Furniture/Personal Possessions/Container From UK

[sgtsabai]

I had personal clothing sent back from the VA Hospital in Minneapolis to myself here in Thailand. I had been in the hospital for 8 months and the box contained older clothing I had brought with me, including some I wore to the states. I probably would have been better off using a shipper. Customs tried to get 3,000 baht out of me for my own clothing, some of the articles, coat etc. were over 20 yrs. old. I refused to pay and appealed. They did reduce the amount but I still refused to pay to get my own clothing back that I took or wore from here in Thailand. Postman appeared with my box after my 2nd refusal and appeal. PO later claimed he wasn't supposed to deliver and came to my house to 'threaten' me with refusing to deliver. I can't speak due to cancer surgery, but I did send them away with a very polite one finger salute. I'm still getting packages, most of the time...lol. Recent changes in the law of what can and cannot be brought in has caused a problem both on the US and Thai end. 

[khunPer]

On 1/16/2025 at 3:34 PM, MangoKorat said:

I believe I am correct in saying that I can bring my furniture/personal possessions from the UK if I have either Non O/Non B/Retirement visa and bring them in within 6 months of entry - would that be correct?  (Yes I am aware that it might not be cost effective - that's not my question).

 

On the basis that I am able to, can anyone recommend a shipper? Is it better to use a Thai or UK shipper and has anyone got any (recent) ideas on the price of a container? I'm happy to pack myself and take to the UK port + pick up from the Thai port.

 

The quotes I've had so far from UK shippers are all vastly different - I mean thousands of pounds different.

Yes, as answer to your first question.

 

When I shipped my goods from Europe (not UK), my shipping agent advised to to ship a whole container – in myh case only 20-feet – instead of parcels, as it would be both safer and cheaper. He said, I should ship c.i.f. Bangkok and get a local agent to do the custom clearence and thereafter move the container to it's final destination. Furthermore, take a "total loss" insurance, but not partial damage, as that would be both expensive and difficult to claim compensation for any damage.

 

A detailed packing list with values is a must. Check the Thai customs homepage for presently required details and what is not allowed as household.

 

I had a successful shipping and low custom clearance and final delivery costs...👍

 

However, recently a fellow countryman used a door-to.door shipping with one of the major companies, and it was also reasonable priced and worked well. Things might have changed with custom clearence, so you don't anymore need a local agent that know the custom officers and if they need some little extra money for their afternoon-tea...😉

[In Full Agreement]

One agent I contacted who was grossly over priced gave me two written etimates,   one was with a receipt and the other was without a receipt.     

 

I ended up using no shipper and simply sent a few parcels and gave  the rest of my possessions away.

 

 

[gamb00ler]

On 1/17/2025 at 5:02 PM, MangoKorat said:

As far as I know, and I'll have to recheck this - those on marriage or retirement based Non O's are able to bring their personal items and furniture tax free. The only restriction is (I think) its limited to one of each type so if you have 2, 3 piece suites for example, you are likely to be taxed on one of them.

We moved from US to CM in late 2020 and shipped a 20' container of household goods.  We had two bedroom sets each with 4 pieces and there was absolutely no problem through customs.  The custom regulations that I read did limit things like TV's and other electronics to one for a single person or two per family.

 

We used International Sea & Air Shipping to organize the container packing, transport to closest sea port, container rental, container space on ship, customs clearance and final delivery to rental home in CM.  We packed all our goods in moving boxes and furniture was wrapped in moving blankets secured with poly strapping.

 

We did have several conversations with the Thai customs agent.  I was somewhat skeptical after talking to them about some details.  In the end we paid duty on only a few items that were not considered "household" goods.  An aluminium ladder, 1 of 2 bicycles(?) and a tool box full of general tools like wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers, etc.  I think our customs bill was 1200 ฿.  Our inventory was not that detailed but was acceptable.  The customs broker was Boonma with offices in CM and Bangkok and probably Lam Chabang as well.

 

DM me if you need more details/advice.

[gamb00ler]

On 1/17/2025 at 5:06 PM, mogandave said:

I think you may be referring to a Thai repatriating.

 

On 1/17/2025 at 5:10 PM, MangoKorat said:

I don't think so but I will check it.

The customs regulations that I read stated that a foreigner moving to Thailand had the same exemptions as a Thai person who was repatriating after a long stay overseas.  However, our customs broker said it was easier if every thing was done under my Thai wife's name as she was indeed repatriating after 48 years abroad.  They also insisted that she must have not made a trip to Thailand in the preceding 12 months.

[MangoKorat]

15 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

 

The customs regulations that I read stated that a foreigner moving to Thailand had the same exemptions as a Thai person who was repatriating after a long stay overseas.  However, our customs broker said it was easier if every thing was done under my Thai wife's name as she was indeed repatriating after 48 years abroad.  They also insisted that she must have not made a trip to Thailand in the preceding 12 months.

Yes, I've heard its easier using a Thai name but I'm not married so that's not really a viable option.  However, a mate had a few boxes shipped from the UK and the agent called when they arrived and said it would be easier and no duty payable if he used his wife's name.  The agent must know a workaround because that's exactly what they did and paid no duty - his wife had never been abroad.

 

That was a few boxes though, I'm probably looking at half a 20ft container.

[MangoKorat]

20 hours ago, scorecard said:

The unI i was working for instructed one of their admin staff to check the rates, she discovered (as I had) the rates books were fake and the rates were 3 times the official rates. The uni admin lady challenged the customs staff and I was then given a new customs duty bill one third of the original bill. Un lady challenged again threatening to contact the prime ministers office. New bill then reduced by 50% and quite reasonable. But later the uni lady discovered that I should not have paid any import tax. We didn't challenge any more. 

Well I'm going to get my lawyer to check the actual current regulations.  Believe me, if there is no duty payable and they try it on like they did with you - she'll put the fear of god into them, she's well connected and can be quite scary when she's in full flow.

[gamb00ler]

23 minutes ago, MangoKorat said:

The agent must know a workaround because that's exactly what they did and paid no duty - his wife had never been abroad.

We had to prove that my wife hadn't been back to Thailand in the preceding 12 months.  We had to send her brand new passport and her previous passport to Bangkok to get her travel details checked.