Uk Border customs stripped my car with no VALID reason
Discussion
The real question is why is it f
king impossible to get any car trim apart without breaking it, just had the Mrs Twingo boot carpet out looking for a little leak and it’s all held together with one use clips hidden in ridiculous places ! I’m pretty sure even main stealers break the clips off then just smash trim back on and hope it holds , stty clip together junk , and they ALL do it
king impossible to get any car trim apart without breaking it, just had the Mrs Twingo boot carpet out looking for a little leak and it’s all held together with one use clips hidden in ridiculous places ! I’m pretty sure even main stealers break the clips off then just smash trim back on and hope it holds , stty clip together junk , and they ALL do it GroundEffect said:
They appear to like lone men in MPVs as targets for potential trafficking of stuff.
I was driving back from Lommel Proving Ground few years ago in a Galaxy. On my own, young guy, brand new car. Got a lot of questions but no searching.
I too was returning from Lommel last October in a Galaxy (albeit five up) and was stopped at the border. Some Gendarme set upon us with swabs and a questioning. I was driving back from Lommel Proving Ground few years ago in a Galaxy. On my own, young guy, brand new car. Got a lot of questions but no searching.
We were, however, having a far better time of things than the van next to us that had been taken to one side; once the first layer of boxes had been removed, about a dozen people proceeded to pour out of the back! Very amusing.
And now when you lot leave the EU with Brexit, it'll only get more common! Sympathise with you but as with all these jumped up little uniform wearers, you probably have no comeback. It's called democracy and doing it to "protect the borders and people within them"....................
matjk said:
The real question is why is it fking impossible to get any car trim apart without breaking it, just had the Mrs Twingo boot carpet out looking for a little leak and it’s all held together with one use clips hidden in ridiculous places ! I’m pretty sure even main stealers break the clips off then just smash trim back on and hope it holds , stty clip together junk , and they ALL do it
Pretty sure the secret is to use a proper trim tool (there are many types) in the correct place. The parts diagrams will tell you where clips are, this avoids pulling the clip out at an angle, or levering it too far away. Obviously customs won't bother to do this, but a main dealer 'technician' should probably know the clip positions without looking them up.king impossible to get any car trim apart without breaking it, just had the Mrs Twingo boot carpet out looking for a little leak and it’s all held together with one use clips hidden in ridiculous places ! I’m pretty sure even main stealers break the clips off then just smash trim back on and hope it holds , stty clip together junk , and they ALL do it Jammez said:
Overwhelm them with way too much stuff, that's the secret!
1. 3 chaps, ideally with mixed nationality passports, all grow beards 2. Said 3 chaps rent LWB transit
3. Nip over to France one way via ferry, just to be extra suspicious
4. Purchase enough golf balls to fill the back of a LWB transit, along with large sunglasses and beanie hats (in summer ideally) for extra stealth
5. Return to UK via euro tunnel, act as shadily as possible with fingers crossed
Im looking for a holiday home in Belgium,so travel at least 2-3 times a month plus my lad loves ww2 history so travel over quite a bit in the holidays to visit the graves and different monuments dotted around, i carry a set of bojo trim removal tools in my boot just incase i get stopped.
Another tip is never travel empty, why would you go to France and not bring back anything??
I was stopped on the tunnel by UK border FORCE, on the French side,no hellos, no how are yous, no pleasentries at all. The woman that stopped me started asking me lots of rapid fire questions, where have i been, who have i seen, what have i bought, who owns the car. I answered all of her question politely until she asked me what my wife did for a job, i replied with whats the relivance and she went mad, she was flailing her arms around shouting to get in the shed, then she started questioning why i had questioned her questions, i just sat down and let her get on with emptying the boot of the car. No apology from the bh for her rudeness or her pathetic behaviour.
French customs in France, again on the tunnel pulled myself and a mate over. This was when they actually did some work rather than just stand around huddled in one of the sheds,Ended up with a strip search then had to use the toilet. i was busting to go but held off to wait to go on the train. Whilst getting my second strip search after using the toilet i was sniggering to myself knowing someone was searching through the pieces of st that id just left in the toilet.
The way to avoid the humiliation of standing with your back to rubber glove wearing Frenchmen and pulling your arse cheeks apart so the can have a looksy is when they say DONT stroke the drug detection dog, they really do mean it. I never invited that friend across with me after that event..
Another tip is never travel empty, why would you go to France and not bring back anything??
I was stopped on the tunnel by UK border FORCE, on the French side,no hellos, no how are yous, no pleasentries at all. The woman that stopped me started asking me lots of rapid fire questions, where have i been, who have i seen, what have i bought, who owns the car. I answered all of her question politely until she asked me what my wife did for a job, i replied with whats the relivance and she went mad, she was flailing her arms around shouting to get in the shed, then she started questioning why i had questioned her questions, i just sat down and let her get on with emptying the boot of the car. No apology from the b
h for her rudeness or her pathetic behaviour.French customs in France, again on the tunnel pulled myself and a mate over. This was when they actually did some work rather than just stand around huddled in one of the sheds,Ended up with a strip search then had to use the toilet. i was busting to go but held off to wait to go on the train. Whilst getting my second strip search after using the toilet i was sniggering to myself knowing someone was searching through the pieces of s
t that id just left in the toilet. The way to avoid the humiliation of standing with your back to rubber glove wearing Frenchmen and pulling your arse cheeks apart so the can have a looksy is when they say DONT stroke the drug detection dog, they really do mean it. I never invited that friend across with me after that event..
Edited by gtidriver on Wednesday 4th April 00:02
In 2010 I was working/living in Paris, but travelling back to Newcastle every few weeks, because it was on the company dime, the Eurotunnel was the preferred option.
As a frequent solo traveller (20 years old, big saloon car) I used to get the questioning beta quite often, and inevitably I was pulled into one of the sheds. As the OP describes, they went at my (UK reg'd, RHD) car with a long handled screwdriver, and pulled off many pieces of trim, rear seats, removed glovebox etc. In addition to the single suitcase and suit carrier in my boot when they started, I was left with several bits of extra loose trim. Nothing a trip to the dealer and a bag of trim clips didn't rectify, but I did gain some rattles and squeaks I didn't have previously, and lost a day of my "home time" putting it all right again. I was mildly peeved, to say the least.
I can see why I was targeted, however, I believe I'd been through eight times in as many weeks previous to that.
As a frequent solo traveller (20 years old, big saloon car) I used to get the questioning beta quite often, and inevitably I was pulled into one of the sheds. As the OP describes, they went at my (UK reg'd, RHD) car with a long handled screwdriver, and pulled off many pieces of trim, rear seats, removed glovebox etc. In addition to the single suitcase and suit carrier in my boot when they started, I was left with several bits of extra loose trim. Nothing a trip to the dealer and a bag of trim clips didn't rectify, but I did gain some rattles and squeaks I didn't have previously, and lost a day of my "home time" putting it all right again. I was mildly peeved, to say the least.
I can see why I was targeted, however, I believe I'd been through eight times in as many weeks previous to that.
I drove to Germany few years ago. Returned on the ferry to Dover. Was driving in the queue and the border police asked me where I'd been. Then they said drive to the right. I drove into a yard area sealed off.
I was only car in this area. I got out the car and this guy asked for my passport. I handed it over then he walked into an office. I stood there wondering what I should do. Then 3 border police wearing gloves come out then spend about 2 hours searching my car. When I mean search I mean they took the a_pillar covers out. Took the boot carpet off, the door cards, Checked behind the speakers, were under the car searching in the exhaust etc, pulled the seat trim off, were messing round In the engine bit. They didn't search me though. I was surprised i could have had drugs in my pocket!
They found about 7 quid in loose change under the seats which I was happy about then they left and the guy who took my passport came out handed me back my passport then said I'm free to go. I thought wow never experienced that before but was pist off after because my car door didn't shut properly and there was loose trim as they didn't leave the car as it was before. I think I got stopped as I had been driving 7 hrs prior to the ferry, and must have looked worse for wear.
I was only car in this area. I got out the car and this guy asked for my passport. I handed it over then he walked into an office. I stood there wondering what I should do. Then 3 border police wearing gloves come out then spend about 2 hours searching my car. When I mean search I mean they took the a_pillar covers out. Took the boot carpet off, the door cards, Checked behind the speakers, were under the car searching in the exhaust etc, pulled the seat trim off, were messing round In the engine bit. They didn't search me though. I was surprised i could have had drugs in my pocket!
They found about 7 quid in loose change under the seats which I was happy about then they left and the guy who took my passport came out handed me back my passport then said I'm free to go. I thought wow never experienced that before but was pist off after because my car door didn't shut properly and there was loose trim as they didn't leave the car as it was before. I think I got stopped as I had been driving 7 hrs prior to the ferry, and must have looked worse for wear.
Edited by K321 on Thursday 5th April 01:36
zeb said:
I was stopped about 7 years ago eurotunnel french side in a 911
Fuly robocopped up gendarme came over to search the car to which I replied no problem. Had all the swab stuff and then he told me to open the rear boot. I tried to expain he was probably better looking in the front in a friendly manner but was informed in no uncertain terms that he was the law and I must comply whist pointing his automatic machine gun in my direction. I complied. Upon opening the boot he uttered something in french and then gestered I should open the front instead. We were then allowed to go on our way when I may or may not have mentioned something along the lines of cheese eating surrender monkeys.....
Yes, feeling the same about the cheddar eaters throwing their toys when people don't listen to them. Don't even need a gun for them to surrender... Fuly robocopped up gendarme came over to search the car to which I replied no problem. Had all the swab stuff and then he told me to open the rear boot. I tried to expain he was probably better looking in the front in a friendly manner but was informed in no uncertain terms that he was the law and I must comply whist pointing his automatic machine gun in my direction. I complied. Upon opening the boot he uttered something in french and then gestered I should open the front instead. We were then allowed to go on our way when I may or may not have mentioned something along the lines of cheese eating surrender monkeys.....
Ps: I got search in my 911 about 8 or 9years ago, same place.
SturdyHSV said:
1. 3 chaps, ideally with mixed nationality passports, all grow beards
2. Said 3 chaps rent LWB transit
3. Nip over to France one way via ferry, just to be extra suspicious
4. Purchase enough golf balls to fill the back of a LWB transit, along with large sunglasses and beanie hats (in summer ideally) for extra stealth
5. Return to UK via euro tunnel, act as shadily as possible with fingers crossed
Why were you buying golf balls? 2. Said 3 chaps rent LWB transit
3. Nip over to France one way via ferry, just to be extra suspicious
4. Purchase enough golf balls to fill the back of a LWB transit, along with large sunglasses and beanie hats (in summer ideally) for extra stealth
5. Return to UK via euro tunnel, act as shadily as possible with fingers crossed
skilly1 said:
SturdyHSV said:
1. 3 chaps, ideally with mixed nationality passports, all grow beards
2. Said 3 chaps rent LWB transit
3. Nip over to France one way via ferry, just to be extra suspicious
4. Purchase enough golf balls to fill the back of a LWB transit, along with large sunglasses and beanie hats (in summer ideally) for extra stealth
5. Return to UK via euro tunnel, act as shadily as possible with fingers crossed
Why were you buying golf balls? 2. Said 3 chaps rent LWB transit
3. Nip over to France one way via ferry, just to be extra suspicious
4. Purchase enough golf balls to fill the back of a LWB transit, along with large sunglasses and beanie hats (in summer ideally) for extra stealth
5. Return to UK via euro tunnel, act as shadily as possible with fingers crossed
Urge said:
I had been looking for a low mileage Fiat multipla for a while now, and was chuffed to bits to have found a genuine low mileage 32,000 mile one owner car (untouched by meddling hands)
I’m surprised only 1 person has lightly touched this subject. There are a few issues here:1, No one wants to own a Fiat Multipla
2, No one is chuffed to bits when they find a Fiat Multipla
3, You don’t get low mileage good example Fiat Multiplas because they are owned by families that use and abuse them and the car is a tool not for enjoyment.
Further on you state you don’t do drugs but quite clearly you are proud of a Fiat Multipla you must be having a real bad trip on some nasty drugs for that to happen.
On a more serious note I suspect as others have said, lone middle aged male in large vehicle is exactly what the border staff are looking out for.
Ive only ever had one dealing with C&E and this was in the UK side.
I went down to Paris with a partner for the weekend, was searched on the way out, and 3 days later on the way back - however as we weren't bringing anything back they were fine. 3 weeks later I returned with my mum who smokes, managed to blag a trip over for like £30 with P&O which includes 6 bottles of wine. I wanted some booze, my mum wanted some fags so we split the cost of the ferry and fuel down the middle. Happy days.
Until we reached Dover on the way back, where despite receipts being provided to them as to who had paid for what and for what use, I was given a full dressing down about smuggling things back to the UK and how I should watch my back leaving the country in future in case I was checked as my car would be detained, and the items brought back would be seized. The car got a good search internally, but the only part removed was the engine cover under the bonnet as in her words "I must have been bringing back more".
I'd understand had they not had checked the car both times it came back into the country, but my mother had 3kg of tobacco and I had the free wine, 2 bottles of Disaronno and 2 cases of beer, along with some aftershave - hardly smuggler of the year me - and arguably not worth the cost but it was a good mother/son day out. She claimed we were over the limit as to what we were allowed to bring back, I questioned this as I'd checked and its unlimited if you can demonstrate its for personal use which we could - and when I asked her what the limits were got "I'm not telling you so we can catch you out next time". Bit like them lowering the limit on the M25 and not telling you what it is to catch you out.
I know they're only trying to do a job, and I was happy with being searched both times as in my eyes I was doing nothing wrong however to give me a full on lecture about smuggling was ridiculous. Theres a difference to someone who has clearly been out there for a day and has a reasonable quantity of items for personal use, and someone with the car filled to the rafters.
Worth mentioning I have been out to France/Belgium every year since and bought roughly the same items and haven't been stopped since.
I went down to Paris with a partner for the weekend, was searched on the way out, and 3 days later on the way back - however as we weren't bringing anything back they were fine. 3 weeks later I returned with my mum who smokes, managed to blag a trip over for like £30 with P&O which includes 6 bottles of wine. I wanted some booze, my mum wanted some fags so we split the cost of the ferry and fuel down the middle. Happy days.
Until we reached Dover on the way back, where despite receipts being provided to them as to who had paid for what and for what use, I was given a full dressing down about smuggling things back to the UK and how I should watch my back leaving the country in future in case I was checked as my car would be detained, and the items brought back would be seized. The car got a good search internally, but the only part removed was the engine cover under the bonnet as in her words "I must have been bringing back more".
I'd understand had they not had checked the car both times it came back into the country, but my mother had 3kg of tobacco and I had the free wine, 2 bottles of Disaronno and 2 cases of beer, along with some aftershave - hardly smuggler of the year me - and arguably not worth the cost but it was a good mother/son day out. She claimed we were over the limit as to what we were allowed to bring back, I questioned this as I'd checked and its unlimited if you can demonstrate its for personal use which we could - and when I asked her what the limits were got "I'm not telling you so we can catch you out next time". Bit like them lowering the limit on the M25 and not telling you what it is to catch you out.
I know they're only trying to do a job, and I was happy with being searched both times as in my eyes I was doing nothing wrong however to give me a full on lecture about smuggling was ridiculous. Theres a difference to someone who has clearly been out there for a day and has a reasonable quantity of items for personal use, and someone with the car filled to the rafters.
Worth mentioning I have been out to France/Belgium every year since and bought roughly the same items and haven't been stopped since.
On the last Eurotunnel trip out to France we approached the passport control booth at Folkstone, and handed over the passports to French passport control lady. My Attractive Companion (female) was yakking on her phone, and wearing a hat so passport control couldn't see her face properly. Also A.C.'s passport pic was taken 9 years ago and she looks about eighteen and blonde, when she's twice that and brunette now. Passport lady politely asks A.C. to put her phone down and take off her hat. Princess A.C. declines and waves her away.
So we're held up at the booth, and two burly French passport dudes appear and ask us to get out of the car, while A.C. is still yakking on the bloody phone and won't get off it. They do a wallet-ectomy on her for driving licences and credit cards, then disappear to check. It takes twenty minutes, then we're allowed onto the train an hour late after a swabbing and a boot rummage. Much tearful cussing from A.C. about 'discrimination', the bloody French, I hate Eurotunnel, and all the rest of it.
A.C. has declined to accompany me on further trips, fortunately.
I usually whizz through Passport/Customs checks at both sides now, though I roll down the rear privacy glass windows so they can see there's no-one else in the car.
So we're held up at the booth, and two burly French passport dudes appear and ask us to get out of the car, while A.C. is still yakking on the bloody phone and won't get off it. They do a wallet-ectomy on her for driving licences and credit cards, then disappear to check. It takes twenty minutes, then we're allowed onto the train an hour late after a swabbing and a boot rummage. Much tearful cussing from A.C. about 'discrimination', the bloody French, I hate Eurotunnel, and all the rest of it.
A.C. has declined to accompany me on further trips, fortunately.
I usually whizz through Passport/Customs checks at both sides now, though I roll down the rear privacy glass windows so they can see there's no-one else in the car.
Slushbox said:
On the last Eurotunnel trip out to France we approached the passport control booth at Folkstone, and handed over the passports to French passport control lady. My Attractive Companion (female) was yakking on her phone, and wearing a hat so passport control couldn't see her face properly. Also A.C.'s passport pic was taken 9 years ago and she looks about eighteen and blonde, when she's twice that and brunette now. Passport lady politely asks A.C. to put her phone down and take off her hat. Princess A.C. declines and waves her away.
So we're held up at the booth, and two burly French passport dudes appear and ask us to get out of the car, while A.C. is still yakking on the bloody phone and won't get off it. They do a wallet-ectomy on her for driving licences and credit cards, then disappear to check. It takes twenty minutes, then we're allowed onto the train an hour late after a swabbing and a boot rummage. Much tearful cussing from A.C. about 'discrimination', the bloody French, I hate Eurotunnel, and all the rest of it.
A.C. has declined to accompany me on further trips, fortunately.
I usually whizz through Passport/Customs checks at both sides now, though I roll down the rear privacy glass windows so they can see there's no-one else in the car.
You Do NOT ignore requests from passport control and expect to get a "free ride" through .So we're held up at the booth, and two burly French passport dudes appear and ask us to get out of the car, while A.C. is still yakking on the bloody phone and won't get off it. They do a wallet-ectomy on her for driving licences and credit cards, then disappear to check. It takes twenty minutes, then we're allowed onto the train an hour late after a swabbing and a boot rummage. Much tearful cussing from A.C. about 'discrimination', the bloody French, I hate Eurotunnel, and all the rest of it.
A.C. has declined to accompany me on further trips, fortunately.
I usually whizz through Passport/Customs checks at both sides now, though I roll down the rear privacy glass windows so they can see there's no-one else in the car.
It's all about the attitude test.
In 34 years and hundreds of trips I've never been stopped "properly" - I've had border force stop me and ask me five or six questions "who are you staying with in Brussels?" "what's his address?" "how do you know him?" and a couple of cursory looks over the car - always in Hull and always when we are really early, presumably they're getting their "quota" in?
Almost had a very embarrassing one when in about 96 got stopped by the French at the eurotunnel, I was in a black and very shiny MR2 and they seemed more interested in the car, however in the boot was a big holdall and it contained quite a lot of, er, "equipment" for Mrs DS and my "sexy time". Luckily they didn't look in the bag.
Almost had a very embarrassing one when in about 96 got stopped by the French at the eurotunnel, I was in a black and very shiny MR2 and they seemed more interested in the car, however in the boot was a big holdall and it contained quite a lot of, er, "equipment" for Mrs DS and my "sexy time". Luckily they didn't look in the bag.
I am really amazed at the number of people I see who have tales of woe when travelling!
I travel a lot with my job, mainly flights to other continents but, on many occasions in the past two years, by car around Europe.
The worst that's ever happened to me when driving was a request to open the tailgate so they could look in the rear.
Some of the most amazing tales of 'unfairness' seem to come from those travelling to the States and having problems with rude Homeland Security officers on the way in! I've always found them courteous and helpful! The worst scenario I've had with them was on my last trip; looking at my passport, the officer asked me why I visited Turkey so often, I replied that we had many customers there to which he replied "That's fine' you can't be too careful these days!" This intense encounter left me psychologically scarred!
But really, do some people just have a 'lucky' face or is it an attitude thing?
I travel a lot with my job, mainly flights to other continents but, on many occasions in the past two years, by car around Europe.
The worst that's ever happened to me when driving was a request to open the tailgate so they could look in the rear.
Some of the most amazing tales of 'unfairness' seem to come from those travelling to the States and having problems with rude Homeland Security officers on the way in! I've always found them courteous and helpful! The worst scenario I've had with them was on my last trip; looking at my passport, the officer asked me why I visited Turkey so often, I replied that we had many customers there to which he replied "That's fine' you can't be too careful these days!" This intense encounter left me psychologically scarred!
But really, do some people just have a 'lucky' face or is it an attitude thing?
OK, there was this one time, coming out of Russia, but that's another story!
Last time I did a booze cruise day out to Calais we were queueing to get back on the ferry at the end of the day, eating our pain au chocolat and drinking cafe au lait when I wondered what the three guys in the car next to me were looking at.
Got out, then noticed a big curtainside lorry absolutely rammed full of car tyres was being searched. Customs people were looking at it, the driver had to carefully open the back and the roof bit whilst they got ladders etc out and climbed up. They pulled 18 people out of this lorry that I counted, and I still cannot work how they managed to squeeze into all the little gaps well enough to be hidden from view but obviously not from the big x-ray they have for trucks.
Now you could probably also get 18 people in a Multipla at a push...
Got out, then noticed a big curtainside lorry absolutely rammed full of car tyres was being searched. Customs people were looking at it, the driver had to carefully open the back and the roof bit whilst they got ladders etc out and climbed up. They pulled 18 people out of this lorry that I counted, and I still cannot work how they managed to squeeze into all the little gaps well enough to be hidden from view but obviously not from the big x-ray they have for trucks.
Now you could probably also get 18 people in a Multipla at a push...
Ultra Sound Guy said:
But really, do some people just have a 'lucky' face or is it an attitude thing?
I do think it's and attitude thing, 2012 we moved from the UK to the west coast of Ireland, over 6 months we did a couple if dozen ferry crossing. If I was with the wife and kids I was not stopped, on the handful of times I was on my own I was, however I was polite friendly and offered no obstruction to them, and never had an issue, they just asked to look in the car (boot, spare wheel, unser dash ect) all was done quickly and with courtesy. However there always seemed to be one other vehicle getting "thoroughly" searched with some moron mouthing off.On the subject of limits..... I've been over to Luxembourg with my mate on motorbikes and he brought back 3000 fags. No problem. All for personal use, I might add.
Next time he went on his own and brought back 11000 - however he got stopped. Customs were somewhat dubious about his "personal use" claim - however he suggested that he would take a couple of boxes of 200 with him, and they could mail him a could of boxes ever week or two until they ran out. That way he got his fags and they could see he was actually smoking them.
They let him on his way with them after he signed some form or other.
(He gave up about 8 years ago, btw. Just like that. Never touched them since, and took up marathon running).
Next time he went on his own and brought back 11000 - however he got stopped. Customs were somewhat dubious about his "personal use" claim - however he suggested that he would take a couple of boxes of 200 with him, and they could mail him a could of boxes ever week or two until they ran out. That way he got his fags and they could see he was actually smoking them.
They let him on his way with them after he signed some form or other.
(He gave up about 8 years ago, btw. Just like that. Never touched them since, and took up marathon running).
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