My cleaner/tea maker has just come into my office.
Her husband who is a retired pensioner was travelling back from Calais after a short hop over to buy some supplies for xmas, he bought back relatively a small amount of goods:

2 x 200 Cigarratte Cartons,
2 X Tobbacco Cases (loose roll up tobacco)
One crate of beer (bought on the ferry)
One bottle of tia maria and one bottle of whisky.

Obviously these goods could be seen to be for personal use, and he saw many cars fully loaded with goods on his way back through. Unfortunately Customs took a liking to his car an 05 reg Kia something or other and stopped him. They said he was over the personal allowance, and impounded the car! now is it me, or does this sound absolutely ridiculous?

When he kicked up a fuss, they said, go away if you don't want to spend a couple of nights in a cell, so he made his way home (no idea how he made it, but he did).
They have said, he "might beable to get his car back" if he applies for it within 30 days, and can show reason why he needs the car! and then, if successful, he has to pay a fee to get it back..

Has anyone every experienced anything like this? and whats the procedure of getting the car back. The reason why i am so eager to help, is they have two sons who are mentally and physically disabled and have to attend a special learning centre, and hence the father is given special carer priveleges as well as help towards the car, and C&E have impounded the damn thing. I agree, he was an idiot to be risking the car (given his circumstances and reliance on the car) and going on a cheap booze run, but its not like he bought back the entire shop or anything, seems hardly worth the bother really!
He was alone and went for the drive more then anything, he has quite a hard homelife with their boys, so i think he wanted some time alone.

I personally know of a lot of people who bring back a lot more then this and get away with it. I thought HMC&E had stopped doing this so willy nilly..
If they tried to impound my car, no telling what i would do!

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I thought it was pretty commonplace these days for people to stack their cars to the hilt on a booze cruise to France.

What's the point in being part of the EU if C&E are going to impound your car? I've brought back more than that on a plane journey!

They are all jobsworths, picking on the easy prey, just like the Police.

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This seems most odd. I regularly used to do these runs many years ago before the regulations freed up & the amount quoted is under what you used to be allowed to being back in even when there were restrictions.

Some thing seems very very odd about this tale. And I'm pretty sure they cannot seize his car unless he was actually smugglinging narcotics. HSE TD6 (Java Black/Ivory)
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yeah im sure i have brought back more on a plane as well!
this is most odd, and ive asked her to show me the papework,
he has apparently sent off the required paperwork, and has requested a letter from the local authority who provide assistance for the care of her sons. Lets see what else emerges, i also did ask a number of time, r u sure thats all he brought back? he didn't have a trailer attached or something did he? and she is adamant that the list she gave me was right.

He ain't the sharpest tool in the toolbox, probably not in the garage either, so i guess they saw him as easy pickings..

Er..yes, this isn't right. I've been stopped by HMCE before now coming back into the country from a booze run and in fairness, knowingly been over the quota and all they've done is seized the amount over the quota. Slapped wrists, speech about being not big/clever etc and then sent on my way.

Don't they need "due cause" or something to seize a whole vehicle? But then if it's serious enough that they'd seize the vehicle you'd think they'd also lock up the driver/passengers etc.

Kam, I know this is all a bit third party but has your cleaner's husband received any further justification from HMCE of their actions? 

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are you sure the "2 X Tobbacco Cases (loose roll up tobacco)" wasn't loose roll-up of a different kind  HSE TD6 (Java Black/Ivory)
911GT3 (Guards Red, carbon interior)
ElanSE (BRG)
Panamera Turbo S
Boxster S

That thought did cross my mind too, but surely they would have nicked him as well, not let him walk off and get a coach out of Dover..

Unless the thing just got nicked or he drove it into the sea or something, and this is all one big elaborate story to cover it up from his wife?
If you have ever seen Royal Family, this is what this family are like..
Hard working honest lady though, good staff are always hard to find!

this is a link someone just sent me, makes for an interesting read, they leave everything quite vague though and leave a lot to the discretion of the officer on duty and questioning the drivers:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalW...ROD_010822

And with all things in this country now I bet the Customs are non accountable. No compensation and no action taken against Customs officer. It's a joke!  2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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Actually look what it says below - Basically all they need to say is "yep, we think your car looks dodgy so we'll have that thanks!" and then it all gets very messy about getting it back. Bast**ds. I hope it gets resolved for this chap, but you do have to wonder what went on don't you?

"If we are satisfied the goods are being brought into the
UK for a commercial purpose, and are not for own use
we may seize them and any vehicle used to transport
them and may not return them to you."

"If you have goods or a vehicle seized by Customs you
will be given a receipt and an explanation why the items were
seized. The Officer will also give you a leaflet explaining:
• How to appeal if you think the seizure was unlawful –
an appeal against the legality of a seizure must be
made within one month of the date of seizure and
will be heard at a Magistrates Court. Further details
of the appeals process are in Notice 12A.
• How to ask for your goods/vehicle back. If Customs
refuse you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.
If you are still not satisfied you can refer the case
to an independent Tribunal. Further details of the
VAT and Duties Tribunal system are in Notice 990." 

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She will be in at 11am tommorow as usual to make all us lazy farts a cup of tea, so will ask her to bring in the receipt explaining why the car was seized, maybe that will shed some light! knowing this family though, i can't believe he would try anything dodgy and its the kids i feel sorry for, as its them that will suffer over xmas without the car.
Oh well guess he has no excuse not to drink now over xmas! has to get a cab home regardless!