Well I'm gutted!

Posted by JossAmbrose 11 years ago to The Gulch: General
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Two weeks ago I paid my usual monthly visit to hollandcigarhouse.com to buy a shed load of duty free cigars - from Holland (obviously!).

While at work this afternoon, my wife phoned to inform me I'd received a letter from the Home Office UK Border Agency informing me that MY purchase had been seized (looted): the only way to get my hands on what I had paid for (100 half coronas for £60) was to either pay the extortionate £112.00 duty (sixty quid for the cigars, a hundred and twelve quid TAX!), or contest the theft at the Magistrates court at a cost of £1500.

I shall do neither of course. I have contacted the sellers informing them of my misfortune.

All Comments

  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Nicely done on their part! I'm happy to hear that they are taking care of the unwarranted confiscation, ie:looting, of your previous order. It's a rare thing, so it seems in this day and age to have a problem handled with such efficiency. Happy for you! Enjoy them when they arrive
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  • Posted by JossAmbrose 11 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Forgot to mention my cigars turned up... I had a very nice email from hollandcigarhouse.com saying they would tackle UK Border Agency regarding what we mutually consider to be wrongful confiscation (theft). In the meantime they've sent replacement cigars. That is great customer service!
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  • Posted by JossAmbrose 11 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Well I emailed the seller. It says on the website that should there be a problem with delivery, 'whatever the reason', they will either replace the goods or refund the money: although I can't expect the company to do either, seeing as it's not thier fault the cigars went 'missing'. They may take pity on me & be generous. I've been a good customer.
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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years ago
    I truly hope you receive your cigars without the extortion tax imposed upon them! Good luck, and I hope the seller can fix this jam.
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  • Posted by JossAmbrose 11 years ago in reply to this comment.
    I'll quit when I'm good & ready, not because the government tries to tax me out of existence.

    From what I've been reading (stunts Obarmy's been pulling), America's more screwed than we are... This morning I finished reading Oleg Atbashian's 'Shakedown Socialism'. The appendix at the back is quite disturbing.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 11 years ago in reply to this comment.
    How DARE you have any pleasure! (Are you still going to say that the UK and US are about on equal footing? I think not.... yet anyway..... )
    Time to kick it??
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  • Posted by JossAmbrose 11 years ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm going by what it said in the letter. We in the UK pay an extortionate amount of tax on pleasure.

    I've never had imported cigars seized before. They are for personal use so there shouldn't be any problems.

    A pack of 5 half coronas costs £8.50 (about $13.16) in UK shops. When you consider nearly two thirds of that is tax... Need I say more.
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 11 years ago
    Has it cost you this much in tax before? Is the Magistrate the same as the Custom House? Seems like this should fall under Customs.
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