Customs road block at Burnfoot

Graces7

Pique wrote: »

SOo, my car is imported and on UK plates. I went to the VRT office in Donegal Town today and was told that the export part of the V5 is no good, and that I'd have to write to the DVLA in order to get a replacement V5, which can take 5 weeks (cos they're 'really slow' apparently....I'd a good laugh at the Irish CS slagging off the UK CS on efficiency standards!).

Now, the same piece of paper did me fine when I imported a car from the UK before....so why not now ? Was it that it was 4pm and the guy looked at me in disgust 'cos he thought he was leaving soon and examining a car for chassis/engine/trim details would keep him late on a Friday ? Hhmmm.


Anyhoo, I realise I HAVE to pay VRT (spit) but am I now expected to hide it in a shed until I receive the replacement V5, or what ?

I'm sure as hell not paying a fine for not VRT'ing my car when I followed the procedures from the country of origin (UK) only to find that this place has changed the rules/can't be arsed examining the car and want the DVLA details to type in to their system!

I had a similar issue .. I phoned them re the delay ( could not of course get insurance etc) and told them that I was stuck up a mountain - as I was - and could not drive an illegal car.. The very idea;)..

That I was lilkely to die of malnutrition and/ or deydration as I had to bring water in.

They were there in two hours.

changes

If we didn't have the complete farce of pre 2008 cars paying 4 times the road tax as post 2008 cars then maybe people mite be happy to bring their cars across quicker.

I don't know how this government are getting away with this. It basically means the well off get to pay less road tax.

Mr. Presentable

I'm sorry, but you people are a laugh. Everyone is required to pay VRT. If you think it's illegal mount a challenge in the courts.

I have family in Buncrana and know first hand that there are probably 1 in 10 cars there without VRT paid.

I fully support the customs and Gardai in hounding tax dodgers. If they are bad tempered about it, consider they are dealing all day long with tax evaders and the attitude that accompanies the trapped.

Nothing excuses bad manners in the cafe, but I imagine this could be hearsay to colour the experience

Pique

nipplenuts wrote: »

I'm sorry, but you people are a laugh. Everyone is required to pay VRT. If you think it's illegal mount a challenge in the courts.

Yeah, sure...we import a car to save money, yet we have the money to fight the state in a case to stop a huge cash cow ? We need an excellent, experienced, rich, sympathetic barrister with a grudge against the Irish Govt and no desire to ever work in Ireland again to work on the case for free. Any ideas ?

nipplenuts wrote: »

I fully support the customs and Gardai in hounding tax dodgers. If they are bad tempered about it, consider they are dealing all day long with tax evaders and the attitude that accompanies the trapped.

No Excuse IMO. They're professionals, and rudeness and arrogance is not what they are trained to be like (or is it?). Expanding on your train of thought, if a homicide detective catches the perp, do you expect him to give said perp a good kicking, or excuse it ? Dirty Harry, C&E-Style

nipplenuts wrote: »

Nothing excuses bad manners in the cafe, but I imagine this could be hearsay to colour the experience

It was Homer Simpsons girlfriend, not exactly hearsay !:rolleyes:

homer simpson

nipplenuts wrote: »

I'm sorry, but you people are a laugh. Everyone is required to pay VRT. If you think it's illegal mount a challenge in the courts.

I have family in Buncrana and know first hand that there are probably 1 in 10 cars there without VRT paid.

I fully support the customs and Gardai in hounding tax dodgers. If they are bad tempered about it, consider they are dealing all day long with tax evaders and the attitude that accompanies the trapped.

Nothing excuses bad manners in the cafe, but I imagine this could be hearsay to colour the experience

Spot the customs/garda man quoted above!!!

Are you seriously implying that i am lying, i will have you know there are two kinds of people i hate liers and theives and i am far from either of them:mad:

I have also stated that i have no problems with what they are trying to do i have a problem with the manner in which they are doing it, you say that they have to deal with tax evaders all day long and the attitude that acompanies them....well if that was aimed at me for starters i had my car cleared the day it was bought and they stoped me in a DL van and gave me a load of crap for no reason, so are you saying that they were right to treat me in the manner they did???? I have no problem paying VRT but if the EU courts have ruled that all VRT charges are illegal (which they have, and i have linked to that article) then i would tend to beleive them rather than a crowd of people who like to line theirs and their banking friends pockets with our money, but untill such time as VRT is aboilished i will pay VRT because i dont want to break irish law (even though they are breaking EU laws by making people like me pay it)

P.S. i will take that apoligy from you for wrongfully calling me / my girlfriend a leir any time!!!!!

Robbo

homer_simpson wrote: »

I have no problem paying VRT but if the EU courts have ruled that all VRT charges are illegal (which they have, and i have linked to that article) then i would tend to beleive them rather than a crowd of people who like to line theirs and their banking friends pockets with our money, but untill such time as VRT is aboilished i will pay VRT because i dont want to break irish law (even though they are breaking EU laws by making people like me pay it)

What you've done is linked to a badly reported article which refers to a challenge to a Finnish registration tax, not our one.

The issue of Irish VRT has been considered in Europe before and it's been held that we're basically golden in that:

• It doesn't discriminate on where the car is imported from
• It's not a protectionist measure in favour of any (non-existant) Irish car industry
• It's broadly in line with EU objectives in relation to the enviroment. This is more prominent now that it's tied to CO2 rather than CC.
• There are exemptions for those who have legitimately owned the car overseas previously.

Funnily enough, European law is slightly more nuanced than the first article that pops up in Google.

Graces7

changes wrote: »

If we didn't have the complete farce of pre 2008 cars paying 4 times the road tax as post 2008 cars then maybe people mite be happy to bring their cars across quicker.

I don't know how this government are getting away with this. It basically means the well off get to pay less road tax.

?? Our wee car is 98 reg; I thought it went by cc not age?

Graces7

homer_simpson wrote: »

Spot the customs/garda man quoted above!!!

Are you seriously implying that i am lying, i will have you know there are two kinds of people i hate liers and theives and i am far from either of them:mad:

I have also stated that i have no problems with what they are trying to do i have a problem with the manner in which they are doing it, you say that they have to deal with tax evaders all day long and the attitude that acompanies them....well if that was aimed at me for starters i had my car cleared the day it was bought and they stoped me in a DL van and gave me a load of crap for no reason, so are you saying that they were right to treat me in the manner they did???? I have no problem paying VRT but if the EU courts have ruled that all VRT charges are illegal (which they have, and i have linked to that article) then i would tend to beleive them rather than a crowd of people who like to line theirs and their banking friends pockets with our money, but untill such time as VRT is aboilished i will pay VRT because i dont want to break irish law (even though they are breaking EU laws by making people like me pay it)

P.S. i will take that apoligy from you for wrongfully calling me / my girlfriend a leir any time!!!!!

I sent this thread to ( Irish) family in Canada and they are jaw-dropped and telling everyone " Think Mexico.."

It is the highhandedness of escortingfolk to cashpoints! However, that may indeed be the most cost effective way to get the payments with the amount of tax evasion that is going on.

And the rudeness in the cafe too. They would have got an earful from me!

muffler

nipplenuts wrote: »

Nothing excuses bad manners in the cafe, but I imagine this could be hearsay to colour the experience

You might want to re-read the posts and perhaps withdraw that remark please.

changes

Graces7 wrote: »

?? Our wee car is 98 reg; I thought it went by cc not age?

Yeah it is engine size for all cars pre 2008 and based on emissions after 2008.

The majority of diesel cars on the road are 1.9 or 2.0L so thats €580 and €614 for older cars compared to an average of €150 for post 2008 diesel cars.

By the was my 1.9 diesel is costing me €580 on the old rules however if i was allowed to apply the new rules i'd only be paying €300 (6 yr old car).


If you can afford to buy a new car you then get to pay peanuts for your road tax....makes me very angry!!!

Also your 98 car will have to go through the NCT every year after 2011... so buy a new car or get the bus seems to be their aim!!!

Graces7

changes wrote: »

Yeah it is engine size for all cars pre 2008 and based on emissions after 2008.

The majority of diesel cars on the road are 1.9 or 2.0L so thats €580 and €614 for older cars compared to an average of €150 for post 2008 diesel cars.

By the was my 1.9 diesel is costing me €580 on the old rules however if i was allowed to apply the new rules i'd only be paying €300 (6 yr old car).


If you can afford to buy a new car you then get to pay peanuts for your road tax....makes me very angry!!!

Also your 98 car will have to go through the NCT every year after 2011... so buy a new car or get the bus seems to be their aim!!!

Ours is under 1....

Well, they are going to have to get their act together re NCT if that is so. They are way behind.

homer simpson

Robbo wrote: »

What you've done is linked to a badly reported article which refers to a challenge to a Finnish registration tax, not our one......

Yes the court case was RE a finnish claim and not an irish VRT claim but the article ( the suppossedly poorly writen RTE article i might add) also did say that following the case the european commission had this to say...


"
The European Commission two weeks ago called for the abolition of vehicle registration tax.
The Commission said in the interim, states should ensure that their VRT systems did not discriminate by imposing a double taxation burden on motorists importing second hand cars from other member states"




,so they called for an end to double taxing and stated that basiclly if you did it was a form of discrimination on people chosing to buy their cars from a different state, the Irish government choose to ignore this advise then so???? I would love to challenge the irish government on this but as pique has said who has the money ect to challenge it, you be out a lot more money by going through the courts to challange it than you would be if you paid VRT on a car every year for the rest of your life....




I'll tell you what when (not if :P) i win the euromillions i will go an challange them in court.

ryanstewart

VRT is not only illegal, it contavenes our human rights under EU law, and those of you crying out for enforcement on the issue should kop on - if you've bought a new car in the republic, you've also paid VRT, only a lot more than anyone buying a second hand one from the north.

VRT receipts are down by €1billion in the last 3 years! It's crippling the irish car industry, putting 10000 jobs at risk!

Heavy handed customs in donegal last week targeted mothers lleaving their kids to school, leaving them with babies as young as 3 weeks old on the roadside with no transport.

A campaign has begun on facebook to have it abolished...please check out the link below, and even if you disagree with it you might learn something!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114939931865765

AidySevenfold

Sadly VRT is national law, and it takes precedence over EU law.

ryanstewart

I'm afraid you're wrong. EU law supercedes Irish law.

Graces7

ryanstewart wrote: »

I'm afraid you're wrong. EU law supercedes Irish law.

The reality however is that at present this is law here. And thus if you break the law by choice, as evasion is, then you must be totally prepared to take the consequences.

You are saying that mothers were stranded because they had evaded tax? Or am I misreading that?

If you have a baby on board, you take no such risks.

Had we seen anyone stranded, we would gladly have helped; would no-one else do that? Surely so.

By all means campaign and get things changed, but meahwhile protect the young and vulnerable..

Emotional blackmail cuts no ice with the law.

bauderline

Because I now live 80 miles south of where I was born I am now expected to pay a 20% premium on a new car..... ?

Dream on folks... dream on...

Fracture

I paid out a big lump sum to these <SNIP> to change out my car, i wouldnt have minded if the vrt was resonable, but its not, its vastly over priced (compared to basically every other EU country), on top of that the customs are heavy handed, cheeky and bullys. Its illegal what they are doing, if I knew more about the legal side of it when i paid money to them i would have sat in my car until they left. It actually boils my blood thinking about them. They are nothing short of <snip>, end of.
I see some of you if not most of you agree with what they are doing? wtf?................

homer simpson

Fracture wrote: »

I paid out a big lump sum to these <SNIP> to change out my car, i wouldnt have minded if the vrt was resonable, but its not, its vastly over priced (compared to basically every other EU country), on top of that the customs are heavy handed, cheeky and bullys. Its illegal what they are doing, if I knew more about the legal side of it when i paid money to them i would have sat in my car until they left. It actually boils my blood thinking about them. They are nothing short of <snip>, end of.
I see some of you if not most of you agree with what they are doing? wtf?................

I dont really see too many people here agreeing with it, but unfortunently its against the law if you dont pay therefore most do pay it because if they dont they are breaking irish law, me pesronall hat ewhat they are doing and think its a disgrace that they are allowed to get away with it, but because i dont want a great big dirty fine and/or my car taken off me, i choose to pay VRT and will continue to. as much as it kills me to do so.

P.S. i know we might all think what you just said but i think saying it in a public forum is a bit much (imagine you could get boards.ie sued and it closes wmhatever would we do then:o)

Fracture

homer_simpson wrote: »

I dont really see too many people here agreeing with it, but unfortunently its against the law if you dont pay therefore most do pay it because if they dont they are breaking irish law, me pesronall hat ewhat they are doing and think its a disgrace that they are allowed to get away with it, but because i dont want a great big dirty fine and/or my car taken off me, i choose to pay VRT and will continue to. as much as it kills me to do so.

P.S. i know we might all think what you just said but i think saying it in a public forum is a bit much (imagine you could get boards.ie sued and it closes wmhatever would we do then:o)

Boards.ie cant get sued because I called them <SNIP> its my opinion, maybe if they were not so heavy handed and bully like they wouldnt get tagged with that name by me. People get arrested for less by the guards for half the stuff these cunstoms officers are at.
Saying that, if an admin wishes me to edit my post due to fear of getting sued, i dont have a problem doing that, but if i dont have the right to free speech anymore then im simply living in the wrong country.

smashey

Fracture wrote: »

Boards.ie cant get sued because I called them <SNIP>, its my opinion, maybe if they were not so heavy handed and bully like they wouldnt get tagged with that name by me. People get arrested for less by the guards for half the stuff these cunstoms officers are at.
Saying that, if an admin wishes me to edit my post due to fear of getting sued, i dont have a problem doing that, but if i dont have the right to free speech anymore then im simply living in the wrong country.

I've taken the liberty of editing it for you as muffler isn't around just now. While it may not have been libellous, the fact remains that it wasn't very nice. We have a few rules on boards, top of which is be civil and what you posted hardly qualifies as being civil. As for freedom of speech, you could do a quick search of this site and find that explained easily enough. The term "benevolent dictatorship" will feature prominently in your search results.

Technique

ryanstewart wrote: »

VRT is not only illegal, it contavenes our human rights under EU law, and those of you crying out for enforcement on the issue should kop on - if you've bought a new car in the republic, you've also paid VRT, only a lot more than anyone buying a second hand one from the north.

VRT receipts are down by €1billion in the last 3 years! It's crippling the irish car industry, putting 10000 jobs at risk!

Heavy handed customs in donegal last week targeted mothers lleaving their kids to school, leaving them with babies as young as 3 weeks old on the roadside with no transport.

A campaign has begun on facebook to have it abolished...please check out the link below, and even if you disagree with it you might learn something!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114939931865765

So these people are boycotting VRT as a point of principle?

Ah, right. I thought they were doing it because they thought they could get away without paying a few grand.

ryanstewart

Please show your support to the campaign to get VRT abolished...waves are being made in Donegal...and the customs are out again today.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114939931865765&ref=nf

It was also on national radio last night on Newstalk 106.

ryanstewart

Technique wrote: »

So these people are boycotting VRT as a point of principle?

Ah, right. I thought they were doing it because they thought they could get away without paying a few grand.

No, it's actually more like getting away with a few hundred - don't know what wages you are on, but the cars they are seizing are some people's life line.

If you can afford a car that requires a few grand to cover VRT, fair play to you, but the average wage in Donegal is €18500, compared to €35000 as a national average. And we pay more for our fuel than anyone else in the country - Diesel in Carndonagh - 123.9/ltr Diesel - Diesel in Dublin 115.9/ltr

I'm not so foolish to think that there is not an element of what you are saying going on, but for the vast majority, driving 02 or 03 vehicles, it's nothing more than extortion.

Guy:Incognito

ryanstewart wrote: »

I'm afraid you're wrong. EU law supercedes Irish law.

Doesnt matter what laws supercede each other. VRT is not illegal (under any laws that concern Ireland or the EU). It is also in force in many countries, including the UK. It just happens o be a lot less in the UK bt in Denmark and Holland it is more than here.

Feel free to post proof that it is though.


People really should do research before they climb up on their soapbox. They wouldnt even have to go any further than the boards search function.

bauderline wrote: »

Because I now live 80 miles south of where I was born I am now expected to pay a 20% premium on a new car..... ?

Dream on folks... dream on...

Do you accept a premium on your wages, or do you insist on pay parity with people in the UK?

ryanstewart wrote: »

No, it's actually more like getting away with a few hundred - don't know what wages you are on, but the cars they are seizing are some people's life line.

If you can afford a car that requires a few grand to cover VRT, fair play to you, but the average wage in Donegal is €18500, compared to €35000 as a national average. And we pay more for our fuel than anyone else in the country - Diesel in Carndonagh - 123.9/ltr Diesel - Diesel in Dublin 115.9/ltr

I'm not so foolish to think that there is not an element of what you are saying going on, but for the vast majority, driving 02 or 03 vehicles, it's nothing more than extortion.

Wheres his diesel in Dublin for 115.9? Cheapest I can find by looking on pumps.ie is 119.9 (and theres one in donegal listed at 119.9 aswell Independent Bonagee Letterkenny Dry Arch 111.9 17th Apr Details) . Either way , garages are private companies, they can charge €10 alitre if they like. It's up to you to buy it or not or shop around.

muffler

Alright then guys. This thread is going completely off topic now. Maybe you would all have a look at the thread title please and stick to that point.

I have let this go for long enough but its time to bring a bit of order to things.

ryanstewart

True Muffler,

Becoming very evident that the abuse of the people is being condoned also, so easy to see who the Fianna Fail symapthisers are! Time they woke and realised unless they stop fleecing the people who will decide the next election, their days are numbered. Just hope they don't destroy what's left of this country before that comes along.

Graces7

ryanstewart wrote: »

No, it's actually more like getting away with a few hundred - don't know what wages you are on, but the cars they are seizing are some people's life line.

If you can afford a car that requires a few grand to cover VRT, fair play to you, but the average wage in Donegal is €18500, compared to €35000 as a national average. And we pay more for our fuel than anyone else in the country - Diesel in Carndonagh - 123.9/ltr Diesel - Diesel in Dublin 115.9/ltr

I'm not so foolish to think that there is not an element of what you are saying going on, but for the vast majority, driving 02 or 03 vehicles, it's nothing more than extortion.

I live well below the so-called "poverty line" on a very small pension. My UK pension crashed when sterling went down.

So I drive a very small car to suit that. It is perfectly adequate for the "lifeline" needs that you refer to and is just under 1L

And I pay my taxes on the car; period. Before I pay anything else. Because I know that if I don't I can at present legally be fined.

So I would go without many things to do that.

It is called cutting your coat to suit your cloth.

Protests may be fine; but from a strong standpoint of law.

And to take small children and babies out in an untaxed car is sheerly irresponsible.

NB sooner or later someone will mention eg suffragettes maybe.. What is interesting re winning the vote for women is that is was not the protests and dramas etc. They wisely abandoned all that when war broke out and it was because they rallied to the needs and showed their grit that they won the respect and the vote.

Graces7

ryanstewart wrote: »

No, it's actually more like getting away with a few hundred - don't know what wages you are on, but the cars they are seizing are some people's life line.

If you can afford a car that requires a few grand to cover VRT, fair play to you, but the average wage in Donegal is €18500, compared to €35000 as a national average. And we pay more for our fuel than anyone else in the country - Diesel in Carndonagh - 123.9/ltr Diesel - Diesel in Dublin 115.9/ltr

I'm not so foolish to think that there is not an element of what you are saying going on, but for the vast majority, driving 02 or 03 vehicles, it's nothing more than extortion.

Jeepers; just noticed what you quote as average wages!!!

If I were getting even half that!

:eek:

Graces7

ryanstewart wrote: »

True Muffler,

Becoming very evident that the abuse of the people is being condoned also, so easy to see who the Fianna Fail symapthisers are! Time they woke and realised unless they stop fleecing the people who will decide the next election, their days are numbered. Just hope they don't destroy what's left of this country before that comes along.

Not true;I have no poltical affiliations period

Simply believe in abiding by law and then making a protest if need be from a position of strength.

And not condoning anything either.

Certainly not people who endanger their babies.

I am totally against the kind of rudeness that was exhibited by some of the custons folk; but if they are greeted by abuse as some were then they tend to bite back

I have been in road blocks beforel have always been courteous and have always been treated courteously. Once I had the new discs in the car but had not put them up. The Garda did it for me.