An Post returning packages from outside the EU-See 1st post

They are refusing to do what they had no problem doing a couple of months ago. That would be one reason they are getting more than justifiable stick. Pleading 'it's the rules' is pathetic. Do you think the Irish governemnt can justifiably tax me for my CO2 footprint while causing An Post to send tonnes of packages back to Asia, which if eventually returned, will have a completely unnecessary 3 times the CO2 generated in transportation.

If taxing CO2 expenditure, fossil fuels used in transport and to heat homes, is legitimate, then this action by An Post is not.

So this “ITMATT message” is what is needed to be submitted by the sender of an item from every country outside of the EU that is being sent into Ireland?

Does every single shipper/person outside of the EU know they have to or even how to do this???!!

Fcuk sake this is a sh*t storm…

Were the new EU VAT rules due to originally be implemented on 1 January 2021 but was deferred back to 1 July?

The HS / Taric / trade Tariff codes are not a new invention. They have been in existence for a good many years. They assist in classifying what the product is within a parcel, from a pair of knitted socks of synthetic fibres to .....a cow, and assist in showing the movement of trade around the globe. You will find that a vast majority of shippers have entered these codes quite correctly, and many electronic systems will now submit the electronic data on the shipment automatically. Like an email being sent telling whats in the parcel along with its taric codes, which will display as a barcode on the label on the package, which when scanned will show the product classification, how much the value of the product is, and assist in what vat is due. An Post is getting the abuse, as it is sending a great proportion of parcels back to sender, or holding them for weeks on end....and then sending back to sender....even if all the above is correct. I agree it is a mammoth operation, I wouldn't like to do it....but then again I am not a National Postal service. with in house customs processing. An Post is!

Previous poster said tariff code system is not new and he's quite right.

The difference is the old system operated in such a way that correctly documented parcels came through.

Incorrect ones were handled by the recipient. That's the biggest flaw - the recipient has no control in correcting mistakes.

Basically, an Post / Customs would stop the package and contact you (which is even easier these days with email).

You'd be given a couple of days to get the correct information from the sender (which is even easier these days with email).

The information would be submitted and the parcel released. If the information was incorrect and/or you took too long there was

a daily store charge to incentivise you to get the finger out. After a certain period (can't remember how long but a week to two weeks)

the parcel would be returned. A bit more civilised I think, as easy to implement today and a revenue earner from fleecing the slow sods!

For those defending the actions of An Post citing infrastructural and resourcing issues or stating that the incumbency is on the external parties and An Post do their bit by way of notifications on their website, we're living in an era of ESG. There is an increasing focus and emphasis on doing business in an environmental and socially conscious fashion. The net result of enacting what An Post deems to be the requirements in this inflexible fashion is environmentally damaging and is clearly causing distress to people. It's a state owned company, a vital cog in the infrastructure of this country and plays a not insignificant role in people's day to day lives. Defending this is a very weird hill to die on. All that needs to be done is to ease up on the parcel returns until a workable solution can be established.

Easing up on restrictions is something you should contact revenue about then, I'm pretty sure An Post gets paid only when they deliver and not returning packages. Why would they bother implementing such hardline customs rules in order to reduce their revenue?

Return items that have been paid for for is indefensible of course, I'm only questioning the non-compliant stuff

I just got 'Customs clearance have identified a problem with the customs declaration accompanying your item. We are working with the retailer to fix the issue.' for the first time

I am done with this joke of a company.

I received a email to pay the vat on a item from outside the EU.

Fair enough so paid it and got confirmation it was paid.

Woke up this morning to find that it is being sent back to sender.

So they take my money and don't do their jobs.

Pathetic.

Interesting. By email from An Post or from whom?

A parcel of mine has now been sorted 5 times. Last one got returned after I paid the import VAT. A disgraceful service.

I should add that all businesses should be performing horizon scanning for upcoming regulatory and legal changes which may impact its the requirements it will have to meet and its business model. Was it genuinely unforeseen that this exact scenario would unfurl? Was this adequately discussed between all stakeholders including the Department for Communications? Was it always known the public were going to experience this kind of disruption and inconvenience and a calculated decision was taken that people would just have to take the hit?

It's ludicrous the carbon footprint this must be causing. I've have multiple packages returned to bewildered sellers across the globe. As an example of the flip a coin logic of it all, my fiancee and I both ordered a few bottles of prosecco from the UK in different orders (to avail of a discount code). Mine was initially returned to Heathrow before suddenly being returned to Ireland and delivered whilst hers made FIVE journeys back and forth across the channel with two returns to the seller who was unable to ascertain why they kept being rejected. Total nonsense. And god help anyone trying to get a hold of someone to ask about it.

The excuse we've gotten a few times has been that the customs declaration was submitted electronically and therefore cannot be amended. Which is total nonsense. Of course it can be amended but whoever is in charge hasn't enabled that functionality which would resolve a lot of unnecessary cargo trips.

It's become infuriating the lottery that international deliveries has become, particularly for a developed country.

I've had five deliveries in the last year of the same product and another large alcohol order from elsewhere so whilst I don't disbelieve you (as I can't argue facts), I've no idea how most got through and some didn't (as the deliveries were fairly obvious).

Point stands though that its been a lottery system across the board for everything else I've ordered. And communications have been dog-shít from AnPost.