Best Place to Buy Belgian Beer in Ireland

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

a_non_a_mouse

GRR
Got letter this morning from Revenue, saying my order from BelgianBeerFactory has been seized under Section 125 of the Finance Act

FFS
Can appeal it.

I know this forum, has had lots of people warning against this, but it also have way more people talking about stuff it did order online without any issue. So please no, "i told ya so"

Has anyone else done an appeal on a seizure? Any advice here much appreciated.
Its not a lot of booze, 8 liters in total.
Also, there was a few glasses, if I lose the appeal are they forfeit as well because they were part of shipment? If so, that seems really unfair.

BeerNut

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

there was a few glasses, if I lose the appeal are they forfeit as well because they were part of shipment?

I wouldn't say so. Revenue says:

Goods ordered by a private individual, over the Internet or from a mail order catalogue, from EU Member States are not liable to Customs Duty. However, they are normally liable to VAT at the rate chargeable in that country and this amount is included in the purchase price of the goods.

which would suggest that the Belgian VAT you paid is fine on these, but there could be more to it than that.

a_non_a_mouse

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

Also, there was a few glasses, if I lose the appeal are they forfeit as well because they were part of shipment? If so, that seems really unfair.

Day just keeps getting better..
Section 125 "Any excisable products in respect of which an offence has been committed under section 119 or 121 or any goods which are packed with or used in concealing such products, are liable to forfeiture"

seems to indicate the glasses are classed same as beer because packaged together.

BeerNut

Ah. That's the more to it. It would be administratively awkward to give smugglers back the teddy beers they stuffed the contraband into.

Just to note, btw: your beef here is with BelgianBeerFactory. They fecked up your order by not paying Irish tax on it before shipping. I'd have thought they owe you a refund at the very least.

L1011

BeerNut wrote: »

Ah. That's the more to it. It would be administratively awkward to give smugglers back the teddy beers they stuffed the contraband into.

Just to note, btw: your beef here is with BelgianBeerFactory. They fecked up your order by not paying Irish tax on it before shipping. I'd have thought they owe you a refund at the very least.

Do they ever claim to pay it, though? They shouldn't even attempt to sell to Ireland if they don't but there's a very good chance they never have.

Non delivery would be covered by a credit card chargeback.

BeerNut

L1011 wrote: »

Do they ever claim to pay it, though?

What they say doesn't matter: they're obliged under Irish law to do it before sending goods to Ireland.

Mesrine65

This is why I always pay with PayPal, easier to claim back funds due to non-receipt.

schemingbohemia

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

GRR
Got letter this morning from Revenue, saying my order from BelgianBeerFactory has been seized under Section 125 of the Finance Act

FFS
Can appeal it.

I know this forum, has had lots of people warning against this, but it also have way more people talking about stuff it did order online without any issue. So please no, "i told ya so"

Has anyone else done an appeal on a seizure? Any advice here much appreciated.
Its not a lot of booze, 8 liters in total.
Also, there was a few glasses, if I lose the appeal are they forfeit as well because they were part of shipment? If so, that seems really unfair.

Are they not giving you the opportunity to pay the excise?

Melendez

This post has been deleted.

L1011

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Are they not giving you the opportunity to pay the excise?

Not an option, you need an import licence to pay excise

BeerNut wrote: »

What they say doesn't matter: they're obliged under Irish law to do it before sending goods to Ireland.

Would not be surprised if their T&Cs try to wave that away. They need to but I doubt they ever did pay it. Chargeback should work - enough and they'll stop shipping to Ireland

a_non_a_mouse

Courier was dpd.
Shipment made it to Athlone.
No option to pay any excise. Right to appeal and if I appeal, they may agree terms or they may not and they may start legal proceeding for the forfeiture of the goods.
If no appeal, they will "sell or destroy or otherwise"
There is also mention on the letter, that when an excise offense is committed the offender is liable for prosecution.
Letter kinda indicates to me, best thing to do is let revenue alone and try and get refund from BBF or via chargeback.

Sigh........

L1011

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

when an excise offense is committed the offender is liable for prosecution.
Letter kinda indicates to me, best thing to do is let revenue alone and try and get refund from BBF or via chargeback.
.

Unless - and I'm fairly sure this is an impossibility - you can get proof from the seller that they did in fact pay the excise in advance there is nothing to appeal.

I'd also not try another order, as being 'caught' repeatedly would make them rather more likely to prosecute as they'd see it as actual smuggling attempts, not a mistake

aaronm13

This is terrible news. My wife has an order as a Xmas present for me with glasses too. She got her tracking number last week but still isn't showing up on the dpd website. She emailed yesterday asking for a status update and got the a reply saying they guarantee Xmas delivery. She gave the another mail this morning saying she'll be given a different tracking number later today, which she hasn't gotten yet. Have you made contact with the beer factory yet and what was their response?

vicwatson

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

Courier was dpd.
Shipment made it to Athlone.
No option to pay any excise. Right to appeal and if I appeal, they may agree terms or they may not and they may start legal proceeding for the forfeiture of the goods.
If no appeal, they will "sell or destroy or otherwise"
There is also mention on the letter, that when an excise offense is committed the offender is liable for prosecution.
Letter kinda indicates to me, best thing to do is let revenue alone and try and get refund from BBF or via chargeback.

Sigh........

"sell or destroy or otherwise". Otherwise we'll be having it on Christmas Day lol.

It's rudiculous though. Should let it through for first time. Not like it's drugs from Thailand ffs. Thought that's how the eu was meant to work ...that we were one community, well one community to me means you can buy legal products in any member state and use here. But unfortunately that's not the reality.

Over the last couple months I got boxes of 24 German beers via Amazon delivered via DHL world packet / an post and no problems. That's not saying there won't be in the future though.

Bah humbug revenue

DPD Ireland: Liam

aaronm13 wrote: »

This is terrible news. My wife has an order as a Xmas present for me with glasses too. She got her tracking number last week but still isn't showing up on the dpd website. She emailed yesterday asking for a status update and got the a reply saying they guarantee Xmas delivery. She gave the another mail this morning saying she'll be given a different tracking number later today, which she hasn't gotten yet. Have you made contact with the beer factory yet and what was their response?

Hi Aaron,

Please let me know if there's anything I could do to help. PM me your tracking number and I'll follow up asap.

a_non_a_mouse

aaronm13 wrote: »

This is terrible news. My wife has an order as a Xmas present for me with glasses too. She got her tracking number last week but still isn't showing up on the dpd website. She emailed yesterday asking for a status update and got the a reply saying they guarantee Xmas delivery. She gave the another mail this morning saying she'll be given a different tracking number later today, which she hasn't gotten yet. Have you made contact with the beer factory yet and what was their response?

When I got my original tracking number, it showed up as "info submitted to dpd or something like that"
Stayed like that for a week, I mailed BBF, got email saying I would get new code, which I did within minutes of email.
New code showed up on dpd site and following day was listed as in transit.
So, if you didn't get a second tracking code, I'd say your order is still with BBF

I emailed BBF about the seizure, I didn't get a reply yet, but its only been 24 hours. I think best thing is for me to seek chargeback via bank.

aaronm13

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

When I got my original tracking number, it showed up as "info submitted to dpd or something like that"
Stayed like that for a week, I mailed BBF, got email saying I would get new code, which I did within minutes of email.
New code showed up on dpd site and following day was listed as in transit.
So, if you didn't get a second tracking code, I'd say your order is still with BBF

I emailed BBF about the seizure, I didn't get a reply yet, but its only been 24 hours. I think best thing is for me to seek chargeback via bank.

She's still waiting to get the new tracking number but got yet another email this morning to say, don't worry your order will still be delivered by Xmas. Those feckers in revenue better keep their paws off my St. Bernardus 12. Thanks Liam in dpd I'll pm you the original tracking number, but up to last night it still showed the same message about info sent to dpd.

a_non_a_mouse

aaronm13 wrote: »

. Those feckers in revenue better keep their paws off my St. Bernardus 12.

Well they already have mine :-( and the 6 and the 8...and....and :-(

aaronm13

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

Well they already have mine :-( and the 6 and the 8...and....and :-(

It's killing me even thinking about it. Going to be a dry Christmas in my house. Let me know if the BBF get back to you.

tomhalloween

My order was also seized today

a_non_a_mouse

tomhalloween wrote: »

My order was also seized today

I feel your pain.
Man, its not nice.

tomhalloween

a_non_a_mouse wrote: »

I feel your pain.
Man, its not nice.

Dpd athlone also

aaronm13

tomhalloween wrote: »

Dpd athlone also

Do all dpd orders coming into Ireland come through Athlone? I'm based in Dublin. Going to mail the BBF and see if I can change delivery to my Parcel Motel address up north.

Mesrine65

aaronm13 wrote: »

Do all dpd orders coming into Ireland come through Athlone? I'm based in Dublin. Going to mail the BBF and see if I can change delivery to my Parcel Motel address up north.

Parcel Motel will not accept alcohol.

L1011

aaronm13 wrote: »

Do all dpd orders coming into Ireland come through Athlone? I'm based in Dublin. Going to mail the BBF and see if I can change delivery to my Parcel Motel address up north.

Yes, and Parcel Motel will reject (back to sender rather than seize) alcohol if they detect it.

UK Customs may also seize.

aaronm13

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Parcel Motel will not accept alcohol.

Feck, thanks for the heads up. What about dpd Parcel wizard up the north. Would that have to go through Athlone. I used it a few weeks ago to get beer from the UK and it was fine?

martyos121

Ordered a load from Belgian Happiness myself, worried now, did anyone get their order from them seized or was it all from BBF?

DPD Ireland: Liam

aaronm13 wrote: »

Feck, thanks for the heads up. What about dpd Parcel wizard up the north. Would that have to go through Athlone. I used it a few weeks ago to get beer from the UK and it was fine?

Hi there,

In regards to our Parcel Wizard service, I'm afraid that we can't carry liquids.

For a full list of the goods not accepted for carriage please click on the link below.

http://dpd.ie/Shipping/Goods-not-accepted-for-Carriage

vicwatson

Liam can you give us any advice regarding the purchase of beer online ? What's the sp on it ? Allowed ? Not allowed ?? And I don't mean by dpd, I mean in general shopping/shipping terms. Thanks

L1011

vicwatson wrote: »

Liam can you give us any advice regarding the purchase of beer online ? What's the sp on it ? Allowed ? Not allowed ?? And I don't mean by dpd, I mean in general shopping/shipping terms. Thanks

In general its only allowed/legal if the seller pays the duty. Some sites such as Master of Malt do (and use DPD at that). If its cheap it probably doesn't

DPD Ireland: Liam

vicwatson wrote: »

Liam can you give us any advice regarding the purchase of beer online ? What's the sp on it ? Allowed ? Not allowed ?? And I don't mean by dpd, I mean in general shopping/shipping terms. Thanks

Hello again,

I'm afraid we are not authorised to ship alcohol. Sorry guys. However, let me know if you need any help with parcels that are already travelling through our network.

martyos121

DPD Ireland: Liam wrote: »

Hello again,

I'm afraid we are not authorised to ship alcohol. Sorry guys. However, let me know if you need any help with parcels that are already travelling through our network.

I have an order going through DPD from Belgium with alcohol in it, but there's chocolates and glasses in the same box. If this order gets intercepted by revenue or customs, what's the story then? Will they take it all off me or just the booze?

L1011

martyos121 wrote: »

I have an order going through DPD from Belgium with alcohol in it, but there's chocolates and glasses in the same box. If this order gets intercepted by revenue or customs, what's the story then? Will they take it all off me or just the booze?

Revenue will take the lot.

pa990

This isn't an I Told you so, but,

Personally if I'm ordering any goods from outside the EU, I do so well in advance of xmas, as revenue always seem to be more vigilant that time of year.

On occasion with items shipped from either the US or the EU, that may attract extra taxes, I have been 'lucky' that the sender 'accidentally' labeled the goods incorrectly with the wrong description and value.

But to intentionally do that would be illegal..

lordstilton

Just a heads up..the packaging isn't discrete. It has "BEER" in big writing emblazoned on the box.

LesIsMore

I ordered 4 cases on 2 Dec , delivered to drogheda by DPD yesterday , BEER emblazoned all over. Got lucky I suppose

pa990

lordstilton wrote: »

Just a heads up..the packaging isn't discrete. It has "BEER" in big writing emblazoned on the box.

That just might tip off revenue

aaronm13

My order got shipped last night. The waiting game starts. Fingers crossed it gets through.

JosephPatrick

Has anybody else had trouble getting in contact with the Belgian Beer Factory?

I've sent him an email last week to ask about the status of my order and got a reply telling me it was fine and would ship in a couple of days but it didn't. Have contacted him twice this week and left a couple of days between emails to wait for a response but haven't heard a thing. Can't find any phone number online either.

lordstilton

He lost 11 bottles from my order.. Emails and Facebook messages, no answer... I called him out on twitter about the missing bottles and poor customer service and he contacted me straight away

JosephPatrick

lordstilton wrote: »

He lost 11 bottles from my order.. Emails and Facebook messages, no answer... I called him out on twitter about the missing bottles and poor customer service and he contacted me straight away

Thanks I'll give that a go. Ordering from him is turning out to be a bit of an ordeal.

lordstilton

I won't be using him again

tomhalloween

I emailed him and also made contact via twitter regarding part of my order that hasnt been dispatched. No response.

JosephPatrick

If he doesn't reply by the morning I'm going to ask AIB to do a chargeback. He's been replying to others from the UK on facebook but I shouldn't have to use my personal Facebook or twitter accounts to try and force a response from him.

I'm sure he's busy with lots of Christmas orders and all that but you can't just completely ignore customers weeks after taking payment for the orders.

cL0h

Republic of Ireland has been removed as a possible shipment country from the Belgian Beer Factory website.

DPD Ireland: Liam

martyos121 wrote: »

I have an order going through DPD from Belgium with alcohol in it, but there's chocolates and glasses in the same box. If this order gets intercepted by revenue or customs, what's the story then? Will they take it all off me or just the booze?

Hi there,

It depends on the Customs and Excise officers.

DPD Ireland: Liam

LesIsMore wrote: »

I ordered 4 cases on 2 Dec , delivered to drogheda by DPD yesterday , BEER emblazoned all over. Got lucky I suppose

We have no authority to stop or confiscate a parcel ourselves. The parcel might have beer all over it but it contain other goods. It always depends on the Customs and Excise officers I'm afraid..

martyos121

Just got 24 bottles, a glass and a big box of Belgian chocolates from Belgian Happiness, no problems with revenue, massively relieved that I can enjoy Christmas with a few bottles of Westvleteren 12 now!

For anyone who got their booze seized, I really feel for ye though. Either I got lucky with my order or Belgian Happiness pay duties because the packaging isn't so discreet. Also extremely well packaged I must say, the glass was so protected in bubble wrap I could've thrown it at a wall.

irish_goat

I should get a job with Customs and Excise. Sounds like I'd get a bumper harvest.