My BMA order entered the country, now customs want me - RANT

[BigKriss]

I hate this, it's not often that I pay duty or GST for the parts that I bring into australia. Not that I have done it much anyway. So I'm expecting my parcel today for some trans mounts, air filter and wheel roundels to be delivered to my door only. Customs, fools, want me to go in there and I have to get my goods "cleared". I need to provide a invoice for the goods from bma. Look at the declared value. aus$35, there a stuff up somewhere.

I thought because customs stopped my order, I'm now screwed for more taxes, its 10% GST, and aus$48.85 for a processing fee. My order only came to aus$150 however, and I'm under the assumption that for all goods under aus$250 can be cleared with a "informal clearence document". Don't know the prices , i will have to ring up tommorrow.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4264

However I'm now thinking I print out my bma order, roll up with it and some ID, fill out a "informal clearnence document" and thats it.

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/re...ion_050210.pdf

I'm gonna give them a call tommorrow and check it out. Good luck aussies.

[2fast]

Bastards!!

[BigKriss]

Normally when BMA send the parts, there is an invoice attached to the box, in a sealed plastic sleave. Surely customs can read this. hmmm. I'm confused. why do they need an invoice when it's there.

[Paul in NZ]

perhaps they have suspicions about the value of the package?

[shogun]

Son't try to fool them. They are more clever than you believe.
They have the address of the seller and can check on the internet the prices.
Usually they also have price lists of many items in their office.
If you come up with a fake invoice, real trouble starts for you.

I always pay the import duties based on the real invoice value. Do not want to have any trouble here.
In the worst case you can be blacklisted and all mail/parcels to you are checked (if that is allowed in your country by law).

[BigKriss]

Son't try to fool them. They are more clever than you believe.
They have the address of the seller and can check on the internet the prices.
Usually they also have price lists of many items in their office.
If you come up with a fake invoice, real trouble starts for you.

I always pay the import duties based on the real invoice value. Do not want to have any trouble here.
In the worst case you can be blacklisted and all mail/parcels to you are checked (if that is allowed in your country by law).

I won't try to fool them. I'm gonna start sending the parcels to my parents place.

[BigKriss]

perhaps they have suspicions about the value of the package?

lol. maybe. one air filter is aus$63 from repco.

[mattyb]

mate, is it worth the hassle of ordering from o/s? bythe way i didnt bump into the porsche guy yet, but havent forgotten.

[95-540iLE]

Kriss

I regularly order BMW parts from BMA and have had some go straight through without attracting their attention and others requiring clearance - which i do myself.

If the value of the goods is less than A$1000, you can get clearance with an informal clearance process, which can be done by fax and with lower processing fees. You will need to look up the relevant customs code for the parts in question, which is the hardest part and what most people go to a customs agent to do. I can help you with that if needed. Otherwise, the process is very simple.

That said, it is very strange that they held up this parcel given its value. Normally anything less than A$200 is not worth their while.

Good luck with it.

[mattyb]

sorry. ot here a bit what is the le option for the 540i. ive not seen one b4?