How to report harassment from Custom officials at Dublin Airport

franciebellew

Hi all,

I was coming through Dublin airport yesterday after a week working abroad.

I was on my phone leaving arrivals and the customs pulled me over. They told me to put my bag through the scanner. After been singled out I was pretty annoyed and put my bag through scanner.

They wanted to check the bag then which I allowed them to. I was furious. I asked them how long was it going to take to which he replied " as long as it takes" The next question they asked was "Where are you coming from" I replied "Oslo". That followed with "Do you work there?" "None of your business, the guards wouldnt ask me that."


To cut a long story short I refused to give my name nor anything else other than my departure country.

They opened my bag and took everyting out. Thet turned all my underwear inside out while laughing to each other.

I was so annoyed after this (30 mins) that when I left I rang airport to speak to a Customs supervisor to report harasmment. After explaining my case I was put on hold for 10 mins.Finally a woman took my call and it was the woman who was laughing at me.

She was the supervisor and refused to give me her name.She said I had something suspicious in my bag. All that was in my bag was clothing.

Is there anyway I can find out these peoples names so I can report them for harassment?

chin_grin

http://www.dublinairport.com/tns/contact-us/contact-details.aspx

Where To

Where's the harassment?

All I see is a customs officer doing their job.

andrew

Where's the bit where they harassed you? They did a spot check, as they are wont to do, and they chose you. Tough luck. They've every right to search your stuff to ensure you're not dodging customs taxes.

franciebellew

andrew wrote: »

Where's the bit where they harassed you? They did a spot check, as they are wont to do, and they chose you. Tough luck. They've every right to search your stuff to ensure you're not dodging customs taxes.

Have they every right to ridicule you? Its pretty embarassing when both genders are laughing at you as they turn your dirty jocks inside out.

Tipsy McSwagger

You must have skiddies on your jocks.

The_Kew_Tour

Arrogance gets you nowhere, you should have just answered the questions and ya have been out in 5 minutes.

Not saying what they did was right either, but you made life difficult from the start.

TiGeR KiNgS

Well done customs, they made sure you won't be cheeky next time.

If you answered their questions then it would of been over a lot sooner.

oppenheimer1

Why didn't you just answer their questions.

Why are people surprised they get hassle from officials or guards when they give them hassle or are just uncooperative?

andrew

franciebellew wrote: »

Have they every right to ridicule you? Its pretty embarassing when both genders are laughing at you as they turn your dirty jocks inside out.

To be fair, given you were only making their day more difficult by being completely uncooperative (for no reason), you sorta deserved it.

cml387

You deserved to hear the snapping of rubber gloves.

marketty

I often find that when dealing with people who have rights to search/question/detain you saying things like

franciebellew wrote: »

"None of your business, the guards wouldnt ask me that."

doesn't lead to speedy and polite handling.
Try that craic out with the TSA and let us know how ya get on.

cml387

franciebellew wrote: »

Have they every right to ridicule you? Its pretty embarassing when both genders are laughing at you as they turn your dirty jocks inside out.

They used mockery and ridicule? The inhuman fiends!

Socialist_Pig

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Arrogance gets you nowhere, you should have just answered the questions and ya have been out in 5 minutes.

if you behave like a dick you generaly get treated like one.More so if its the gardai or people like customs who do have the right to detain ye in the first place

Icepick

Riveting story, OP. Don't let them get away with it.
They set up a dangerous precedent by actually doing their job properly.

gurramok

Thery shouldn't have laughed at you especially when you tried to make a complaint, there is a degree of professionalism in every job.

starbelgrade

lol

Larianne

While I understand it is embarrassing when you are pulled aside by customs or security, you did yourself no favours what's so ever. They were only doing their job. Being difficult with them was never gonna speed things along.

amdublin

franciebellew wrote: »

To cut a long story short I refused to give my name nor anything else other than my departure country.

Why?
Why would you do this?

Why would you just not answer their questions?

I can only imagine that had you tried a similar stunt like not giving any details in the US, then you would have received a lot more than just laughter. Next time, don't be so ignorant. You deserved what you got, TBH.

starbelgrade

amdublin wrote: »

Why?
Why would you do this?

Why would you just not answer their questions?

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

efb

I don't think you are allowed use your phone until you clear customs

EarlERizer

franciebellew wrote: »

Hi all,

I was coming through Dublin airport yesterday after a week working abroad.

I was on my phone leaving arrivals and the customs pulled me over. They told me to put my bag through the scanner. After been singled out I was pretty annoyed and put my bag through scanner.

They wanted to check the bag then which I allowed them to. I was furious. I asked them how long was it going to take to which he replied " as long as it takes" The next question they asked was "Where are you coming from" I replied "Oslo". That followed with "Do you work there?" "None of your business, the guards wouldnt ask me that."

To cut a long story short I refused to give my name nor anything else other than my departure country.

They opened my bag and took everyting out. Thet turned all my underwear inside out while laughing to each other.

I was so annoyed after this (30 mins) that when I left I rang airport to speak to a Customs supervisor to report harasmment. After explaining my case I was put on hold for 10 mins.Finally a woman took my call and it was the woman who was laughing at me.

Are you always so abrupt when faced with figures of authority? Do you perceive yourself to be above others? or the law? I'm a bit of a frequent flyer myself and I find that the nice pleasant mannerly approach usually results in a hassle free movement from arrivals to the exit.

ringadingding

I was driving a friends posh Motor through the ferry customs once in Wales, the customs man was stood in the rain and said it was a nice car, my mate in the passenger seat very cockily looked at him and rolled his eyes and said ' yeah. It is' and blanked him.

4 hours later, still sat in the customs office and me glaring at my mate for being a dick !

They can give you way more ****, be polite and open, treating an arrogant prick like **** is probably a highlight of their day.

franciebellew

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

Sean Bateman

Sounds like the OP got exactly what he deserved.

They seem to have been doing their job - No more and no less. Somebody has to get stopped. I would have thought that people on the phone as they're passing the customs officers would be prime targets as they could be deliberately trying to avoid the officers?

EarlERizer

amdublin wrote: »

Why?
Why would you do this?

Why would you just not answer their questions?

starbelgrade wrote: »

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

It was the Oslo Q&A

franciebellew

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

Honestly? There probably is absolutely nothing you can do. You were ignorant and you got your just-desserts. Just take it as a life lesson and don't be so ignorant in future.

chin_grin

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

They laughed. How were you harrassed. If anything you gave them guff too (initially). G'wan and contact them from the link I posted earlier.

franciebellew

efb wrote: »

I don't think you are allowed use your phone until you clear customs

What makes you think that? No signs to indicate this

You cant use your phone going through passport control and I never do.

the drifter

how does one get a job as a customs officer?

brummytom

They have customs officials in Dublin airport?!


Every time I've flown in, they must've been on their break.

efb

After my bag was gone through the machine in Stansted, the lady had to swab it, not sure why, anyway it cleared.

As I was heading to a departure gate another official asked to check my bag, "No Problem", "Cheers mate". 30 seconds later. Job done.

They have their job to do also.

ScumLord

I had to show a guard my willy coming back from my last holiday and you don't hear me complaining.

franciebellew

amdublin wrote: »

Why?
Why would you do this?

Why would you just not answer their questions?

Because its none of their business where I work

EarlERizer

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

:eek: Has the country got so bad we're now employing scumbags to work customs jobs? ......... bloody FAS courses!

Nodster

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

Can't see you getting far with that attitude - go sit in the naughty chair :P

LizT

By all means, complain if you feel it is warranted but I doubt it will get you anywhere. Customs can stop pretty much anyone they like, they don't know you from Adam and for all they know you could have a bag of cocaine hidden in your dirty jocks.

They were only doing their job, it sounds like you antagonised them a little bit.

StupidLikeAFox

How can we let this carry on continue in what is supposed to be a civilised society?? Honestly, its like living in communist Russia!

EarlERizer

the drifter wrote: »

how does one get a job as a customs officer?

FAS schemes apparently :rolleyes:

Mr Jinx

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

The phone book? .......this is the internet, how the f*ck does anyone know who it was here? Did you try asking at the airport?

Something tells me this thread has backfired on the OP somewhat ...

starbelgrade

EarlERizer wrote: »

It was the Oslo Q&A

And the contents of her bag was like the dregs of a lingerie sale basket from H&M.

3rdDegree

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

Call Dublin Airport Authority and ask. I'm pretty sure you won't get anywhere though.

Even by you replies here, you sound like you sort of asked for it. Not saying they were the most professional, but you were just bring a tool!

oppenheimer1

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

They weren't harassing you. They were doing their job. And an attitude like yours will get you nowhere unless you enjoy being held up and your possessions rooted through.

If you want to report them still you need to contact Revenue.

Paddy Cow

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

You weren't harassed.

MissFlitworth

franciebellew wrote: »

My question was is there anyway I can find out the identity of these scumbags so I can report them for harassment?

I'm sure if you rang the DAA they can take your complaint, they'll know who was working at the time you came through the airport so they'll be able to pin down the people you dealt with. Of course you were being a total dick so hopefully whomsoever you're talking with laughs at you too.

Jet Black

franciebellew wrote: »

What makes you think that? No signs to indicate this

You cant use your phone going through passport control and I never do.

Yes there is. It says please do not use your phones in this area on the walls.

Jesus Shaves

franciebellew wrote: »

Because its none of their business where I work

If you were serious about pursuing this you wouldn't have posted it in after hours

Just be glad they didnt strip search you.

spankadamonkee

EarlERizer wrote: »

:eek: Has the country got so bad we're now employing scumbags to work customs jobs? ......... bloody FAS courses!

So you are saying that people who partake in FAS courses are scumbags?

amdublin

franciebellew wrote: »

Because its none of their business where I work

It's part of their risk assessment process.

By you not answering you created the situation that you are now complaining about.

This was you own fault. Answer their question you would not have been detained any further.