Dhl And Customs

[BadBoyBubby]

I have heard so much about bringing things into Thailand I am getting a bit worried.

Here is the current scenario. We have a local group of children in the surrounding villages that are helped out by a kind Thai lady, who organises trips for them, provides weekend cycling trips etc. etc. (the kids are all pretty poor and could not afford to pay)

I have a friend with a business manufacturing silicone products in China, he offerred to send me some hats and T-shirts, purely to donate to the kids and some of the poorer kids around here.

The items are all from his promotional stock - i.e. freebies with his company logo on them and are not really a sellable item.

A few months back, they arrived in Bangkok from Hong Kong, the proforma invoice stated they were for charitable donation with no commercial value, but, however, had a value stated on the waybill as 180 USD.

Thai customs then assesed them and wanted 17,000 Baht!!! Duties and taxes.

Between myself and the shipping company, we drafted numerous e mails and faxes, all at DHL's request, to inform customs of the situation.

Weeks went by and the goods were still held up.

Then I started to get phone calls from DHL asking me if they could deliver the goods, and on the advice of my friend and the shipper, I refused, as they wanted me to pay the 17,000 baht charges. This went on for a few weeks, but stopped last month and the tracking status of the package was disabled on their website (DHL)

I got a phone call today saying that they again wanted to deliver, and that no request for payment was required as the shipper had paid everything.

I accepted delivery - two guys turned up, one said I needed to pay, then his friend said, no it was already taken care of.

I tried most of the day to contact my friend in China, but only this evening was I able to do so, he knows nothing about the shipper taking care of the charges ....does it appear DHL have shafted me? If so what can I expect, and what happens if I get an invoice for the 17K? Who is likely to make the claim, DHL or the Customs?

Any help would be appreciated, I had already informed DHL that they could keep the lot and burn it before I would pay 17K for a 180 USD shipment, anyone else been in this situation?

Thanks

[andyww]

What customs would have seen is 180 USD worth of branded designer clothing unfortunately, hence massive import tax plus the DHL admin charge.

It was a big mistake putting 180 USD as the value for "freebies" what was the sender thinking?

[BadBoyBubby]

What customs would have seen is 180 USD worth of branded designer clothing unfortunately, hence massive import tax plus the DHL admin charge.

It was a big mistake putting 180 USD as the value for "freebies" what was the sender thinking?

It's not branded designer gear, the customs were supplied with half a dozen letters/e - mails telling them that this was not for reasale, it was company logo branded material, nothing more, The sender was simply being HONEST - but that seems to be a problem here with any govt. department, the scrounging pigs at the trough!

The sad thing is, it is only the local kids (and me possibly) that will lose out.

I understand that if it comes down to a fight with the customs and excise, I am pretty mutch scupperred - but I am willing to have a go at those shits at DHL - I'll bad mouth them anywhere I can! Just hope they are not a Thai Visa Sponsor, or I will get an immediate ban for harrassing them!

[jayjayjayjay]

You've learnt the hard way. You should have done a search on this well before using DHL. Look at threads 5 or 6 years old and you would have seen the advice I'm gonna give you. USE the THAI Post system. Have it boxed and sent to your address and label birthday gift, value $0.00. Goods get delivered to your door time and time again..... Thai Post is one of the countries best kept secrets. 20 years ago you lost a lot of stuff with them, but these guys appear to have moved on to the air port now.... Better luck next time..... DHL-- thieves,,,,,, Custom Department....... biggest mob of thieves in the Kingdom

[BadBoyBubby]

You've learnt the hard way. You should have done a search on this well before using DHL. Look at threads 5 or 6 years old and you would have seen the advice I'm gonna give you. USE the THAI Post system. Have it boxed and sent to your address and label birthday gift, value $0.00. Goods get delivered to your door time and time again..... Thai Post is one of the countries best kept secrets. 20 years ago you lost a lot of stuff with them, but these guys appear to have moved on to the air port now.... Better luck next time..... DHL-- thieves,,,,,, Custom Department....... biggest mob of thieves in the Kingdom

I didn't use DHL, my friend simply sent them, it was the Chinese side that used DHL, I didn't even know they were shipping anything until it had arrived.

Thanks for that ( yes, years back I had things "removed" by the Thai postal service from letters etc.) but as for DHL well, it's not over 'til the fat lady sings! So We will see.

What I am trying to find out is WHO PAID THE CUSTOMS to release the goods? Would it be DHL or would the customs have let it go on the expectation of receiving money - I reckon DHL have paid it, and now need to be credited.

[jayjayjayjay]

You've learnt the hard way. You should have done a search on this well before using DHL. Look at threads 5 or 6 years old and you would have seen the advice I'm gonna give you. USE the THAI Post system. Have it boxed and sent to your address and label birthday gift, value $0.00. Goods get delivered to your door time and time again..... Thai Post is one of the countries best kept secrets. 20 years ago you lost a lot of stuff with them, but these guys appear to have moved on to the air port now.... Better luck next time..... DHL-- thieves,,,,,, Custom Department....... biggest mob of thieves in the Kingdom

I didn't use DHL, my friend simply sent them, it was the Chinese side that used DHL, I didn't even know they were shipping anything until it had arrived.

Thanks for that ( yes, years back I had things "removed" by the Thai postal service from letters etc.) but as for DHL well, it's not over 'til the fat lady sings! So We will see.

What I am trying to find out is WHO PAID THE CUSTOMS to release the goods? Would it be DHL or would the customs have let it go on the expectation of receiving money - I reckon DHL have paid it, and now need to be credited.

What the couriers do is pay a bulk fee for each shipment. Now how this is worked out I have no idea. DHL being a US company would have to be very careful of the FBCP act (Foreign Businesses Corrupt Practices act) as if they were found guilty of doing something less than acceptable the entire empire would be held to pay millions...... that's $$$$$$$ US Millions. So I guess the Thai side have a deal with customs. DHL then have to deliver the goods. The amount you pay depends on how much they can then suck out of you. The more they can, the better DHL's profitability. The shipment from China could have had 2000 items, they might have cleared all with a flat fee of 900,000k. They then take to 1900 letters and docs that they know they can't squeeze anyone for and deliver. The other 100 items are looked at, the then work out the best way to get the 900,000k back and profit on top. Setting ridiculous claims like your are their playing field. The more they get the better. They dont give a rats ass who or what it's for as you have found out ......... simple.

[PingManDan]

Yes been there also with Fed-Ex, both are total rip off companies