I recently sent a full upgrade kit - chain drive - bevel box mounts - Centa upgrade and heavy duty clutch plate, to a customer in the USA. The parcel was delayed at customs in the UK because there was insufficient description of the goods on the commercial invoice. We supplied more description and it was still stuck - we supplied individual prices and it was still stuck - we supplied a commodity code and so now they are sending the parcel back to us! The delay may cost my customer considerable consequential expense so I have sent another set, air express, in the hopes that it finds a more sympathetic customs channel and goes straight through.
It transpires that a kit needs to be described by its individual parts and have a commodity code for every item be it a nut, bolt, washer or whatever. The commodity codes were laid out after WW1 and are so long and complex with cross references to exceptions which are damned nigh impossible to find, that the process will take longer than the value of the goods can support. Quite apart from the expense of sending twice - there will be no refund of charges on the returned parcel - this is becoming untenable.
Anyone here got any experience in such matters which might help? All suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks for reading, Phil
Last edited by Phil Bleazey; 15/05/21 09:29 AM. Reason: gobbledegook
