sending fork parts ...
 

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sending fork parts to EU for tuning. Import/export?

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Contemplating sending my damper to Germany for tuning.

Given I've already paid import fees on the fork in 2021 is there a way to not pay again or is it just another brexit gift that keeps giving?

 
Posted : 05/12/2022 9:35 pm
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Having sent scientific equipment abroad for calibration/maintenance in the past, I vaguely recall there being some special customs arrangement for exactly this sort of thing. You have to pay the full amount of duty to someone who holds it until the items return. I can't remember the details, but I do know that it was such a pain in the wotsits that we mostly didn't bother. Paying the extra duty cost less than the extra staff time spent trying to sort out the paperwork.

 
Posted : 06/12/2022 9:30 am
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Good question, cost of damper is a lot cheaper than the cost of the fork, or is duty paid on the service price rather than the value of the item, I'm interested to know the answer too.

 
Posted : 06/12/2022 9:40 am
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What do they offer that a UK tuner does not?

 
Posted : 06/12/2022 8:58 pm
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Had problems with this in the past getting warranty work done in the states.

Warranty work was discount so that's what I should pay fees on. However, customs wanted to charge duty on the insured value written on the postal label rather than the service cost on the invoice.

Had to pay up front then argue the toss.

 
Posted : 06/12/2022 9:18 pm
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Given I’ve already paid import fees on the fork in 2021 is there a way to not pay again or is it just another brexit gift that keeps giving?

The fact that you paid import fees when you bought the fork has no bearing on re-importing the fork after repair. The only thing that you can do is to give them the lowest reasonable value on the commercial invoice when exporting them. Say a third of retail. This can be used by the repairer when re exporting, giving you a lower customs liability. It’s possible that the repairer may have to include both the original customs value plus the value of repairs on the commercial invoice when re-exporting. It really depends on the nature of their import/export procedure. Because guess what? Each of the EU member states actually has sovereignty over its own import and export procedures after all.
Yes thank Brexit for this. Project Fear became Project Reality.

 
Posted : 06/12/2022 9:38 pm
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Slightly different but I had to send a frame back to the states for repair.
When it came back I had to pay import/tax on it again then reclaim the payment I'd made the first time it was delivered.
It was a right pain in the arse.
This was pre Brexit but would imagine it was pretty much the same as it is now as it was from America.

 
Posted : 07/12/2022 7:36 am
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My friend in Switzerland had the same issue. Sent his forks to Pace for service work and had to pay the full value of them to Swiss customs when he got them back. Don’t think he ever successfully got his money reclaimed.

 
Posted : 07/12/2022 8:02 am
 wbo
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Tuning is not repair, unless you're sending it back as a specific repair/warranty. It's an extra service, so what does the UK/EU agreement say on that?

 
Posted : 07/12/2022 8:13 am
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Why would you, other than to want to post up another comment in a few weeks/months complaining of the cost/delays/red-tape involved in sending your fork to Germany...

 
Posted : 07/12/2022 8:14 am
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 kilo
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Tuning is not repair

Outward processing relief (opr) allows for goods to be processed, as well as repaired, but I think you need to use the more complicated full authorisation system for processing only. Tuning is not a repair. I would also check with hmrc if tuning included processing, but when I was a gentleman of the Excise I would have ok’ed it so might be worth an inquiry.
There may also be a tax liability if you are charged for any added parts, during the process.
When I was involved it was a fiddly process to set up but not insurmountable (I was dealing with large companies though)

IANAHMC&E (anymore)

 
Posted : 07/12/2022 8:45 am

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