like 1-2 years (if it's a genuine CR battery)

Problem is airtag only shows you where the dog is. The GPS wireless fence actually limits the dogs from going out of your yard.

[WorriedNoodle]

On 10/24/2024 at 4:35 PM, NoshowJones said:

Are Amazon going to refund it or not? Has it been confiscated?

Amazon have done their part. You have to go to customs to clear it and allow import into Thailand next, otherwise it stays in the warehouse, presumably until it gets destroyed in future. You can thank the useless shipping agent that Amazon chose to use for the inconvenience. Other shipping agents (e.g Fedex) ships door to door without the hassle.

[Dan O]

2 hours ago, AAArdvark said:

It is an Amazon issue since they would have already paid the customs as a separate item.  

Being held by Customs for clearance doesnt mean there is any fee owed, its a verification check and has nothing to do with Amazon. Every country that imports has the similar process, cerfication the item is allowed and is recorder correctly on customs declaration and then check to verify if a duty is owed and if its paid or needs to be collected. Customs clearance in Thailand is sketchy at best and not consistent. Items can be held for a long than expected time for clearance. 

[NoshowJones]

37 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Amazon have done their part. You have to go to customs to clear it and allow import into Thailand next, otherwise it stays in the warehouse, presumably until it gets destroyed in future. You can thank the useless shipping agent that Amazon chose to use for the inconvenience. Other shipping agents (e.g Fedex) ships door to door without the hassle.

It is already in Thailand and has been for about 4 weeks. It is in customs at Samut Prakarn, and I live up country. I say Amazon must take part of the blame for using the useless shipping agent.

[seajae]

a few years ago I bought a pair of boots off ebay from the UK, they were listed at $30. I also got a note from customs they were holding them but when I queried it I was told that who ever was in charge of the customs office decided the boots were worth more than $30, in fact 3 times more so wanted around 1500 baht import duties. I sent copies of the sales add plus the receipt but they refused to change their mind. It was a big rip off scheme customs were running deciding how much goods were worth and not what they were being sold for so they could pocket the "extra duties" they charged, no receipt was issued so it went straight in their pocket, dont know if this is the case with your watch but there are possibilities they want something extra

[NoshowJones]

On 10/25/2024 at 2:25 AM, nightfox said:

Why would Amazon refund you the money since it was delivered to you. You just have to go to the customs warehouse and pay the import duty tax on the item, that's all. Since it only cost £25, the duty shouldn't be more then a couple of hundred bhat. 

But I live up country and the customs is at Samut Prakan, about 300 K away.

[NoshowJones]

On 10/25/2024 at 10:21 AM, mogandave said:

This has not been my personal experience. 

 

If I do not get a refund in some way I will keep posting here every so often warning posters, and also on social media, and Thailand can shove their defamation law where the sun don't shine.

[The Fugitive]

17 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

But I live up country and the customs is at Samut Prakan, about 300 K away.

That's no joke. I sympathise. Unless you have another reason to go there it's uneconomical to burn your petrol. However, public transport (especially railway) is cheap. Is it feasible for you to travel by rail etc. from where you live?

[NoshowJones]

Just now, The Fugitive said:

That's no joke. I sympathise. Unless you have another reason to go there it's uneconomical to burn your petrol. However, public transport (especially railway) is cheap. Is it feasible for you to travel by rail etc. from where you live?

It most certainly is not, but Thanks.

[Gaccha]

20 hours ago, Satcommlee said:

the item does not have NTBC approval

 

Bearing in mind your username and this comment I wonder if I can ask you if there have been any changes to the licencing regulations for satellite communication phones or rescue devices in the last two or three years.