what is up with our custom officers at the airport?

[shak]

Is it just me, or does anyone else got this frustrating experience with the canadian custom at YVR? I just came back to vancouver from a long business trip in europe and I was actually excited to be home.

After I have collected my checked baggage, I was about to walk out to the arrival hall@YVR(you know that corner where you hand your custom declearation card to the officers). Instead of letting me out, they direct me to the queue where people wait anxiously to be search. Fine, I said to myself, I have got nothing to hide anywayz and it is for the better and the safety of the country. However; instead of searching for items on the ban list such as fire arms/drugs/fruits/meat...ect. It would appear to me that they are simply looking for anything that they can collect some tax on. From my watch to my digital camera, from my laptop to my ipod... I told them that I did not acquire those during the trip, they ask me for reciept/proof...WTF is up with that. Am i suppose to bring reciept or proof of purchase on EVERY item that I bring during my business trip/vacation ?

In the end, I got so mad that I told the custom officer to confiscate all my stuff if she wants(yes, its a SHE, normally I have better experience with a male custom officer), but i am not paying a penny on the unreasonable tax. She then goes on and tell me she will give me a special discount rate...WTF...to cut the story short, i paid 47.50 CND just to avoid all the hassle.


Is there anyway I can file a complain?

 

[Ilovethemall]

same ol same ol

I get the same fucking quiz everytime - my watch, camera etc.....I just tell them to fuck off and if they detain me my first call will be to global TV. As for complaining.....sure, you can write into a supervisor.....and I bet you a million bucks 2 things will happen.

#1 nothing will be done to the employee

#2 You will get put on some shit distruber list and get even more special treatment.

Canada customs is the last refuge for the unemployable.

 

[vancouverman]

you guys think you are special?

read on ..... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=553

and number other threads here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=553

 

[Ilovethemall]

me no special

Special - god no. I am sure we all get our turn with the scumbags at customs.

 

[shak]

Man, I dunno whats the point of it. Like I have pointed out, if they are searching for potentially dangerous/illegal items, I am all for it. But trying to collect tax every possible way they can, its lame. Its okay they dont give me a welcome home smile, but dont fucking question me like I am some kind of a criminal. Honestly, who carries the proof of purchase on every item with them while they travel?

I actually feel helpless at the point, if they press on and accuse me that I bought everything during the trip(my watch/laptop...ect) I dont have any prof against that accusation. Some of them I have reciepts at home, some of them I dont...some stuff I bought on ebay, where do i get a fucking reciept for that?

 

[lenny]

I actually feel helpless at the point, if they press on and accuse me that I bought everything during the trip(my watch/laptop...ect) I dont have any prof against that accusation. Some of them I have reciepts at home, some of them I dont...some stuff I bought on ebay, where do i get a fucking reciept for that?

Take a photo of the items & people at the security check when you leave
Canada & present it when you return. Maybe they will accept this & let
you through w/o payment or too much hassle. A photo of the items with
the date at the airport might also help.

 

[lenny]

I get the same fucking quiz everytime - my watch, camera etc.....I just tell them to fuck off and if they detain me my first call will be to global TV.

Does that scare them for some reason?

 

[Alex228]

YVR Customs

I used to travel lots to Asia for business. Every airport/customs outside of Vancouver (Canada) treats their own citizens so well. There are always ample lines so their citizens just breezes through. In Vancouver, I have waited over an hour b4. Not in all cases, there is the customs officer, with the Sgt. Joe Friday questions,

Where did you go ?

Purpose of your trip ?

How long were you there ?

What did you buy ?

Do you have receipts for the laptop, watch, camera, cell phone, etc ?

Now you get through and waiting for your luggage. Another customs officer comes and ask these questions all over again.

Nothing worst than getting off a 10+ hour flight and go through the interrogation. All this for a few GST tax dollars ? Is this procedure effective in preventing drug smugglers, terrorists and what other criminals from coming into the country ?

 

[Ilovethemall]

does it scare them?

I think it bugs them in the sense that they know they are basically wasting your time and taxpayers money. I think thye also must think I am fucked in the head - many people do - basically why would I kick up a fuss if I am hiding shit.....for whatever reason it works. When they stop me now, I just say - the laptop is for work, if you want to really check it I can boot it up and you can check the software installation date.....the watch was a christmas gift from mom - do you have receipts for your gifts??? Then I get on them about calling global and quit wasting my time - works every time. Fucking people there couldn't get kobs as dumpster divers.

 

[mustangjoe]

(yes, its a SHE, normally I have better experience with a male custom officer) all the hassle.

Typical

Chicks is position of so called 'power' such as this and coppers always have to put on the tough act to prove to themselves and the rest of the world that they can keep up with men.

 

[shak]

Take a photo of the items & people at the security check when you leave Canada & present it when you return. Maybe they will accept this & let you through w/o payment or too much hassle. A photo of the items with
the date at the airport might also help.

As far as I know, those photo wont help. They show nothing that full duty has been collected on the items. If you wish to avoid the trouble, you will have to go to the custom office located at the international arrival hall before leaving the country. You will have to show them the item and reciept which shows you have already paid the tax. They will register the serial number or whatever and give you a pass. If you present this pass to the custom officer on your way back, they cant touch you. My point is, how many people actually goes through this? The only person that I know is my boss and its only because his wife's jewellery is like a quarter million a piece. Why bother wasting time on us small people just to get a few bucks


In addition, instead of wasting time on trying to squeeze a few bucks out of innocent people. Why not speed up the screening process and check the next traveller, if I dont have anything on the banlist then just let me go. Wouldn't they be able to screen more people that way? Do they get bonus for collecting the most tax at the end of the year or something?

 

[Lady Companion]

Why don't you just fill out the form before you leave?

You can (and probably should if you are bringing expensive items with you) fill out a form before you leave Canada. You get it at the airport, and just list the personal items (with description and/or serial number) that you are bringing with you out of the country. It gets dated and stamped, and you toss it in your suitcase to show them when you return if they question where you got the items.

If you just have a laptop, or something very common, chances are it would never be a problem. But if you are bringing a few items (digital cameras, blackberries, ipods, more than one computer, jewlery etc.) it is much easier just to fill out the form before you leave. It really only takes 2 minutes.

 

[shak]

You can (and probably should if you are bringing expensive items with you) fill out a form before you leave Canada. You get it at the airport, and just list the personal items (with description and/or serial number) that you are bringing with you out of the country. It gets dated and stamped, and you toss it in your suitcase to show them when you return if they question where you got the items.

If you just have a laptop, or something very common, chances are it would never be a problem. But if you are bringing a few items (digital cameras, blackberries, ipods, more than one computer, jewlery etc.) it is much easier just to fill out the form before you leave. It really only takes 2 minutes.

yes, I understand where you are coming from. For "expensive" item, of course there is a need to fill out a form and everything. However; laptop/cellphone/digital camera, they are almost essential items for every traveller. Those custom ppl knows it too, they dont normally collect tax on those items but they just like to abuse their power and bug the shit out of you.

Furthermore, I actually tried to registered my watch before but only ends up with frustration. I got the watch(its a cartier but the very basic model) from my grandfather when I finish my master and started to work fulltime.
So I took the watch to the office and try to register it, they asked me for a receipt. I told them that I recieved it as a gift so I dont have a receipt for it. I was told in such case, they can only give me a green card and prove that I did not acquire this item during the trip. It doesnt mean that tax has been collected on my watch. In another word, I have to check in with the custom office everytime I leave the country ... how annouying is that? If you have been to the office, you will see that the office is actually very small and few staffs work there. If every traveller starts doing it, I dont think they have the resources and capability to handle it.

 

[wilde]

I was stopped right before getting on a plane headed for the far east. The customs officer asked if I was aware that I needed to make a declaration if I was carrying more than Cdn$10,000 in monetary instruments (including cash, traveller's cheque, bank drafts, etc.) I told him that I knew and was asked to pull out and empty my wallet which had about Cdn$6,000 in 100's. The officer then asked me why I was carrying so much cash around. My reply was that Cdn$6,000 is not a lot of cash in my opinion. He then ask me if that's all the money I had on this trip implying that I may have some more money in my checked-in luggage. I just laughed at him and ask if he would put any money in his checked-in luggage? I also told him that since I am carrying less than the threshold I have no obligation to tell him anything. I swear some of these guys are on a power trip. They give us shit just to brighten up their insignificant shitty boring lives.

 

[Paris]

I get the same fucking quiz everytime - my watch, camera etc.....I just tell them to fuck off and if they detain me my first call will be to global TV. As for complaining.....sure, you can write into a supervisor.....and I bet you a million bucks 2 things will happen.

#1 nothing will be done to the employee

#2 You will get put on some shit distruber list and get even more special treatment.

Canada customs is the last refuge for the unemployable.

That's so funny.....and so true. Right up there with the folks that distribute parking tickets for a living. I hate that shit!

To the guy that had a hard time going through customs........I'm sorry for your fate, but one does not have to go through customs to recieve such awful service. I have not travelled across seas in a long time.......but I do fly a fair amount, and every time that I go through that damn line-up..........I get the first degree.

My all time favorite......and I'm being fascious here, is when I'm constantly asked to lift the back of my shirt to prove that it's wire in the bra that I'm wearing, and not a bomb or something. I'm very peteite, and a D cup, so I wonder how genuine these guys at the airport really are. What the hell am I suppossed to say? No I will not lift up my shirt and therefor not make my flight as a result. I swear to god, it borders on sexual abuse at times.

And who in hell would I complain too????????? The MALE supervisor who would think it to be a joke??????

I'm glad this topic has been brought up, because something needs to be changed.

Paris/Caryn

 

[Up_My_Kilt]

play thier stupid game

before you travel register your expensive toys with customs (you can check out the Customs Canada web site for more info) ..then when you return to Canada when they ask you show then thier stupid form and they have to leave you alone ..

spending 20 minutes of you time doing that will save you loads of hassels when you get home tired from a trip and you just want to get home to rest ..

 

[Maury Beniowski]

I used to fill out the little card forms every time I left the country. What the officers did is standard procedure. I haven't done so for a long time now and just take a chance. But I know when my number is up, I will be in the same boat you were in. Something may have triggered a red flag at your initial interview. There are steps you can take to avoid supplementary checks, and some of these were discussed in a previous thread. Customs and Immigration officer are trained to spot subtle irregularities in your demeanor and your replies. And I'm certain ethnic, age group, personal appearance and racial profiling are de rigeur at all border crossings now, in spite of any denials you may have heard in the media.

 

[shak]

before you travel register your expensive toys with customs (you can check out the Customs Canada web site for more info) ..then when you return to Canada when they ask you show then thier stupid form and they have to leave you alone ..

spending 20 minutes of you time doing that will save you loads of hassels when you get home tired from a trip and you just want to get home to rest ..

I dont mind playing their stupid game if it make sense on the whole. Unfortunately, their game doesnt even make sense. If every traveller entering/exiting thru YVR register their valuable goods. Do you know how much resources are required just to handle that? Lets suppose,0.5 million traveller passes thru YVR every month and that on average everyone has 3 valuable item to register. That is 5,0000 items per day, the custom will have to exam the serial number on every item and enter the record into their database.

I agree with what others have pointed out. What is the purpose of those custom people randomly screening travellers?(whether it is random or not is another issue), are they trying to stop banned item from entering canada or are they trying to collect tax? It would appear to me that collecting tax is their higher priority at the moment...

 

[ironchef]

it's kind of funny, you look at the US border guards/customs officers, most look like ex-military etc. then you look at Canada, most of them are kids, students doing it for part time, you look at the requirements to become a customs officer in Canada and it's pretty lame.

 

[shak]

it's kind of funny, you look at the US border guards/customs officers, most look like ex-military etc. then you look at Canada, most of them are kids, students doing it for part time, you look at the requirements to become a customs officer in Canada and it's pretty lame.

I dont really care about how they look, but when i was being checked at the US boarder, I can sense that they only thing they are looking for are the things on the ban list/potentially dangerous items....