OMG, the excitement doesn’t end. Or rather – whatever goes for excitement these days. So here comes a little update on the grievances and occurrences that have been keeping me distracted for a moment or two this week. This morning we had four plain clothes detectives in my house, searching one of the premises that is rented out in our ground floor to a business tenant. After last week’s visit where they made their first enquiry, they returned today. I probably must have looked like a startled (and scared?) rabbit in the headlights when they turned up, because they hastened to say that they are not investigating us at all and have nothing to worry about. Instead they had a search warrant and have asked to access said office. Luckily the door was unlocked, otherwise they would’ve forced it open. They left with some evidence bagged up. – Since we are friendly with the business owner (a lovely woman, we have known her for years), I thought it would be a matter of kindness to let her know what was going down. She just rang back and was in shock. She has no idea what is going on, hasn’t been informed by the authorities and is frightened. With not even a parking fine to her name, she just can’t figure out why her premises are being investigated. *sighs* It’s all very exciting, even as a bystander. I just hope she finds out soon what is going on.
In dubio pro reo all the way
Second Update pertains to the latest RAPS. I actually decided to determine the recipient myself, and “A-dayum” is already on the way to surprise the unsuspecting victim of this gift bomb.
Who could it be…?
Update number 3 is short – my parking fine appeal was rejected. Bastards. They just follow the law to the letter – we were parking in a spot where we do not have a permit, and it doesn’t matter that there are hundreds of empty spaces all around it and weren’t taking away a paid parking spot. I guess there’s no point in taking it further. I’m just peeved that apparently clamping is an essential service during Covid times…
Wouldn’t have happened if we’d cycled
For those who follow me on Twitter and read my angry tweets on Tuesday that I had to cough up 30 Euro in fees in order to receive a delivery of printed goods I had ordered from a UK based company – the issue was resolved to my satisfaction. I had reordered my shrine postcards – if you have ever received a package from me, you probably know those postcards. (Here is a post where I am writing about unboxing a previous shipment of them.) I always have them printed by a company called moo. They are not the cheapest, but they offer you the option to have 25 different images across 100 printed postcards – which is quite handy when you don’t order en masse. Anyway, my order came to 57 Euro (including postage), on which I paid 30.20 Euro in BrexSHit customs fees. Outrageous! Now, these new customs fees are obviously not moo’s responsibility. The fees are not paid to them. But I took issue that the company did not flag the potential fee more clearly at and before check-out. They basically played it down, and I did not expect to be charged that highly (because items below the value of 155 Euro are supposedly VAT free). So yeah, I angrily tweeted at them that they need to adjust their communication. – It very much speaks for moo’s customer service that they responded to me on Twitter and we hashed out something behind the scenes. They have kindly given me a voucher to the tune of my customs fees, and so I am placated. Phew.
So, to end on a sweeter note, I thought I’d share the joy of receiving my new postcards by giving some away. Of course, they are not a massive gift at all, and maybe they are not easy to use – after all they are fairly specific to our fandom. But if you are in the habit of corresponding via snail mail with other fans, they might come in handy? Anyway, I’ll pack a set and send it to one of you. Let me know in the comments, if you’d like it and I’ll get it on the way to you.
Phew, what a day. I need the weekend, soon.
Guylty Pleasure 
You’ve had an exciting week Sonja.
David and I got clamped one time in Atlanta. We were attending an art auction in a hotel ballroom and came out several hours later to find our car had been clamped. They would only take cash to the tune of $150 to remove it. 🤬
Love the postcards – I can think of some lovely fellow fans I’d send them to.
Hope you have a great weekend!
LikeLike
The clampers here operate the same way. You have to pay up in any case, and can only appeal afterwards when the money is in their hands anyway. Very very annoying.
LikeLike
Wow an eventful week! Gutted your appeal for the parking fine was denied, v v annoying. It’s strange that business owner wasn’t informed of what was happening , surely she should have been present ?. Interesting developments .
LikeLike
Yeah, I thought it was odd, too, that the business owner was completely unaware. It‘s not as if it was a completely clandestine operation, after all they were here last week for first enquiries. But at that stage we did not know who it was they were investigating. – I also would‘ve thought the person under investigation should be informed. But then again, if they were searching for some sort of evidence, they probably did not want to alert anyone in case they then got rid of documents? My suspicion is that we are talking white collar crime here, in which the business owner has been inadvertently and unbeknownst to her involved by way of one of her clients. I just hope that she gets clarity soon. It otherwise feels a bit like secret police stuff…
LikeLike
The fees from Moo make no sense, if your order was 57 euro then you would be charged 20 %VAT (so 11 euros) . So how on earth did they get to 30 odd euros? Dis they explain themselves?There no customs duties on items below £135.
How wankery about the clamping situation.
The Police thing is obvs a bit scary!
LikeLike
I assume you’re talking UK numbers with the VAT and duty, but the customs duties G. pays are on the Irish side. So that depends. 🤷🏻♀️
LikeLike
Yep, you are right. The customs fees incurred would be the *Irish* customs, not UK. But there were none to be paid because the items were less in value than the threshold (155 €). So it is all a rather fishy „brokerage“ fee.
LikeLike
Brokerage fee sounds willfully ambiguous. I’m glad the sorted it out.
LikeLike
Wilfully ambiguous is a good description. I think it‘s actually scandalous how little transparency there is about increased costs due to customs or other fees. Not specifically this company but just in general. They really need to get their act together.
LikeLike
The 155 € threshold for commercial goods is actually not that bad all things considered, but as usual the devil is in the details. Not like Germany where I got slapped with fees for my “free” Castlevania poster because they had to put a nominal value on the customs form. No matter that it was a “gift” as they are a commercial entity and thus all transactions involved are considered trade. Even if there’s no reciprocation from me as the “customer” as it were.
LikeLike
I was surprised about the 155 € threshold – quite generous, really. But yeah, after your experience with the Castlevania poster, I have become very careful about what values I put on my tracked items. I don‘t want the recipient to cough up extra – but I need to put a value on in case the item gets lost and I want to be reimbursed. It‘s a Catch-22.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a conundrum.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok
LikeLike
The 30.20 Euro are apparently „brokerage fees“. I take it that means that either moo or their delivery partner (UPS) have outsourced the new ex-EU paperwork to a third party, and they charge an arm and a leg.
LikeLike
Gits
LikeLiked by 1 person
If there’s no regulation about what should be paid, that third party can probably charge whatever they want and get away with it.
LikeLike
That‘s what I have been thinking, too. Sounds like a money-making scheme to me…
LikeLike
Wow, you do lead an exciting life. It’s like CSI Dublin what with the traffic cops and the search warrant. Scary indeed. Rats on the appeal. That is typical. Anything to make a quick buck. 🤬
I’m glad Moo cooperated. Gorgeous postcards.
LikeLike
CSI Dublin indeed 😂. Mr Guylty was quipping that he is half affronted. 30 years of being a socialist, and he has never once been raided 🤣. So you need to be a business owner (=the exact opposite of a socialist activist) in order to get police attention 😂…
Moo was very professional and nice – they have always had good customer service, so kudos to them.
LikeLike
😂 I could do without the “honor” as it were.
LikeLike
I have to agree. 😁
LikeLike
That parking fine takes me back to the fine my mum received for parking in a residents only place instead of the double yellow lines she could have parked on because she thought it safer .
She had only had the disabled permit ( blue badge) a few weeks and hadn’t got used to all the rules, sadly she died a month later and the whole business had worried her a lot
I really think more empathy needs to be applied to a ‘ first offence’
LikeLike
Completely agree with you, Yve. Your mother‘s case shows that sometimes common sense needs to be applied when it comes to fining parking offenders. Yes, I understand that there are rules and that they are there for a reason. But in some cases it would certainly be better if the parking authorities applied a bit of human compassion. It is just sad that your mum may have been mulling over this – admittedly marginal – offense and worried herself sick over it.
LikeLike
Hi Guylty. ‘Tis me, @JayJo1927 from twitter. 🙂
Sorry to hear your parking fine appeal was rejected. So very annoying. I would still consider fighting the fine. I know it’s tedious, but fight, fight, then fight some more! LOL!
Have you got in touch with your local MP (sorry I can’t recall what the Irish equivalent is at the moment) or your local council? Clampers should not be walking (or driving) about the streets in a pandemic during lockdown.
Very unnerving situation regarding the police searching that office. Strange shenanigans going on there somewhere I think.
As for the postcards. They’re great. They’ve got a very arty look about them. Maybe a set could go into any future charity auctions.
Anyway, see you about on twitter.
LikeLike
Heyho Jenny 👏🏻. That‘s actually a good idea re. contacting my „TD“ (Teachta Dala, also called „deputy“ in Ireland). It totally irks me that the clampers are out and about when we are meant to be working from home, anyway. They‘ve closed most construction sites, pubs, restaurants, hotels and most retail (apart from essential) is closed. And clamping is an essential service???? My arse!!!
Nice idea about the postcards in the auctions. Collector‘s objects 😉
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me know about “Teachta Dala”. I’ll remember that. Please let us know how you get on if you do decide to fight on.
Just to clarify, even though I’ve commented on this thread, you can leave my name out of the draw for the set of postcards, thanks all the same. 🙂
LikeLike
Will do – on both counts 😉
LikeLike
That’s the sort of week you can do without! Bastard clampers. Outrageous! (The traffic warden is still stalking our little local town, despite it being virtually deserted because everything but the grocery shops are shut! He looks really depressed 🤣) And police raids… 😳 And brokerage fees???? 🤬
Great postcards though 😊
LikeLike
Seriously, they are clamping in small towns??? Sharks, all sharks!
Those brokerage fees sound really fishy to me. But well, I‘ve learnt my lesson. I‘ll be careful with online orders from now on.
LikeLike
My favorite line in your whole post, G, is “Or rather – whatever goes for excitement these days.” Amen, sister. Last night, I found myself watching the trash men pick up my building’s trash and toss it into their truck, because…they were something outside the window that was moving. Something to look at. Pathetic! THIS is what my (stuck inside) life has become???
LikeLike
Haha, oh cod, yes. Watching the bin men take away the trash… I mean, what else is there to look at? I find myself looking up and notice it every time there is the sound of a plane. A plane!!! Amazing. There‘s a plane flying! 😂 On a positive note, I also thought it was a wonderful sound this week when I heard the children playing in the playground of the primary school opposite. They were screeching and racing around, like small children do. It looked and felt life-affirming. (Sorry, I think this lockdown business makes me soppy, too.)
LikeLike
Me, too, feeling sentimental! There’s a toddler in an apartment somewhere above me who I hear running around every now and then. The adults are probably thinking, “Don’t disturb the old lady downstairs.” Little do they know, I’m loving it and thinking, “at least someone is living a life during this cruddy time, presumably happily, three cheers for the active 2-year-old.”
LikeLike
Exactly – it‘s just so life- affirming to hear the kids screaming and playing. It‘s a little bit of normality in this abnormal time.
LikeLike
Yeesh. I agree. Let the (stress-free) weekend begin.
LikeLike
Yep, enough excitement already.
LikeLike
Brexit sucks. I used to buy a lot from uk ebay sellers, now it’s almost impossible because their shipping rates are doubled. I refuse to pay over 16 € of shipping on a 4-5€ item.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yeah, it makes buying from EU crappy from UK too- 20% vat on anything bought then possible customs fees plus courier charges 😦
LikeLike
It’s a really shitty deal for both sides. I really regret this – I mean, Ireland is such a small country, we don‘t even have Amazon.ie, so if I want to order from them, UK used to be the nearest. (I know you don‘t order from Amazon, but just as an example.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
UK has shot itself and everyone else in the foot
LikeLike
Absolutely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it really does not make sense to order anything if it ends up being hugely overpriced due to taxes, fees and customs. Living in Ireland, the majority of stuff I used to buy on the internet came from the UK. I suspect that will change now.
LikeLike
I hate it in Savannah where somedays you can park and some days you can’t. On Tybee, you can’t park in a resturant parking. Not even fast food. You have to pay for a space. No wonder the drive thrus are backed up. 😦
Personally, I park anyway and toss the ticket. I figure I owe about 100.00. They’ll have to find me tho.. mwuhahahhahaha
LikeLike
Hahaha, that‘s a possible strategy. However, that only works if they don‘t clamp your car. Over here they clamp you – and only release the clamp if you have coughed up. Daylight robbery!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Years ago, I got a speeding ticket. I couldn’t read the due dat and I ask the officer – what’s the date? I swear he wrote – Ju—. He told me July.
So I go in early July to pay the fine and the clerk snaps – You late. Court last week in JUNE! there is bench warrent for your arrest.
I told her that the ticket said Ju– and the officer told me July.
She again interupted me and stated it was June and I now had an outstanding warrant for my arrest.
Okay. Can I see judge?
Only after you pay fine. $75.00. In cash.
Okay.
So I left, went to the bank and got $75.00 in pennies. Truth is it took several trips to different banks to get them all. I unwrapped them, put them in a giant water cooler jug and used a luggage wheel to haul it in.
The officer at the door was laughing. He actually followed me in and helped me put it on the counter when I got to her.
She tried to tell me coins weren’t cash, but then I upended it on the counter and dumped them all out. Told her i knew she’d want to count it. I’ll sit here with my book.
I was cursed at in some language I didn’t recognize and quite frankly don’t care to recognize. She finally gave me a receipt and when I left, the officer followed me out and thanked me. Said she was ‘unbearable’, no one liked her and he, for one, was glad to see someone get the best of her.
It’s not the last time I’ve done that, but it is the largest amount I’ve done it with.
Clamping sucks.
LikeLike
*lol* nice one. I should‘ve done that with our clampers. (They don‘t take cash, though. You have to pay by card, over the phone or on the internet *meh*. Modern world, eh?) BTW, I absolutely hate it when businesses/banks/offices refuse to accept small coins. They are legal tender, and therefore should be accepted anywhere. Served your clerk well that she had to count and wrap all those pennies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to get a set of these lovely postcards precisely for being so fairly specific! 😉
LikeLike
Hehehe, well said, Maria. Noted! 😊
LikeLike
No wonder you’re looking forward to the weekend after the week you’ve had.
I’ve never had to pay customs on anything I’ve received from overseas but my son had to pay almost a third of the value of car parts he’d ordered from the US on customs fees. I hope nothing I’ve sent has incurred that expense!
Those postcards are gorgeous, I love the ones I have, they’re great quality. Thumbs up to moo for good customer service.
LikeLike
I suspect that sometimes the customs depend on value of the shipment, sometimes on the mood of the customs officer 😉 I don‘t think I have ever heard of any fans having been hit by those fees when we sent our parcels back and forth. 😬
LikeLike
Wow, yeah, that does sound eventful! I’m really curious about that detective saga now, let us know when you find out.
Ugh on that stupid parking ticket, I’m sorry there is no human measure with that…
Good for you for speaking up to Moo and that they gave you that voucher. I hope they can do something about those fees and at least communicate them properly from now on. Voucher is all good and nice but those fees are the real problem, also for the next time you order.
Those postcards are really fun but leave me out of the draw as I’m not quite sure what to do with a stack of them. 🙂
LikeLike
Ha, you‘re the first to know – had a text from the business owner yesterday. No particulars, just saying that everything is ok. *phew* I am glad for her to know that.
You‘ve hit the nail with the voucher problem. Of course, if I use it to order something, I will again incur those fees… I might just hang on to the voucher for a bit and see whether the postage scenario will somehow righten itself. The voucher is valid for a year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Does she even know what they were looking for? Weird…
LikeLike
Nope, she didn‘t… she had no idea whatsoever, hadn‘t even been told that there was going to be a search…
LikeLike
Well I guess they need the element of surprise so stuff doesn’t get removed
LikeLike
Exactly. But I guess that is what we all find so „scary“ – that there is an element of suspicion in the fact that the person concerned was not informed…
LikeLike
Oh, was this a draw? You can leave my name out too. Thanks!
LikeLike
No worries, will do 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, what a week you’ve had with all the government bureaucracies- the police, the parking enforcers, the tax people and online messiness. I hope all goes well for your tenant. That’s scary. I’d probably faint if a bunch of detectives showed up at my door! I’ve never done anything wrong; I’d just be scared they had the wrong person and the wrong address!
LikeLike
The tenant has been in touch with me – apparently she is off the hook. It looks as if this investigation is about someone neither connected to her nor to her business. – I‘m like you when it comes to the police. I have never had anything to do with the law, and when the gardai showed up, I instantly felt very uncomfortable…
LikeLike
Blimey, I wonder what your horoscope said this week.
LikeLike
LOL, no idea. In a way it was a nice change from the usual, dull samey-samey everyday. Although I‘d probably prefer it if it didn‘t involve a) fines and b) law enforcement 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: 2021 Armitage Weekly Round-up #9 | Guylty Pleasure