Did you mean to damage my car?

[so called]

Channel Tunnel Calais today, pulled over and into a French Customs inspection garage.
OK, fine, I have nothing out of order so please inspect.

The 5 people were very polite, as I was, it took 30+ minutes so missed my train but still not bothered.
They had me log on to my laptop and made me sit in the corner while they did their search.
Asked me about the 800 cigaretes which I explained and offered receipts etc.

So finaly finished by closing the boot, which wouldnt close due to their inability to repack properly so with a mighty slam the boot stayed shut.
About as tight as my lips were when he did that.

"So all finished, off you go".
As I had missed two trains by then, I went straight for the next.
Having parked up, I got out to rearrange the boot. Suprised neither the boot or the contents were damaged so then returned to the interior to straighten out the mess that they had made there.

Very quickly realised that the phone cradle for my hands free had been ripped out of its mount. Having bought it earlier this year from the Mercedes dealer on Stoke, I know it wasn't cheep.
I assume this was a complete accident and that you simply forgot to let me know.
I assume forgetfulness was the same reason why you ommitted to tell me that you accidently kept 400 of my perfectly legal cigaretes.

Can anyone advise me how I make a complaint to the French Customs.

Joyeux Noël

[joebongo]

Sounds like a lot of searching for a routine check.

Maybe your car has been cloned or they had an incorrect piece of intel?

As for complaining, all I can think of is going through the French embassy if we still have such things in the EUSSR.

[so called]

joebongo said:

Maybe your car has been cloned or they had an incorrect piece of intel?

Funny you should say that. They asked me when I had bought the car, how much, where from....
Its about the 6th time this year I've been through French Customs in it though.

Doesnt excuse damage and .... whats the word for taking something that doesnt belong to you without informing the original owner ?

[Monkeylegend]

so called said:

Its about the 6th time this year I've been through French Customs in it though.

Maybe that's something to do with it.

[HustleRussell]

...aren't these questions you should be directing to the service provider?

[davepoth]

so called said:

whats the word for taking something that doesnt belong to you without informing the original owner ?

Le Theft.

[Nigel Worc's]

How strange.

I've had plenty of checks by "our lot" over the years, some amusing, some downright officious, but never with Le Frogs, they never seem to care about what you're doing, into or out of their Country.

[so called]

HustleRussell said:

...aren't these questions you should be directing to the service provider?

Do you mean the Channel Tunnel company ?
Crossed my mind but decided that its out of their control.
I'll take your advise and contact them.
Cheers.

What I will say is that you should inspect your car before paving the garage.

[Sir Fergie]

So they took 400 of the legal cigarettes - and ripped out the hands free kit.

I feel a big massive complaint coming on .

But been customs - no doubt they "will have a reason" - and its all "legit"

[so called]

Sir Fergie said:

So they took 400 of the legal cigarettes - and ripped out the hands free kit.

I feel a big massive complaint coming on .

But been customs - no doubt they "will have a reason" - and its all "legit"

I've been on their web site but no sign of a complaints department.
I'm still a bit speechless at the moment to be honest.

[havoc]

I suspect you'll have to take it on the chin - if they're anything like UK Customs, they're genuinely a law unto themselves and effectively untouchable.

(Back when we had proper duty-free limits and there was larger-scale smuggling through Dover, there were numerous instances of them taking apart the interiors of suspect cars (door cards, carpets, etc.), and then leaving the pieces for the poor owner to put back together again).

[poing]

havoc said:

I suspect you'll have to take it on the chin - if they're anything like UK Customs, they're genuinely a law unto themselves and effectively untouchable.

(Back when we had proper duty-free limits and there was larger-scale smuggling through Dover, there were numerous instances of them taking apart the interiors of suspect cars (door cards, carpets, etc.), and then leaving the pieces for the poor owner to put back together again).

Yup, grew up with a father in the forces so that meant a lot of traveling and crossing borders. We were lucky but we watched plenty of people having their cars taken to bits then the guards walking off and shrugging at the complaints. Plenty of our family friends have suffered from it. Of the few people that have bothered to complain I know of zero that have been successful because of a lack of evidence. Not sure how anyone can obtain evidence because they take a dim view on being filmed.

[1ians]

Not a lot you can do really, just have to suck it up.

I've twice had problems returning from France.

Last problem was 3-4 years ago. We were ordered out the car one at a time by armed officers with hands on their guns. Car ripped apart, seats pulled out and stabbed with screwdrivers etc. Fuel pump removed. Questioned about where we've been individually, made to point it out on the map etc. Questioned over hay fever pills.

What was strange was the car had a 50 litre LPG tank but they didn't ask to start the car on it so they were not really effective.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

joebongo said:

As for complaining, all I can think of is going through the French embassy if we still have such things in the EUSSR.

[so called]

Yep, you are all correct and it will go down to experience.
I can't image the rage people must have felt being treated so badly.
A gin and tonic and stuff em.
Cheers all.