Cash ceased and property damaged by customs

solo7

Hi all, I will really appreciate your views on this matter. After working hard for many years and paying 100s of k in taxes I have lost the ability to work in 2013 after a string of surgeries on my back. Once the company I owned ceased trading I was called for an interview with the revenue official who interrogated me for hours and at the end told me that they will conduct investigation.
Following summer I was returning home by ferry from France with my family when I got pulled over by customs and the car was searched inside out with the dog for hours – nothing was found and no apologies or explanation from the officials. I had about 1200 euro in cash at the time and when I shown them I was asked “why do I have such a large amount of cash”. This is personal as I had bad experience with the banks and cards and prefer to have my money with me when I travel. When we got back to the car – most of the plastic trims, air vents plastic clips and door cards were ripped. It would have cost thousands to fix so the car was devalued big time when it was sold.
On the next occasion I was stopped at Dublin airport travelling from Spain with my son. I had less than 10k with me when again we were stopped by customs and questioned for hours. This time I could see they were turning heads looking specifically us. I have shown them the cash when asked, which I was told they are going to cease on suspicion of criminal activity. This was repeated over dozens of times. My son was taken to anither room and was questioned by another officer and he was told that investigation on him will take place. After hours of questioning and checking my bank account they did not take my money because I had shown them withdrawal from the bank. Again I was told that I will receive a letter from them that further action will be take in a form of investigation.
Now I was travelling from Cork by ferry with my wife and my dogs I was pulled over again by customs, who were clearly waiting for me as one had my car reg written on his hand. They said they are performing random check and asked if I had any cash. I had shown them 10k which they said they are taking in respect of Criminal justice act 1994 amended by Section 20 2005. I have asked him to give me access to the internet and I can prove that the money was taken from the bank. I was told they will not allow me to use their computer because it is a revenue computer like I was going to hack it or something. My wife was asked to leave the car with dogs and a cat while they are searching the car with their “cash dog”. I was taken to the booth where they counted my money and asked tricky questions trying to catch me on something I do not know. When I saw one of them heading towards my car with the crow bar I asked not to damage my car as they did in the past which I was reassured will not happen. Since they already knew the dates I have travelled in the past and that I have just paid property tax so the “random” check was not so random so third search is not a coincidence.
After they seized the money and allowed us to travel with the comment after looking at my wife’s purse totalling 60 euro - “ you have enough money”.
When I said that I need to pay for food, petrol and tolls I was told “you do not have to travel” even though I told him that I have an appointment to fix my teeth and other medical procedures abroad.
But more shock was to follow when I found my car broken to bits again - all plastic and wooden trims, air vents, armrest and a stoke on the steering were broken. Even my cats plastic toilet was broken and a handle snapped. I can see it was done on purpose and with hate, I do not know what to expect from them next – cut brake line or they will plant something?
Now both of my children are afraid to travel with me because I am being treated like a criminal all the time I cross the border in front of them and my son being searched as well and threatened by revenue audit, my cars being destroyed and money ceased because they have failed to give me access to the internet to show them bank statement, stuck on the continent with no funds for medical treatment and no fund to pay for a ferry back to Ireland. I am now in shock and any advice would be highly appreciated because I do not think it is fair to be treated like this, it seems like no human rights inc freedom of travel are in existence amongst Irish government officials.
Thank you for all for you input

Kristopherus

Talk to your solicitor. That kind of behaviour is uncalled for.

4ensic15

1k in cash is all that is allowed. If you didn't cop that the first time, you should have the second time.

badboyblast

4ensic15 wrote: »

1k in cash is all that is allowed. If you didn't cop that the first time, you should have the second time.

That's wrong , totally wrong, you have to declare from 10k upwards

drunkmonkey

4ensic15 wrote: »

1k in cash is all that is allowed. If you didn't cop that the first time, you should have the second time.

I think the limit is 10k cash.

Caranica

Have you tried flying? Not bring smart but car wouldn't be damaged and it would be clear if you are genuinely being targeted.

Definitely one for a solicitor though, have you lodged complaints with cbp?

Ken.

Here's a little story,

Years ago my aunt's(through marriage) aunt brought a new (to her) car. Every time she took it out on the road she was stopped by the Gardai. The car was searched inside and out. After this happened for about the 15th time she got in contact with a Garda sergeant whom was a friend of a friend.

Turns out the car had been used by the I.R.A. for something up north. It was seized by the RUC and because it had an Irish reg it was sold down south. The reg had been tagged and never untagged.

The Gardai in Carlow stopped harassing her but anywhere else she was stopped so she ended up selling the car for scrap.

Eric Cartman

sorry to hear your story OP, customs can be quite the bullies when they want to be, as above id recommend changing the car. I'd say its just the cash keeps triggering them, for some reason people consider cash as a bad thing these days....

K.Flyer

^^^^^
Might be the car, the reg may have history..
A similar story from many years ago, a chap I knew well had bought a large sized motor bike and was always being stopped, hassled and delayed most times he went out on it.
Out of exasperation he lost it with a Garda and asked why he was always being stopped especially as he had done nothing wrong.
After a few minutes of back and forth with this Garda he found out that the bike had belonged to a very notorious criminal and basically they associated him with said criminal because of the bike. :eek:
He sold it pretty quickly after that.

Big Nasty

It's painfully obvious they strongly suspect you of criminal activity and that the large amounts of cash you have had on your person at least three times now are the proceeds of crime. Bar the cash have you given them any reason to suspect this? Do you get any of this sort of harassment from the Gardai or is it just customs?

Bubbaclaus

Why do you always have thousands of cash just with you all the time?

Samuel T. Cogley

Must have been some bad experience with a bank card to top losing 20K to customs.

listermint

Newly registered fantastical description of interaction with officials. Can't believe anyone is going to fall for this.

4ensic15

badboyblast wrote: »

That's wrong , totally wrong, you have to declare from 10k upwards

Where are you getting 10K from? It is 1k.

Squatter

solo7 wrote: »

Hi all, I will really appreciate your views on this matter. After working hard for many years and paying 100s of k in taxes I have lost the ability to work in 2013 after a string of surgeries on my back. Once the company I owned ceased trading I was called for an interview with the revenue official who interrogated me for hours and at the end told me that they will conduct investigation.

OK, starting with the above:

1. Why wasn't your accountant with you?

2. Had you/your accountant filed all of the required tax returns as well as the documentation required to wind up your company?

3. Were all of the business taxes that you owed paid up to date?

4. The revenue official who interviewed you for hours informed you that there would be an investigation into what?

Squatter

4ensic15 wrote: »

Where are you getting 10K from? It is 1k.

Both amounts are correct!

First:

If you enter or leave the European Union (EU) at an Irish airport or port carrying cash of €10,000 or more, you must make a declaration to customs. Customs may check this declaration and the cash to ensure that the amount declared is correct. You may request a stamped copy of the completed declaration from customs.

If you travel to, or from, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands carrying cash of €10,000 or more, you must also make a declaration.

You must make this declaration in order to comply with European and national legislation and to deter illegal activities such as money laundering.

BUT

A customs officer may search for, seize and detain cash being brought into or out of the State if:

the amount is €1,000 or more
and
the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the cash directly or indirectly represents the proceeds of crime, or is intended for use in criminal conduct.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/travelling-with-cash/index.aspx

relax carry on

If you believe you have been unfairly treated in any of your interactions with Revenue & Customs then follow the complaints procedure in the link below.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/customer-service/how-to-complain/index.aspx

Yawns

Stopped by guards who seized your cash which left you stranded on the continent with no funds for medical treatment and no means to get a ferry back. Good to see the guards over in France etc enjoying a holiday.

New Account. Outlandish story about being treated like a criminal and cars left in ruins. Yeah, sure. Let me just grab this bag of popcorn over here.

solo7

Thank you all for your input, first post here as I can not login into my old boards account which is saved into my home computer. For those popcorn lovers - I would be very surprised if you are not government officials chatting here during your working shift hours and getting paid in between harassing normal people.
I genuinely did not know about 1K limit, always thought it was 10. It is not the car reg because now I was stopped in 2 different cars in Rosslare and Cork and at a Dublin airport so it is my name what triggers the searches.
The company I owned was struck of correctly with all outstanding taxes paid but then a letter of objection arrived, when I called the CRO I was told it is the revenue who objected.
I was later called for an interview in their posh offices in Dublin 4 where I was told the story about voluntary disclosure at least 10 times. At the end I was told that either investigation or personal audit will take place - but i have not heard anything until they started harassing me at the borders.
I will file a complaint for now and will seek legal advise on my return - but in this society I can not see how I can afford legal costs against unlimited funding of the state

solo7

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Must have been some bad experience with a bank card to top losing 20K to customs.

they did not cease 1200 on the first occasion in the Rosslare Port or under 10K at the airport on the second instance - just threatened to do so. they only ceased the money now because without internet I could not show bank statement with withdrawal. I did not have printed statement with me.
in relation to the bank cards - my card was blocked abroad on 2 separate occasions causing major inconvenience in the past, but it is now becoming apparent that carrying cash is not the way forward either.

relax carry on

solo7 wrote: »

they did not cease 1200 on the first occasion in the Rosslare Port or under 10K at the airport on the second instance - just threatened to do so. they only ceased the money now because without internet I could not show bank statement with withdrawal. I did not have printed statement with me.
in relation to the bank cards - my card was blocked abroad on 2 separate occasions causing major inconvenience in the past, but it is now becoming apparent that carrying cash is not the way forward either.

Put in your complaint with Revenue using the link from earlier and follow it through.

Regarding traveling with large amounts of cash; can you see why authorities who have an interest in cash such as the Gardai and R&C, would have suspicions.

solo7

Thanks again for an advise, will put a complain in now. I have no idea why they are interested in searching me all the time, it is only the revenue and customs, because I have not had any dealings with the Gardai in the past, I have never done anything wrong to attract their interest, it - but this all started after I wound up a company back in 2013.

GreeBo

OP I presume you have or can take a photo to the damage to your car and post it here for the doubters?

solo7

I have already taken pictures of the damage, but can not find the link to upload them here? Maybe need admin's approval or more posts

billybonkers

solo7 wrote: »

I have already taken pictures of the damage, but can not find the link to upload them here? Maybe need admin's approval or more posts

Go advanced and click the paper clip attachment button

MarkR

I think you have to have over 50 posts. You could post a link to them, if you have them stored elsewhere.

I doubt anything was done with hate. Perhaps a lack of care, maybe.

Get legal representation, and lodge a complaint.

Squatter

solo7 wrote: »

The company I owned was struck of correctly with all outstanding taxes paid but then a letter of objection arrived, when I called the CRO I was told it is the revenue who objected.

I was later called for an interview in their posh offices in Dublin 4 where I was told the story about voluntary disclosure at least 10 times.

At the end I was told that either investigation or personal audit will take place - but i have not heard anything until they started harassing me at the borders.

What has the 'poshness' or otherwise of Revenue's Dublin 4 offices got to do with your sad tale? Would you have been happier if they had interviewed you in a run down shed in Leitrim?

Why wasn't your accountant with you when you were called for interview? Did you ask him/her were there any problems with your company's accounts?

Did the CRO not inform you of the basis of Revenue's objections? Are you not entitled to know them?

When you wound up the company did you have a disgruntled member of staff who might have had it in for you?

Pat Mustard

Mod:

Thread closed.

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