Sir, – Further to the letter on “Customs we could do without” (Mark Burns, December 24th), I am a US immigrant to Ireland (living here with my Irish husband and three children since 1979). My wonderful brother and sister-in-law in California put together family calendars every year with photos of brothers, sisters, cousins and in-laws in California and here in Ireland, which brings much joy to us and helps keep us in touch.
This year, for the first time ever, I received a letter from An Post to say that I had to pay €16.22 in VAT for the package which they valued at €56.18. I immediately sent a letter to An Post questioning whether any customs were due (their information says that no VAT is paid when the value is below €45, and the declared value on the package was $10). I also asked how they had calculated the value at €56.18 in the first place.
I received this reply: “Irish Revenue always include postage, transport and any other additional fees paid in the value of an item. This item was valued at $10 + $48 postage. When added and converted to euros, we received a total value of €56.18. This is the value the charge was based off.”
What? How can the postage be part of the value of the package? I question strongly this system that charges the receiver for the postage of a package which has already cost the sender so much to send.
My brother and sister-in-law would be very upset to hear that their Christmas family calendars cost us so much to receive. I’m not going to tell them. – Yours, etc,
MAURA WALSH,
Craughwell,
Co Galway.
Sir, – My 83-year-old mother was also stung for a customs charge of over €21 for a blouse valued at €77, which had been sent as a Christmas gift by her older sister from Dallas, Texas.
My mother actually thought it was a scam until she received the second notification from An Post, informing her that the parcel would be returned to the sender on January 14th should the charges not be paid.
I think even Ebenezer Scrooge would turn in his grave at such meanness and lack of Christmas spirit. – Yours, etc,
DEE DELANY,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – My sister in the US sent me and my husband Christmas gifts of cookies and leggings, for which I had to pay €22.65 in customs charges in order to release them from hostage by An Post. I have no problem with paying VAT on merchandise I’ve purchased outside the EU, but on customary Christmas gifts sent by loved ones? Bah humbug to the Department of Revenue-zer Scrooge. – Yours, etc,
ROSE FOLEY,
Clarinbridge,
Co Galway.