Anyone Know Shipping?

[aspeck]

Let me explain ... I have a friend who has been a missionary in Ghana for the last 16 years. He and his wife shipped a container of their things back to Virginia. It apprears that the Department of Homeland Security decided they needed to search the container. No problem with that. Everything was removed and checked (and a few things broken). The broken things are not a big deal - they packed it themselves and they could not get insurance on the contents.

Anyway, after 2 weeks DHS released the container, which the shipping company needed to repack and ship on to my friend. All of the above is no problem, and for security, it is okay and expected. The problem is now he is getting a bill for about $2,000 for the repacking and time it was with DHS. Is this right? Is there any recourse? Can anything be done to save him the $2,000 fee? They sold their car to pay for the container shipping, now they have been told if they do not pay the $2,000 then they will confiscate the shipped goods and sell them to recover the 2 grand.

I will be calling our State Representative on Monday, but any advise before then? Thanks.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

This has happened to one of my businesses, after discovering we were talking to a brick wall, it was decided that we were much better off writing it off of our taxes.

 

[orion25]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

Too many things not mentioned here. Did they use a customs broker or freight forwarder? If so they are on the hook for the charges if the 3rd party does not have policies stating otherwise...................

 

[dave11]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

A company I worked for had containers delivered from South America on a regular basis. They were checked occasionally. I wasn't privy to the shipping contract, but I was the controller, so I would have been aware of any additional charges. We were never charged any additional.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

DHS can search whatever they like, whenever they like to anything coming into the U.S. as far as I know. They do it with cars, trailers, boats etc crossing from Canada into the U.S.
They have no responsibility for the mess they leave. It is up to the vehicle owner to straighten things out again.
I have never had this done to any of our vehicles but living close to a border city we read about it in the newspapers, hear about it on local news and have witnessed the mess that has been made to a few folks vehicles that I know.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

DHS can search whatever they like, whenever they like to anything coming into the U.S. as far as I know. They do it with cars, trailers, boats etc crossing from Canada into the U.S.
They have no responsibility for the mess they leave. It is up to the vehicle owner to straighten things out again.
I have never had this done to any of our vehicles but living close to a border city we read about it in the newspapers, hear about it on local news and have witnessed the mess that has been made to a few folks vehicles that I know.

Well, not quite... There are legal ways to ship things across borders and not have DHS or customs (or anyone else for that matter) open, or break the seal on the container. But that doesn't help aspeck now.

What your friend needs to do at this point aspeck, is consult an attorney. $2000 isn't a whole lot, so I'd wager they'll back off when they receive a letter from the attorney.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

I think the first thing we will do is to call my state representative on Monday and see if he will look into this. Unfortunately my friend is from Virginia and I am from PA, but maybe my rep will look into it, or make contact with someone from VA (remember, my friend has been in Ghana for 16 years, so he has no contacts in the legislature). I also have an attorney friend who would write a letter ... good idea Sarge. Thanks.

As I said originally, we do not have a problem with DHS inspecting everything, and even the breakage ... that happens and they should have been more careful, but we can live with that. But why should it add additional unexpected costs to someone who was not trying to smuggle anything into the country? Pay for the damages and repacking from the confiscated smuggled goods.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

Well, not quite... There are legal ways to ship things across borders and not have DHS or customs (or anyone else for that matter) open, or break the seal on the container. But that doesn't help aspeck now.

What your friend needs to do at this point aspeck, is consult an attorney. $2000 isn't a whole lot, so I'd wager they'll back off when they receive a letter from the attorney.

Did not know that Sarge. Thanks for the info. What ways are there ??? The company I work for imports tooling from Japan and Korea into both the U.S.A and Canada. We use customs brokers and everyone we use is bonded yet still the DHS and Customs have the right to inspect as they think fit. (Same thing in Canada by the way)

Good advice to aspeck with the attorney letter.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Anyone Know Shipping?

Just an update, I talked with my Congressman today and he apologized for not being able to help my friend because my friend lived in VA and my Congressman didn't want to "infringe" on the Congressman from VA's constituency. He did tell me that DHS should be able to help out with this, as long as the VA Conngressman pushes the issue. But it will take a Congressman pushing the issue to get anything done.

So, we will see what happens ... if the VA Congressman will push the issue for his constituent, and if there will be any results.