[Gllug] Notebook running Linux

[John Winters]

Richard Jones wrote:
> On Sat, Dec 02, 2006 at 08:44:33PM +0000, Christopher Currie wrote:
[snip]
>> But even if you've used it over there, I think you'd have to pay import duty.
> 
> Does anyone know what the rules are?  Do customs routinely add import
> duty to imported computer kit?  How do they know?

If it's being sent over by courier then the courier companies have 
import agents who will generally handle the calculation of duty and VAT 
and pass the charge on to the recipient.  UPS are absolute crap at this 
and will do all sorts of incredible things wrong.  FedEx and DHL are 
slightly better, but still prone to making the rules up as they go 
along.  It's always worth checking their calculations.  Do not under any 
circumstances let anything be sent with the US Postal Service - not 
because they're bad but because it means the goods will get into the 
hands of Parcel Farce at this end.  It's taken me four months and a 
ludicrous amount of work to extract an incoming parcel from Parcel Farce 
before now, and this was not an isolated incident.

The shipping company will usually expect you to pay them the duty/VAT 
before they'll give you the package.

HM Customs and Excise (as was) are actually quite helpful and at least 
used to have a help line which would tell you the correct duty code and 
rate of duty for any incoming item.  I have no idea what it would be for 
a laptop.

Of course, you might get lucky and have a package slip past without 
attracting the attentions of the customs agent.  It does happen 
occasionally.

If you are going there personally to get it then the onus is on you to 
declare it as you return to the UK.  Of course, if you take an old 
laptop bag and put a few stickers on it they might be unwilling to 
believe it is actually brand new...

John
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