Randall Young wrote:
>
> Plus, if you buy "over the counter" in the UK, you'll pay Value Added Tax,
> which is even more than customs duty.
Actually, there is a way around this, which I investigated through
British Customs last year. The process is to request the forms for VAT
rebate from the seller at the time of sale. When the item is moved
through customs upon departure (and, therefore, customs knows the item
is leaving the country), Her Majesty's agents sign the forms and return
them to you. Then, the most expeditious means is to pay a percentage fee
to one of the rebate companies for an immediate refund (several
companies in the UK handle this for buyers in non-EEC countries, because
the laws on rebates are sort of squirrelly--there are delays, and the UK
does not mail rebates, etc.).
There's apparently a lot of VAT rebate money floating around, so the
rebate service companies do a pretty good business.
Of course, if one doesn't request the forms at the time of sale, or
ensure that the seller participates with one of the rebate service
companies, one is pretty much screwed, because the VAT adds 17%, and US
customs charges would add another 7-10%.
Cheers.
--
Michael D. Porter
Roswell, NM
[mailto: mporter@zianet.com]
`70 GT6+ (being refurbished, slowly)
`71 GT6 Mk. III (organ donor)
`72 GT6 Mk. III (daily driver)
`64 TR4 (awaiting intensive care)
`80 TR7 (3.8 liter Buick-powered)
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