Package Clearance: Public Urged To Be Patient
“Customs is encouraging the public’s patience as it works to clear packages for residents and courier services,” explaining that why they “understand the public’s eagerness to have their packages cleared” they “must adhere to the appropriate protocols.”
A Government spokesperson said, “Today, the Customs Department is reissuing its advisory regarding its package clearance processes.
“Customs appreciates that the 2020 holiday season is an extraordinarily busy time, with residents importing courier packages from abroad in record numbers.
“As a reminder, Customs is encouraging the public’s patience as it works to clear packages for residents and courier services.
“Additionally, the Department understands the public’s eagerness to have their packages cleared as swiftly and as efficiently as possible.
“However, to ensure best practices, Customs stresses that it must adhere to the appropriate protocols in accordance with its duty and clearance guidelines.
“As a note, Customs have recently met with each individual Courier agency to collaborate on common goals.
“As an aside, the Customs Department is advising that it has amended a recent requirement for anyone importing personal goods by courier service to have a CAPS ID number.
“The public is reminded that Customs communicated a start date of 1st October, 2020 to the courier services; however due to the large volume of applications, the Collector has allowed the temporary use of “999999” for importing personal goods. The deadline has been extended to 31st January, 2021.
“The Department is reminding commercial importers and any person claiming duty relief that they must still apply for and use a CAPS ID number when declaring goods to Customs.
“Any courier declaration submitted after 31st January, 2021 without a valid CAPS ID number will be subject to processing delays.
“As an assurance to the public, any data collected in the CAPS application process is held in the strictest confidence. It is used by Customs to verify that persons importing, exporting or declaring goods, cash and negotiable instruments are entitled to trade with Customs in relation to particular shipments and are not unauthorized or fictitious persons.
“The application process is free and can be done online. A valid form of government issued identification and other documents maybe required. The approval process normally takes 48 hours.
“More information on the CAPS ID can be viewed on the Government website here.”
Ridiculous adapt improve and modernize another dinosaur entity’ like the post office ,coopers and trimminghams pathetic really ,wake up and get with the modern world
And all the other government departments.
“Surely it doesn’t take 8 weeks to clear 2 masks that were shipped to ZipX Oct 27th. This is ridiculous.
Yes it does. Clause 8 part 4 of the Make the Public Wait Act 2020 says so. Customs has some great workers but also some of the most biased staff and in some high positions
The picture with this article shows a clear example of what happens when you don’t comply with civil service guidelines. The Customs officer is returning the form and declining to release the goods because he didn’t include his middle initial at the top of the form. Now re-do the form, sign in the space provided – in black ink only, have tyour signature witnessed and come back tomorrow between 9:30 and 11:00am only.
That section of Make the Public Wait Act 2020 must be a recent amendment because the original Act as applied to all government departments has been in force for as far back as I can remember.
A lot of the blame is on the couriers also.
Naaa, you guys are just lazy down at Custom’s
Don’t blame us officers the entire blame is on the top management in this department starting with the Collector who has no clue how to run her department. The top brass is to busy trying to write us up for everything under the sun. The moral here is at all time low and the Premier and Minister need to look into this before we walk off again. 80% of us want another job but we have know where to go. As they told us in a meeting anyone can go your jobs!
Do you have to have a passing grade in Math and English to be a Customs Officer?
Sadly most of government is like this. Some managers are tired and promoted into a position they have no business being in and WE all have to suffer. TCD, TAX, W&E etc etc.
Custims has no excuse. They have entire teams available to search all these goods because they arent any cruising ships or masses of planes. they are (as usual) quick to quote some rule or law or procedure as the reason for their outdated backwards procedures.
Even though some items are being picked up by personal vehicles, some of these items are time sensitive, as they are goods that stores require( Pharmacy )or are medical needs for the chronically sick or for family members that have medical
Challenges. Let’s keep our fellow neighbors in mind.
Additional measures may need to be implemented during this traditionally busy time of year. We go through this every single year. This year is already bad because of Covid delays. Let’s not make it worse.
Customs and Govt should have planned better. It is obvious that more residents would be on island for the holiday period and therefore there would be a major increase in the volume of courier packages
Either improve the processes and or add resources to deal with the increased volumes. Don’t just tell people. Oh well. You’ll have to wait! Not good enough for the tax dollars we all pay.
Exactly! Hire seasonal help. I am sure there are a few Bermudians out of work that would love to have even a part time job. This lame excuse makes you all look really inept and just plain stupid.
Try waiting for business items shipped via courier – arrived in island December 3rd and according to Fed Ex today, they might be delivered next week. Courier service for business is a joke and there should be some priority given to business goods versus Christmad shopping.
Customs high rates along with their slow processing are literally destroying small businesses. Retail stores pay a ton of money to ship in items to sell in their stores and customs takes forever to process. In addition to that good luck trying to get an answer from customs on anything, on duty rates or anything. They just simply do not respond or they bully you around. Gov, please look into fixing the customs issue and the high rates, its terrible for the island.
Big Facts!
Create the problem by trying to create devices of control. Then can’t keep up with your own red tape. Poor this little place.
Exactly! AND, you still pay a fortune on each end and wait forever. It’s getting too difficult and expensive to live here. But civil servants don’t mind.
Thank you BDA Customs for the article, however I think that the Couriers needs to be thrown under the bus on this one.
And there is one in particular who admitted that items valued over $500 will take 7-10 days processing by their Clearance Agent, before going to BDA Customs.
I am now on business day 13 – and nothing. The Bda Customs process is not lengthy.
I don’t get why the Courier Companies don’t make a statement to their customers advising of the delay and stop blaming it on Customs.
If the demand is that great, perhaps they need to hire more staff. There are plenty of unemployed folks who would gladly fulfill roles.