Declaring imports?

King Damager · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:09

Ok, so slightly confused about this one, having never been old enough really to have an issue with this. But I'm more curious than anything else about this.

So, let us say I go to the States, buy a Laptop, stick it in my bag, bring it back.

If you don't declare it as something you bought out there;
How do they know it's not something you bought at home,
and
How do they catch you?

Obviously I'm not looking into doing anything dodgy, I'm just curious about how the whole system works...

kd

Ahleckz · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:17

Random (read: profiling) selection of folk.
Remember to take laptop out of box and throw box away.

Windle · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:21

Yeah you're supposed to declare it, if you then walk through the "Nothing to declare" customs section and get randomly checked they might well ask why it has a US plug on it.

-Ad- · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:22

Windle said:
Yeah you're supposed to declare it, if you then walk through the "Nothing to declare" customs section and get randomly checked they might well ask why it has a US plug on it.

- It came with that plug (grey import).
- Lost UK plug needed another.

Basher · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:28

Throw the packaging away and you have no problems.

Vulcan · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:37

ITT: How to break the law.

anjs · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:40

Well they can ask you for a UK / EU receipt

tom_e · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:42

why would you be carrying the receipt around for it if you hadn't just bought it? Or do they request that you send them proof of purchase once you've gotten home?

Raymond Lin · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:44

Then make sure you've turned it on, set up profiles, UK keyboard settings, have emails set up with some bookmarks.

Would be hard to argue it's not new when you turn it on and it's the new windows set up screen !

Gooner Leroy · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:47

Raymond Lin said:
Then make sure you've turned it on, set up profiles, UK keyboard settings, have emails set up with some bookmarks.

Would be hard to argue it's not new when you turn it on and it's the new windows set up screen !

Just formatted hard drive and reinstalled windows at the airport....

Cosimo · 21 Nov 2012 at 10:49

They just look at your face and the way you walk through customs and they know you're a laptop smuggler.

arknor · 21 Nov 2012 at 11:15

King Damager said:
Ok, so slightly confused about this one, having never been old enough really to have an issue with this. But I'm more curious than anything else about this.

So, let us say I go to the States, buy a Laptop, stick it in my bag, bring it back.

If you don't declare it as something you bought out there;
How do they know it's not something you bought at home,
and
How do they catch you?

Obviously I'm not looking into doing anything dodgy, I'm just curious about how the whole system works...

kd

been florida twice and we are checked leaving america but in the uk we just went through the nothing to declare area and didnt se any staff around anyway :S
this was at manchester airport btw the large london ones might be more thorough

We had a few K worth of clothes that were obviously bought in america btw

I doubt anyone goes to america wearing clothes they arent planning to dispose of

anjs · 21 Nov 2012 at 11:20

Happened to a friend of mine, they confiscated the laptop until he could provide proof of EU purchase.

delta0 · 21 Nov 2012 at 11:28

There is a £390 allowance before you get taxed on out of EU goods.

ubersonic · 21 Nov 2012 at 11:34

Windle said:
they might well ask why it has a US plug on it.

When I go to the states I always take a US plug to 3 pin lead instead of a UK one, saves faffing around with a travel adapter.

Hagar · 21 Nov 2012 at 12:25

Model number.

King Damager · 21 Nov 2012 at 12:32

Moses said:
El oh el.

I haven't even got a valid passport atm

kd

HecFam · 21 Nov 2012 at 12:34

set the background to a picture of the Queen, foolproof...?

nin9abadga · 21 Nov 2012 at 12:40

my dad has come back with brand new suitcases packed pull of new clothes, sunglasses and a camera and not been stopped. it's only the duty they'll make you pay anyway i think, not send you to prison for smuggling.

how do they catch you? if you leave the tag on, look guilty then try and run when the set the dogs on you.

tom_e · 21 Nov 2012 at 12:43

nin9abadga said:
my dad has come back with brand new suitcases packed pull of new clothes, sunglasses and a camera and not been stopped. it's only the duty they'll make you pay anyway i think, not send you to prison for smuggling.

how do they catch you? if you leave the tag on, look guilty then try and run when the set the dogs on you.

If you walk through the nothing to declare channel and they pull you they can confiscate your goods and I'm pretty sure they can also end up fining you and other lovely things.