Canada Border Services Agency and their abitrary duty charges

Ok, this may seem as a rant, and maybe it is. But, has anyone had any dealings with these people??

I received a package from the USA clearly marked as 2nd Battalion CEF. I was charged $43.74 in duty charges, which I had to either pay or send the item back (my cost for postage) I have tried without success to get in touch with anyone who can answer my questions.

I want to open the package, but honestly, I am afraid to because I have to show proof on why I should not have been charged duty. Proof?? WTF? Can they not read?? CEF Canadian Expeditionary Force. CANADIAN. Again WTF?

If these people do not know that 2nd Battalion CEF stands for 2nd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, maybe these people should not be in the employ of the Canadian Government.

Anyone have any advice or contacts for me. I have a paper attached to the package, but it states, supply proof. Obviously the proof should have been the contents details, but apparently, that was not enough for these bloodsuckers.

Any dealings I have had with CBSA leads to pulling of my hair and rise in blood pressure, I had called them once for the same problem, their answer was "sorry I cant help you".

You can try to recoup your costs at the end of the tax year by claiming the duty, but good luck with that.

I have had major problems with Canada customs in the past my self. Mostly involving deactivated WWII ordinance. Never got any where with them. Seems that the honest approach does not work. Also seems each agent makes their own rules, some will let it go, others treat it like the item was a nuke. I talked to a few customs brokes at the time and they said I did not have much chance and the cost of there service would be much more than the item. Spent hours trying to do it my self with no luck. When ever possible I try not to buy out side Canada any more.

More related to your topic, I think customs are only concerned with the value of the item so they can hook you for duty. They are not that interested if it was originally from Canada or not.

Good luck with following up with them and please keep us updated.

Cliff, Was this one of those ebay auctions where the seller was using their global priority shipping service?
That service is a nasty additional cost to Canadian buyers. Each time there is a lot I am interested in which is listed using the service I contact the vendor. They experss complete surprise when I send them the quoted shipping fee and customs duty. I stand corrected, but do not parcels with the Customs duties added automatcially get held up until the importer pays the fee? If so, any lot shipped using the GPS system will be tagged. YET ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH EBAY SUCKS. They used to be the place to buy, but now I avoid it.

Yes Bill it was an eBay auction. It was for the Butterworth items, so passing it by because it was a US based item, was not an option.

I make a rule to not buy from the US based on the problems, but as I said, this was not an option on this one. When I complained about having to pay duty, the postal gal said I could return it to the sender. I said OK lets do that. I was then told it would cost me $62.00 to post the item back.

If I didn't pay to return post the package, there is a good chance the package my not make it back to the original seller. What a crock of crap. I was so excited to have got these items. I still am, however, I feel like I have been raped by my own Countries Government. It sort of sours what should be a great feeling.

It appears to me, I will have to just grin and bare it. What a goofy system we seem to have now.

I think you're expecting a bit too much of the CBSA. Other than those of us who are interested in military history I think you will have a very difficult time finding anyone who would know what 2nd Battalion CEF represents, especially when not put into some sort of context. As for having the duty refunded, it is possible (in theory at least) so I hope you are successful.

A while ago when this new ebay rule about postage etc was first started I purchased a QSA to a Canadian and was charged over $100.00......

I then took the receipt, the item and a copy of BBM to my local CBSA office explained that it was a Canadian Historic Item (and there is an import clause for that) and they gave me a refund of the duty did have to pay the 5% GST though.....

Mike

Make sure that your Canadian items being imported are clearly marked on the customs declaration by the shipper as "Canadian Goods Returning".

Urgh, yeah this is a very annoying new practice from Ebay US, all of the times my parcels arrive through USPS with no issue and no duty to pay one item was over 1000$ ?!?!, this new system is just a way for Pitney Bowes to make more money, the same way UPS got me a few weeks back for a record I brought,

I hate to say it, but it sounds like its not worth the trouble trying to fight it,

I already feel as canadian buyers we get a hard time, what with having to pay tax on dealer sites on top of the price (should be included for canadian buyers IMO)  

Just an example and no to go too far off topic, I saw an item on a dealer site in Canada, that because of the extra tax, worked out cheaper to have it shipped to my dad in the UK and then him ship it to me, then for me to buy it and have it shipped to Ontario.... 

I also have a US PO box. If you live close enough to the 49th, it may be worth your while.