Print off and keep this leaflet. or HERE The most important thing to remember is that you MUST record the interview interrogation by the UKBA. They have no right to refuse you as it is written in their own procedures that they HAVE to follow.
Do NOT under any circumstances sign their notebook. The notes contained in it are for UKBA's benefit and NOT yours. The notes are NOT verbatim and WILL be paraphrased. They seldom mean what you think they mean.
These notes WILL be used against you if your goods are seized ... the last thing you want to do is to sign them to say they are a factual & truthful account of the interview. You have your recording of theinterview interrogation ... that is all you need. RECORD IT!
FOI is here where it shows UKBA cannot refuse recording of the interview interrogation. or HERE Page 8, Excise and Civil Interviews, paragraph 2
Read ALL of this FOI as it states your rights and the procedures UKBA must adhere to
lf you need more advice, please get in touch with us by joining our FORUM
Do NOT under any circumstances sign their notebook. The notes contained in it are for UKBA's benefit and NOT yours. The notes are NOT verbatim and WILL be paraphrased. They seldom mean what you think they mean.
These notes WILL be used against you if your goods are seized ... the last thing you want to do is to sign them to say they are a factual & truthful account of the interview. You have your recording of the
FOI is here where it shows UKBA cannot refuse recording of the interview interrogation. or HERE Page 8, Excise and Civil Interviews, paragraph 2
Read ALL of this FOI as it states your rights and the procedures UKBA must adhere to
lf you need more advice, please get in touch with us by joining our FORUM
I have just discovered this site and WoW, all I can say is I wish I'd found it before I was branded a smuggler. My husband and I went through the red at Leeds/Bradford what a joke they still took our cigarettes and tobacco, we fought in court but to no avail - one magistrate was a doctor! They believe the UKBA every time. Anyway I'm off soon and have ordered a voice recorder and will be taking copies of the letters. I am recommending this site to everyone I know. Thanks so much
ReplyDeleteHi, how did you get on. every time we go we have problems and although we only bring back 2 pcts (20 pouches)each. we are treated like criminals. Unfair and unjust.
DeleteGreat information here. I'm in the appeal process at the moment having been stopped on Feb 28th 2012. Dragging their heals with decision. Have appealed on the basis that there is no proof of commercial use (3200 cigs and 2.95 KG tobacco). Also that it contravines Articles 28 and 29 of the Lisbon Treaty. Also that the goods were seized under section 139 of the customs and excise management act 1979 which does not refer to quantities or proof of use. Unfortunately signed their notebook under duress as I pointed out that in Scottish law, interviews should not be conducted unless a solicitor is present. None was. But of couse I was told I was not under arrest and that didn't count. I could leave at any time. I asked to collect my tobacco and go and was refused!!!! Will update when appeal comes through (next week I believe)
DeleteI just wish i had seen & read all this before, i got stopped at the airport by customs, arrested and ended up in crown court, they seized my cigs, fined me, gave me community service with a certificate of a criminal record. They were my own personal use cigs and yes it was a suitcase half full but they were MINE. Full respect to the person who has put out this informative info for all to see.
ReplyDeleteCelticmanx and Anon Apr 12th ... We really do try our best to get this info out BEFORE getting stopped by Customs. We'll keep on banging away but you 2 can help too!Tell every smoker you meet. Best of luck with the appeals.
ReplyDeleteGot stoped with 30sleaves grassed on by because I refused to sell them to her and she smuggles them all the time no paperwork no signature so will I be on hit list ???
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've got more to worry about than UKBA. Seizures are recorded.
DeleteI was stopped by customs coming off the boat and had 9kgs of tobacco. The woman in the duty free shop grassed me up to customs as she was heard bragging about it. I made no attempt to hide it but it was taken from me. I told them it was for personal use and I only tend to be buy it on no less than a monthly basis but I was due to change jobs in a couple of months so would no longer be working in Europe and wouldn not be able to buy any after that. I have issued a Notice of Claim and have had confirmation that Condemnation Proceedings will be issued. Do I need to do anything else in the meantime?
ReplyDeleteDo we know which ferry and who the women is ?
DeleteGarry
Hi Guys.
ReplyDeleteFight the fight. I 'won' and got my tobacco back yesterday. But let me tell you this. You need to work your but off to understand the legal issues. You need to know the customs and excise management act. The european directives and you also need to do the whole freedom of information thing as well as a subject acces request. They will stall and delay at every opportunity and refuse to answer simple basic questions.
DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY THREATS OF £2500 COURT FEES!!!!!
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING!!!!
And read this site with vigour!
Good luck all.
Celticmanx
i'm coming home from abu dhabi next week. it's ridiculous how the allowance for tobacco is only 200 cigarettes or 250g baccy. would anyone recommend the risk of trying to take a little bit more?
ReplyDeletethanks
from charlie
DeleteRE. "ANON JULY 23 5:36 PM" If the woman in the shop was ,as seems, the member of staff who sold him the goods then has she , and through her actions as an employee of the ferry company,involved both in assisting the customer in smuggling?
may i ask where u brought ur baccy and what was the shop called?
ReplyDeleteHi,bought9kgs from alvringham,got stop and lost the lot,next time i went in there,spotted the so called plain clothed guy,made out i dont know,called them everything,within reason,o i got stopped again,only had the 2 sleeves,time for revenge,give them a load of shit,and asked this little hitler,how many eastern europeans do you stop,they say there,s 5 million in this country and they all smoke,there own shit,so who,s bringing in 5 mil pkts a day,just left him looking as thick as his mates,and we people pay there wages,such a comferting thought a,Happy New yr to all
ReplyDeleteYou have to prepare for being stopped by Customs. HNY to you too!
DeleteMy friend and I have had 17kg of tabacco, boxes of wine and my famiily car seized at Dover. They did not believe us when we said it was for our own personal use, we are both married and our wives smoke also and love their wine. We signed their notebook as we had been travelling forover 12 hours, and have never done this before therefore we had no idea. My wife and I are desperate to retrieve our family car which we also use for our business on a daily basis. All advice and help is more than welcomed, we are living in a nightmare right now.
ReplyDeleteWhat I cannot understand is how Belgium can charge £4.95 for a packet of 50g tobacco yet UK charges £15 for the same packet. HM Customs are thieves like the government. They rinse hard working people of every penny they have in taxes. I say good luck to the smugglers and keep up the hard work. You are doing normal people a big big favour and saving us a little bit of money that the government steal from us all in taxes.
ReplyDeleteToo right !!
ReplyDeleteFirstly notice the use of the word PERSON!!!! A person is a Legal FICTION, a corporation, in other words a dead soul, not real. NEVER admit to being a person..you are a man/woman. If they call you Mr. or MRS...get them to drop the PERSON TITLE (Status), because thier legalities (not law, but legal) only apply to the PERSON & not the man/woman. Claim your right to travel unhindered, you are a child of god (religion is not involved...but you beleive there is only one being above you...namely god).
ReplyDeleteI know this sounds confusing but let's try another way. Do you think you own your car? The answer is NO..you atre only the Registered Keeper & NOT the owner, you handed over ownership when REGISTERING your vehicle. Just like you did with your children when Submitting a Birth Certificate...remember all the words they use are called LEGAL JARGON or better known as LEGALESE & only apply to the PERSON. To see a 1 hour video about this please go to youtube & look for "It's an illusion, by John Harris", he will explain it very easily for those struggling to get to grips with this.
I came of the Hull ferry yesterday every foot passenger was stopped and had tobacco and cigarettes taken. I have appealed but unfortunately signed note book.
ReplyDelete