being stopped at dover customs and getting car taken apart
Discussion
i went to hamburg recently to take my friend home as she missed her flight, and i went to germany, then came straight back, when i got to customs, the guys didnt believe my story then proceeded to dismantle the car. i know i look young and after 9 hours of driving i did look the worse for wear but i didnt expect them to literally take the car apart. the thing is, is that my doors now wont shut properly and the bonnet is mis aligned, they took each tyre off stuck it thru x ray machine. they took seats out , carpet, facsia, door panels off, roof lining out, carpet out, they checked the oil tank, checked the water for the windscreen wipers, looked in roof a pillar,, were loooking under the car, but amazingly they didnt even search me...they went thru each and every item in the car and made me feel like a criminal although all i brought back were 3 german biscuits. is this normal and what rights do i have to get some money off them to fix my doors and bonnet?
after 3 hours of searching the car, they found nothing, took my passport off for an hour , made me stand in freezing cold then when they could find nothing they didnt even say sorry, bastards!
after 3 hours of searching the car, they found nothing, took my passport off for an hour , made me stand in freezing cold then when they could find nothing they didnt even say sorry, bastards!
Edited by K321 on Saturday 29th December 01:11
I saw someone's car getting taken apart one year when I was returning from France - it really is a sight to behold. The customs guys even had the rubber strip off the bonnet's leading edge.
I was in a transit van back in the days when it was all the rage to do booze cruises (mid 90s I think). We were pulled and a customs guy took a few of the 100 cases of beer we had on board out and I'm sure he told me at the time that they're not even required to put them back in again so they could unload the entire van and then just leave it on the floor for us to put back in.
Seems to me they must have some sort of duty of care to put back what they take apart and if they don't do this properly then you must have some sort of comeback - probably not though.
I was in a transit van back in the days when it was all the rage to do booze cruises (mid 90s I think). We were pulled and a customs guy took a few of the 100 cases of beer we had on board out and I'm sure he told me at the time that they're not even required to put them back in again so they could unload the entire van and then just leave it on the floor for us to put back in.
Seems to me they must have some sort of duty of care to put back what they take apart and if they don't do this properly then you must have some sort of comeback - probably not though.
wrinx said:
I'm pretty sure you can claim for damages to put the car right again.
Perhaps they might choose to, but they're under no obligation at all to do that. In fact they aren't even required to put the car back together afterwards. If you're stopped, make sure you're polite because these customs and excise guys have the power to absolutely ruin your day if they want to.GreenV8S said:
wrinx said:
I'm pretty sure you can claim for damages to put the car right again.
Perhaps they might choose to, but they're under no obligation at all to do that. In fact they aren't even required to put the car back together afterwards. If you're stopped, make sure you're polite because these customs and excise guys have the power to absolutely ruin your day if they want to.
- StreakyA few years back when I was doing regular business trips to Euroland & back I was getting stopped EVERY time. Always the same questions, often a similar response. In the end it became such a laughing joke about me being directed into the rubber glove hall 
Even if I was with a group & not the driver we'd be directed in every time. I asked why once.
Its a profile thing they are looking for, age of driver, age of car your first verbal response etc. Always helps to back up your story, I often showed receipts from where I'd been that sort of thing, or the boot not full of contabrand if they got suspicious It became such a regular thing I actually recognised the regular guys on duty & I'm sure they knew me too. Most of them were fine about it tbh, never had a major problem bar the odd basic under over inside car search.
I'd always suggest to be as polite & forthcoming as possible especially once directed into the bit with the 4 poster ramps
They are under no obligation to put it all back together either & there is no recompense either.
Even if I was with a group & not the driver we'd be directed in every time. I asked why once. Its a profile thing they are looking for, age of driver, age of car your first verbal response etc. Always helps to back up your story, I often showed receipts from where I'd been that sort of thing, or the boot not full of contabrand if they got suspicious
It became such a regular thing I actually recognised the regular guys on duty & I'm sure they knew me too. Most of them were fine about it tbh, never had a major problem bar the odd basic under over inside car search.I'd always suggest to be as polite & forthcoming as possible especially once directed into the bit with the 4 poster ramps
They are under no obligation to put it all back together either & there is no recompense either.
Edited by cptsideways on Saturday 29th December 14:58
Drawing a parallel between the apparent tired appearence
and biscuits angle
given the canines weren't alerting their interest
(as in my case)
they were suspicious of the confectionery angle
and lack of duty free I expect.
I think he's guilty as sin, and not disclosing the internal cavity search
HMC&E are normally proud to administer
and biscuits angle
given the canines weren't alerting their interest
(as in my case)
they were suspicious of the confectionery angle
and lack of duty free I expect.
I think he's guilty as sin, and not disclosing the internal cavity search
HMC&E are normally proud to administer
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