bringing household container with a OA visa

[shumi330]

Hello,
I will probably sound very naive to you guy! just got a OA visa throught London thai Embassy , on the end of june ,now on the process to move to BKk. I did organise a container to be sent to thailland from uk , it is due to arrive on the 31 th of August , as i have read that i could bring my personel effect and my household belonging taxes free, as long i had this kind of visa and was doing it within 6 months ,which i did.
As my shippment is on his way i have contacted my BKK agent to ask the customs to give me a estimate on my inventory,well i am been ask 42 000 thb so far just as a estimate ,i did ask why ?
well they answer i simple tax free only on personal effect ,well i dont have to tell you i am under shock as i have paid £2688 already and the bkk agent want £331 more because my location is out of bkk city ,20 km out , as you can see i am in a big mess.
Any advise please as i feel that i should not been tax ,what shall i do ? any suggestion ?
Anyway thank you very much for taking time to read that message
Michael

[flemmie]

Sounds to me like you are poorly informed at the beginning. The shipper should have informed you in advance about all charges and difficulties. I am in exatcly the same situation, my shipment left Russia end of June and is expected here on the 28th of August. I know that there are many funny rules about import duties and such (like electrical appliances, pc's etc...) so I wait. I have the advantage that the company is moving me so all costs are paid by them.

Good luck is all I can say, I dont know what options you have.

Nick

[frogblogger]

The customs department is allegedly the most corrupt in Thailand, and all ancillary services and costs should be checked, double-checked and triple-checked before importing goods into the country.

Being charged £331 for a delivery 20k from the depot looks like an attempted rip-off. Just tell the agent you will organise your own collection from their premises if they insist on this silly amount.

As for unforeseen taxes, you need to ask for a detailed inventory of the items to be taxed and the costs involved. This too might be an attempted rip-off. However it is well known that the Thai customs charges are very high - just try to bring in your old car, for example. It's cheaper to buy a new one.

Most people don't bother bringing much other than essentials into Thailand for this very reason. You can usually buy everything you need here for a fraction of the price anyway.

[shumi330]

Originally Posted by flemmie

Sounds to me like you are poorly informed at the beginning. The shipper should have informed you in advance about all charges and difficulties. I am in exatcly the same situation, my shipment left Russia end of June and is expected here on the 28th of August. I know that there are many funny rules about import duties and such (like electrical appliances, pc's etc...) so I wait. I have the advantage that the company is moving me so all costs are paid by them.

Good luck is all I can say, I dont know what options you have.

Nick

Dear Nick

Thank you for your mail, and yes i was not well inform by my uk shipper at all but now i am in the hole , i did read as much as i could about the retirememt visa but seem that they are doing there own law ,
Anyway my shippemt is du to arrive on the 29 now ,so we might meet at the customs who knows
All the best to you
Michel

[shumi330]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

The customs department is allegedly the most corrupt in Thailand, and all ancillary services and costs should be checked, double-checked and triple-checked before importing goods into the country.

Being charged £331 for a delivery 20k from the depot looks like an attempted rip-off. Just tell the agent you will organise your own collection from their premises if they insist on this silly amount.

As for unforeseen taxes, you need to ask for a detailed inventory of the items to be taxed and the costs involved. This too might be an attempted rip-off. However it is well known that the Thai customs charges are very high - just try to bring in your old car, for example. It's cheaper to buy a new one.

Most people don't bother bringing much other than essentials into Thailand for this very reason. You can usually buy everything you need here for a fraction of the price anyway.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and advise me , yes you are righ i have been very stupid as i really thought they were playing by the book , but they are not .
As for the £331 i will try to aggle there price otherwise i will try do it myself .
As for the customs i am so angry as i did read so much about it what too bring and not too bring , i was going to bring my car of course that would have been a stupid thing to do .
Anyway thank you again an i will try to do what you said , i will let you know the outcome of it as my shipment is du on the 29th now .
Best regard
Michel

[Winkie]

This link will give you some info about what you can and cannot bring in Tax-Free

>> Thai Customs <<

Whilst these items can be brougt in Tax and Duty Free, there will most problaby be a clearing charge. And givent he value quoted to you, looks like some items will be taxed (certain things, only ! can be brought in tax-free, above 1 unit is taxable)

UKP330 to move to 20 kms outside of Bangkok, if tht includes moving a a 40ft Container and team of people to unpack (and remove the mountian of packaging) and position everything, maybe is not too extreme, but it is strange that it was not quoted at the start, unless you shipped only as far as the port and not door-to-door.

Good luck, hope you don't encounter any other surprises along the way.

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by Winkie

UKP330 to move to 20 kms outside of Bangkok, if tht includes moving a a 40ft Container and team of people to unpack (and remove the mountian of packaging) and position everything, maybe is not too extreme, but it is strange that it was not quoted at the start, unless you shipped only as far as the port and not door-to-door.

For a 20' container, going 20k, redelivery at that price is very high indeed. Even for a 40' container it is way excessive.

If the container needs to be stripped and restuffed, and this was not included in the original quote, then the cost is not so bad, but the OP seemed to be suggesting that the original price was inclusive, door to door Bangkok, and the supplement is being imposed simply because the actual delivery location was 20 km outside city limits. If so, that is a ridiculous extra cost.

It would be a ridiculous extra cost for anywhere in Europe where I ship containers every day, and where labour and road transport costs are considerably higher.

shumi330 - Where are the goods clearing customs?

[shumi330]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

For a 20' container, going 20k, redelivery at that price is very high indeed. Even for a 40' container it is way excessive.

If the container needs to be stripped and restuffed, and this was not included in the original quote, then the cost is not so bad, but the OP seemed to be suggesting that the original price was inclusive, door to door Bangkok, and the supplement is being imposed simply because the actual delivery location was 20 km outside city limits. If so, that is a ridiculous extra cost.

It would be a ridiculous extra cost for anywhere in Europe where I ship containers every day, and where labour and road transport costs are considerably higher.

shumi330 - Where are the goods clearing customs?

HEY Frogblogger ,
Thank you for your message and all your concern , yes the original quote was door to door and i got told about the big rise once my container was in the boat i really felt the trap ,outside city limit is there argument ,the company is call Trans-link , and it is the Port of BKK which is only 20km from my house .
I am looking at renting a truck , but would he be cheaper ? they seem to be all so bad .
Nice talking with you anyway , property in France and Chang Mai .you done well for yourself
Take care
Michel

[Cer]

To the best of my knowledge:
An O-A visa is a long stay (for retirement purposes).
People on such a visa are not allowed to bring in their personal "stuff" duty free (it is explecitely mentioned in the custums rules).

[Cer]

Originally Posted by Cer

To the best of my knowledge:
An O-A visa is a long stay (for retirement purposes).
People on such a visa are not allowed to bring in their personal "stuff" duty free (it is explecitely mentioned in the custums rules).

quote from custums regulation
Note : Nonresidents entering into the Kingdom with a non-immigrant visa "code O" who wish to retire in Thailand or accompany spouses of Thai residents are not qualified for (1)
unquote