I participated in a group contest with WOMWorld and teamed up with 3 other tech bloggers from Sri Lanka, Singapore and Australia to figure out a code from clues individually sent to us. We each got a sealed box delivered via DHL.
I was monitoring the tracking logs from the DHL website and saw that the box arrived by evening of Sunday. I figured it should be home by Monday morning or afternoon. There were some delays according to the logs and I got a bit concerned. It finally arrived this morning after being cleared by Customs.
The box is made of hard transparent plastic with a 4-digit lock. You can clearly see the Nokia E72 inside but we still need to figure out the code in order to unlock the box.
Each of the 4 team members also get a clue so we can all figure out the 4-digit code. Unfortunately, I no longer needed the code to get inside the box. Customs has forcibly opened it for me.
Obviously, the inspectors at the Bureau of Customs got very curious about the Nokia E72 despite the fact that they can clearly see what’s inside the transparent box. They just need to closely inspect the items.
So there you go — no more code-breaking for me, thanks to the people at Customs.
@kyleb
may nag email sakin dati, sa 24 oras ata or sa saksi, nabasa niya kasi yung pinost ko regarding the issue, gusto sana ako mainterview para daw sa segment nila sa news kaya lang busy ako that time at kapamilya ako, lol, try mo mag contact ng tv news station, kailangan ng mapigilan ang ginagawa nila, sobra na eh.
same experience with customs.
my friend sent fossil watches neatly packed and invoiced as gifts.
kunwari pa e sa harap daw ng pinsan nyabubuksan.
pgopen e ala n ung 2 tin cans and ung 3 watches pinagsamasama sa isang tin can.. which means ala n ung mga protective foam etc, puro gasgas tuloy.
tpos my nerve p cla n icharge cya ng 1900PHP n taxes?
Guys, if ever one of you goes up against these people through media or whatever, i can contribute by giving my story as well… dapat talaga maexpose na mga bwayang customs na yan.
guys share your stories here malay natin mapansin to at maayos
http://bmpm.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/ems-post-office.html
Hello folks! I’m doing research regarding case studies the Bureau of Customs messing with people’s packages. Are there folks who are willing to share their stories?
katako naman.. balak pa naman ng friend ko from japan ipadala sa akin yung iPhone 3G kasi bumili sya ng iPhone 4… ayoko mag bayad pag kinuha ko yung iPhone. dati kasi noong chocolates at pictures ang pinapadala nya nag babayad pa kami ng 70 pesos i think. paano pa kaya pag iPhone..
grrrr..
RN i can share two stories and my packages that were taxed so much more than 70%. i really want these customs agents get busted, lakas nila mangurakot.
Twitter: gonkyouka
says:
wow galing ng mga taga customs. anu kaya mangyayari sa c905 ko pagdating nun dito. dapat sir nag file ka ng complaint.
Please lets help each and everyone, to stop corruption by sharing and revealing info/ details experienced rendered by this government.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bureau-of-Customs-Complaints/165075396847390
BF ko nasa states, sabi niya padala daw niya sakin Citizen watch. Ive been waiting for one week already. ng worry ako baka makapagbayad pako nito ng mas mahal pa? update ko lang kayo what will happen next..
Hi all,
Good Day!
I’m Katherine Gajasan from the show Brigada of GMA 7. We are currently doing a story about the Bureau of Customs to be aired by May 16, 2011. Regarding this matter we have read your blog about your experience on the anomaly of your package by charging it up to 200% tax. Could we request to have an interview you about this matter?
Thank you very much!
Hoping for your soonest reply
Katherine Gajasan
Program Researcher,
Brigada
katherinegajasan@yahoo.com
9827777 loc 3011
9299934
09164397772
Hello Catherine,
I just hope its not the “usual” investigative journalism piece – 30 minutes from the aggrieved parties and 15 seconds from the Bureau of Customs featuring the Commissioner saying something with his pants down.
Everytime I get to see these “stories” as you call them, you injure the reputation of the rest of the 3,500 people who comprise the customs bureau. Most often than not, the problem lies in the ignorance of the parties about customs regulations so blame it on customs for not telling the public. Never mind that the public has the obligation to know what the regulations are.
Good luck.
RAMON J. ANQUILAN
Collector of Customs I
Twitter: marjunegarcia
says:
yeah.. pero wag tayo magbulag bulagan sa nangyayari… daming red tape at coruption dyan sa BOC.. kung iilan man sila o marami.. kelangang sugpuin ito.. and Mr. Ramon.. I know you know some of them.. sana makatulong ka sa pag pin point sa mga bulok na kamatis sa BOC..
Jun,
Ginagawa yang sinasabi mo. Maraming dilat sa bureau, hindi natutulog ang karamihan. At may nangyayari. Ano ba sa akala mo ang “corruption”? One way, na para bang likas na corrupt ang lahat ng tao sa bureau? Hanggat ang negosyante at mamamayan ay mali ang pag-intindi ng buwis – ang mga negosyante ang tingin sa buwis ay pupuwede isakripisyo para tumaas ang kita nila at tayong mamamayan ang tingin natin sa buwis ay isang bagay na dapat iwasan dahil gastos, walang makabuluhang repormang mangyayari. Lahat gustong lumamang. Ang marapat ay tingnan ang buwis bilang “patriotic duty.”
Sa loob ng 21 taong kong pamamalagi sa customs, ang aking pag-intindi sa trabaho ay isang marangal na gawain. Sa tingin ko, hayaan lamang ako sa aking payak na daigdig, gagawin ko ang aking sinumpaang tungkulin. Nagkakaproblema lamang kung may nakikialam sa kagustuhang lumiit ang bayaran. Dito pumapasok ang mga “influence peddlers” o yung “corrupters” – sila ang ating sugpuin.
Hi Sir Ramon,
I’m trying to understand the regulations in sending goods here in the Philippines. I admit, it’s alarming to see all of these commments. But I am certain that not everyone in your department are doing the same thing.
I’m sure that you hold “fairness” as number one principle.
If you don’t mind, can I get your number please? I’m waiting for a package, and I honestly need to get it as quickly as possible. It says on the tracking that it has entered philippine customs but I haven’t received any updates yet. I hope you can help me.
Please shoot me an email with any of your contact numbers and i’ll give you the details of the package.
artvalmeo@yahoo.com
Twitter: marjunegarcia
says:
yes tama ka.. merong iilan talagang tapat sa tungkulin.. pero meron ding bulok at kinakain ng sistema.. kung alam mo na gumagawa ka ng tama at going straight ka.. God Bless you.. pero di paren naten maiaalis na me gumagawa ng kalokohan dyan sa ahensya nyo.. hindi lang sa BOC.. sa iba pang sangay ng pamahalaan.. marami ding bulok..
very dumb customs indeed!!! DON’T THEY HAVE X-RAYS??? HAHA
My fiance sent a package fr0m da states few days ago tru UPS and today i recieved a call from a guy (UPS pers0nel) and informed me that my packaged had arrived in manila. I was happy ofcourse but then he started talking about payment. I have to pay the cust0ms 13,056 pesos! OMG! I was surprised! My fiance already paid everything and just expecting to have the box delivered at my do0r. I’ve been recieving packages before but i didnt pay anything. Not a single cent. But why they are charging me n0w? And its way t0o much! I don’t know what to do! Pls help
Tell the UPS guy that the transaction value is ZERO because it is a gift and therefore there should be no duties imposed except that there will be cost for the form, the Import Processing Fee and the Documentary Stamp. The transaction value is the basis used for computing the duties and taxes. In your case, the transaction value is zero because the acquisition cost for you is zero – it is given as a gift to you. While it may be true that the parcel has value because your fiancee bought the item, the value of the goods is not the cost of buying it because it is being given to you.
If UPS Clark insists on their computation, write to Collector Eduard dela Cuesta, Port of Clark Bureau of Customs, requesting reconsideration using the above as basis.
Good luck.
Ramon
I have the same problem. A friend from Singapore sent a Christmas present through DHL last week. The personel from DHL called me up earlier to say that a sum of more than 5 thousand pesos needs to be paid for taxes and it will be collected upon delivery.
To whom should I write or contact if they insist on me paying the extra fees?
Jennie, if its DHL go see Ferdie Legaspi – the Import Manager at DHL Hub in Villamor. Ask him to accompany you to explain to the customs officer in charge that the parcel is a “gift.” Ferdie knows me personally.
Under the our customs laws, the price that is used as basis for computing the duties and taxes is defined as the “price actually paid or payable” or what we refer to as PAPP. If you did not pay for the goods because the same is just a gift then the transaction value should be zero.
How do you show that you did not pay for it? Show to them the Commercial Invoice of the article which shows that the one who sent you the goods is the buyer. A copy of the charge slip of the credit card used is also useful.
If you have problems convincing customs at the DHL, then send me a direct email. I will help out in the explanation.
Good luck.
Ramon
Thanks for the response.
I called DHL’s hotline earlier and they said that it wasn’t declared as a gift, only the lithium content in the batteries was claimed. I got the receipt of purchase from my friend but the problem is that his name doesn’t show in the invoice and it was paid in Cash (so no credit card billing). I’m in the worst case scenario right now.
More so, the operator told me that I was informed and agreed regarding the payable amount. Of course, I was surprised and just said ok. I told them that its just in the evening that I consulted my friends and forums about the situation.
Btw, do I really need to make a personal appeal at the DHL office in Villamore? I’m from Nueva Ecija and I don’t think I can visit them any day soon.
You said okay when asked whether you are willing to pay duties and taxes? Then DHL will go ahead and file the customs entry, they will pay the assessment and ask for from you the payment upon delivery. The problem is we cannot ask for a re-assessment because DHL has already paid the duties and taxes. If the duties and taxes have been paid, then the only remedy left is to ask for a refund for overpayment of taxes and this is impractical because of the stringent requirements.
I really do not know why the name of the consignee will not appear in the Invoice even if you pay cash, especially for an expensive item. If you go to CDR King, they will ask you to put your name even if the damn thing costs only a few hundred pesos.
Please call up DHL and ask to speak to Ferdie Legaspi and try to find out what is the status of the shipment. If the parcel is already cleared from customs we cannot do anything anymore.
Good luck.
Ramon
Thanks for the information. That was just a bit disheartening but I guess both parties has fault in this situation.
My friend clearly told DHL Singapore that its a gift and its declared in the invoice and DHL PH told me it wasn’t. I’m still asking for a copy though.
Also he said anything lesser than 3 thousand, they don’t bother asking the name of the consignee because they think its cheap if it just cost a little below 1 thousand (price of the tablet).
Any idea about the requirements in refunding the over payments?
i am worried about the gift which was sent to me last dec 3.and upon tracking it says that the parcel was already cleared by the customs last dec 21.but to date i haven’t receive it yet. please need help.what shall i do?
I am scanning the blogs. Im kind of hopeful upon reading Mr. Ramon’s replies implying some level of heartfelt concern for fellow Filipos who had some real or perceived bad experiences with BOC..My sister was once a victim. Umuwi from US..yung luggage bag nya, after lumabas from customs screening, wala na yung dalawang expensive watches..iniwan pa yung box ng watches. I believe hindi lahat sa BOC Buwaya… kaso, so happen mas marami ata sila…nakakatakot ano..
sar, did you ask your sister if customs opened her boxes? what we have downstairs are x-ray machines with CCTV cameras. we do not open boxes under the conveyor belts. we only open luggage in the presence of the passenger because our rules require us to interrogate the passenger for purposes of determining probable cause for smuggling violations.
please consider that customs does not handle your baggage – the airline, ground handling and others have that responsibility. customs will not interfere except in extreme cases such as smuggling in plain sight, for example the luggage is spirited out of the area without passing through the customs controlled zone.
i think your sister was a victim of pilferage. it happens all over the world. it happened to me in Hongkong. when my luggage came up, its contents were stewn all over the conveyor area and my canon slr camera was nowhere to be found. i filed a complaint but the ground crew pretended not to understand english.
heck, nowadays because the airlines do not want to pay overtime to customs personnel, only a few baggage pieces are ever opened. i shudder at the thought that some anti-social goods (porno, explosives, guns, ammunition, fakes goods and drugs) are passing through the airports at this moment. if you have traveled abroad lately you will notice that there are only rare instances when customs will open luggage because there is no time to do that with only 2 customs personnel handling some 4 to 6 flights.
thanks
Sir Ramon: Your explanation make sense to me. Enlightening. Was probably a decade ago when that happened. My sister was actually suspecting it happened in the airport..she called the airline. I cant remember what they told her but after that call she just blamed the BOC. She was crying, I was crying too as one of the watches, I suppose was a gift for me and before that I never had a watch more expensive than a fancy ones for 100 pesos (on sale on the sidewalks). Sorry, but from that on, I have a “not so nice” impression of the BOC. Some, if not all, Culprits are behind the scene. Taking advantage while other suspects are pushed to plead guilty. Anyways, thank you very much for your time and effort helping us “losts” (appropriate word?:p ) find our way and for speaking in behalf of the good kind in the BOC. I will be going thru the BOC soon. I still have some fears, but unreal(he he). Stay transparent and unBiased. GodBless!