Strong & Herd LLP Blog - Import / Export Services
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Sunday 23 January 2011
Freight companies and Customs Compliance
Though I know this doesn't apply to all freight forwarders and clearing agents but why are so many still getting import declarations and export declarations to customs wrong - even when they have been given clear instructions. What can we do about it? HM Revenue & Customs and the Export Control Organisation expect exporters and importers to control their freight companies - you given them written instructions with key information: EORI (VAT Number), Customs Procedure Code (CPC), commodity code (tariff number), export licence number, customs authorisation numbers, eg for IPR, OPR, Warehousing, etc. The import or export customs declaration comes back from the freight forwarder (if you are lucky) and one or most of the details are wrong. Perhaps with the increase in AEO approved companies this problem will fade but it seems that training for both companies exporting from the UK and companies importing into the EU is essential. In the meantime customs compliance takes up a lot of time in our office - instructing, checking, double checking, chasing forms, reporting errors and chasing amendments. Any comments?
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Hey Guys!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a revolutionary idea. Instead of grumbling on each side of the fence which separates shippers and forwarders why don't we talk together and get to the root of the matter. Clearly forwarders are not all inefficient and clearly not all shippers are good communicators
While I'm here ... freight forwarders, OK Gary Grumble (whoever you are) be reasonable but really - why can't freight forwarders follow written instructions? The instructions are on the invoice, on a covering letter and we send an email and we still get NES and import declarations back wrong. What more can we do?
ReplyDeleteI think most freight forwarders are very good! There are the odd ones with some staff letting the rest down. Most freight forwarder employees I speak to have the right desire to get things right but their companies either push them too hard to do things quickly or do not give them the training they need to know why and how - come on owners!!
ReplyDelete