An Post returning packages from outside the EU-See 1st post

As far as extra information, I was sent the shipping label as usual when the package shipped, and it was identical to all the other ones apart from the listed contents and their value. Those other ones arrived between April and July. My package contained two secondhand watches I bought off Yahoo Auctions Japan using Zenmarket as a proxy service. The other five packages I've had from them this year all got to me without any trouble. The last one that was delivered actually reached Dublin on the 4th of July, so after the new system came into force. I wasn't asked to pay VAT either, oddly.

Zenmarket have heard nothing and weren't even aware of the issue. I contacted other proxy services too, who all said packages being sent to the EU are being delivered fine at the moment, including Ireland apparently. The spiel I had from both Revenue/Customs and An Post's eComm Charge Query people is that TARIC codes are now mandatory for all non-EU packages regardless of value. Since packages from Japan are being delivered fine to Ireland at the moment, apparently, it might be that An Post and Revenue are telling a bit of a tall tale. My guess is that some packages are being selected at random for this kind of inspection and that you and I simply got unlucky.

I'll be using a courier to get the package back to Ireland as well, probably UPS or maybe Fedex.

My advice would be to not even attempt to contact them, you'll wait and wait only to get some depressed woman or a robot on the other line. Just use couriers anymore.

Well, initially An Post were telling me the parcel had been "extracted" by customs (like a rotten tooth, I guess, hah) and that it was their fault. Customs told me An Post handle all of that and that they had never had any interaction with my parcel. If it had been Customs, like in the old system, I'd have been asked for proof of purchase, etc, to prove the declared value was real. They'd have been welcome to open it - they'd have seen two watches, just like the label said.

What I can't figure out is if every parcel is being sent back or only a sample. I had a package arrive at my house on the 5th of July after arriving in Dublin the previous day, so it certainly wasn't happening then. The package I had this month arrived on the 9th and was sent back on the 15th, which is nearly a week. So it wasn't sent straight back.

That's what I wonder myself. Not only do they have transport costs, but there's admin work to be done too and other things, and the people who do that need to be paid. And every package sent back means VAT revenue lost by the State.

This is going crazy!!! I never have problems until now, as said: 4 packets sent back! This is something new from EU rule or the goverment. I repeat I never had issues before just now 4 packets sent back and its looks that there is another coming from US that is in limbo. I thinks they are pushing so people only buy stuff in the EU, that is only think I can think of.

A vodafone one from about 10 years ago. Probably the only one alright haha

Got an sms on Sunday night about my parcel from Amazon being on hold until customs are paid.

There are no customs to be paid. I have the invoice to prove it.

Sent messages through the website, on hold to chat for about an hour.

Phone calls are getting disconnected.

It looks like the parcel will be sent back and probably Amazon will refund me.

Told Amazon that involving AnPost in delivering process it's not a good idea.

They are always late and creating problems.

So looks like proof of purchase and invoice isn't enough to release my item ordered on Amazon.

Probably is no ioss number provided by sender.

Could this be the cause of my and everyone else deliveries being sent back.

Here's a screenshot

No, not the issue for me either. I needed to pay VAT through An Post, so some other reason has caused the customs declaration to be deemed 'insufficient'. I think it's the omission of the TARIC code in my case.

I would like to pay extra for the item to be delivered using a different courier now to avoid An Post, but it seems the company will only use Royal Mail and then it just automatically goes to An Post. I don't think I will ever get what I need.

Maybe Revenue and the government should ease off their infatuation with trying to scrape every last cent of tax and do something sensible like not bothering for goods less that €50 or €100, that's basically what Australia did.

Switzerland is not in the EU nor the EEA, they however are part of the single market!

However, it is required that Irish VAT is charged and paid on the import, therefore they require IOSS numbers if you paid the VAT directly to the Swiss company.

Otherwise Irish VAT is due at import.

An Post need to hire some humans. Nothing as frustrating as a passive aggressive robot 'Paddy' fobbing you off for trying to get answers to a service you paid for and did not receive.