Shipping Belongings To The Uk

A while ago I posted asking about the best way to ship personal effects back to the UK.

After doing some research - I found that DHL's promotional rates are very reasonable.

I've just packed three boxes - two Jumbo Boxes (25KG each) and a Junior Jumbo (10KG) - over 60KGs in total and the total costs - door to door is about 17,000 Baht.

That may seem a little expensive - but Excess-Baggage.com wanted more - for a far worse service.

I also insured the entire shipment for about 1,000 Baht - insured value in total of just over 1,500 GPB.

A few tips:

1) Call DHL on 02 345 500 - you'll get good advice.

2) For just a couple of hundred baht extra - you can use their door-to-door service. Don't beleive the staff in the DHL Express 4 You Service points who will try to convince you that it costs a LOT more to have DHL come and pick-up.

3) Order you boxes at least a few days before and make sure you get blank Air Waybill forms as well.

4) Prepare you Air Waybill - and if you're only shipping personal effects - and nothing that you've purchased within the last six months - write "Personal Effects: See Commercial Invoice and Packing List" in box 5

5) Complete a Commercial Invoice - DHL will email you an Excel spreadsheet sample. Place a large label (text block) at the top of the line items in bold - saying "PERSONAL EFFECTS - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE (NCV). Values below are estimated replacement costs." Print three copies of the commercial invoice.

6) Complete the UK HM Customs and Excise for - "Bringing your Personal Belongings to the United Kingdom from outside the European Community" - very easy to fill this form in - just tick the boxes and write 'None' for dutiable items (assuming that's true of course) DHL will also send you this form.

7) Create a packing list and attach that to the back of the Custom and Excise form above - one for every box.

8) Pack well - and reinforce the outside of the boxes with packing tape.

You're done.

Hope this helps.