UKC

Hi all, 

Any knowledge regarding Customs disliking a van taking 10 boulder pads across the Channel crossing?

I.e. Is proof needed that permission has been granted to transport on behalf of friends? Or is there a limit on value of pads combined to be transported in 1 vehicle?

Thank you nice people.

New or obviously extensively used?

I was asked why I had so much climbing equipment at the Channel ferry crossing, but my explanation that I was driving to & back from the Dolomites whilst the others were flying was deemed acceptable without further questions 

Good question. I know a guy from south Wales who organised a charity bike ride in northern Spain. Everyone flew to the destination and one guy took all the bikes in a van on the Santander ferry.
They were charged 8k import duty on the van full of bikes.
It's something I always warn my clients about now.

E

Why didn't they just get a customs bond (what used to be a T45) and have them stamped in their passport?

Because they were taking a bunch of bikes over to Spain in a van to do a charity bike ride.

E

Unaccompanied personal items and sporting goods you fill out a declaration form in duplicate, the customs stamp it and retain one copy. Depending on the value you either pay the import duty up front or a suitable security i.e. what the customs officer thinks. This is returned when you again leave.

It has always been like this previous to joining the EU, when I was regularly travelling into Europe with race motorcycles there is a customs bond system for commercial goods which can also serve the same purpose, that is you don't have to carry wads of cash or a bank draft with you. One pitfall can be the import value into say Holland is vastly higher than the value in your own country which is where the bond system through an agent will cover this.

They don't care what you are doing!