UK Border Agency makes PCGS submissions unsustainable

Having paid PCGS 270 bucks to grade some coins, the UK Border agency charged me nearly $100 to get my own coins back!

Rang them today (took a week to get someone to answer) and they said it doesn't matter that the coins are yours and you e
xported them, you pay simply for paying for the service outside the EC..........I corrected the lady and said it was actually the EU.
One might think the government rep from the Border Agency might know what our European institutions are actually called, clearly not.

Unless direct submission rights/access can be offered to Paris, that's it for me and PCGS. Oh, and most of the slabs came back scratched
or with nasty fissures in the plastic anyway.........

 

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You didn't say what the coins were.
I don't know what the possibilities are in the EU, but especially if you aren't working with US coins maybe you can find a place in the EU that authenicates/grades coins.

Also the PCGS and non-US grading standards don't correspond.
My experiences are that non-US services are about a grade tougher on coins.

 

Yes, my non US stuff has been graded a bit harshly.............but the Paris office of PCGS only allows submission through
a conduit (a big dealer), which I'm not keen on and when you contact the approved intermediary they aren't to keen
on getting involved anyway. How can the UK Border agency justify charging 100 bucks when I only spent 270 bucks
total. The whole thing stinks. They also charged be 50 bucks to get one coin released for delivery. If I buy coins from
the USA I expect import/customs fees but this really is going too far.

 

Guess that most people here in Europe don't really care about third party grading and TPG companies. But if you want to use such services, have you tried the UK based dealers that PCGS lists? http://www.pcgs.com/Dealers/default.aspx?rn=5&mn=5&cc=UK Or, you could do it the other way round - ask the Paris office http://www.pcgsglobal.com/contact.aspx about how to proceed ...

Christian

 

I would contact your legislator and ask his staff to look into this. I believe it is not the intention to tax something you already own and am simply having a service done to. I think its more of a misunderstanding on the customs part. Hopefully your legislator contacting customs to explain the transaction will get it squared away.

I know, I am optimistic.

Btw, what is customs? Lol, I have never had a fee for any coin entering the US. Sorry to here they charge you these fees man.

Edit: Thinking about it more, there HAS to be a way to do this I would think. Do they charge a UK resident customs on a necklace she took on a trip abroad and is bringing back with her? Taking property overseas and bringing it back is a daily activity. Please let us know what you find out.

 

I think the previous but one reply may not have read my comments on Paris. Doug may be right
that perhaps one on the list of UK approved conduits may 'play ball.' But having had my coins
returned in pretty poor, fissured and scratched slabs from PCGS I have already started submitting
to NGC. Perhaps US posters may miss the subtlety that some Companies on the PCGS list are
respected but disinterested and some are amenable but the converse.

The Border Agency rep was adamant that I will have to pay these taxes simply for getting a
service abroad.

I would not try the UK based TPG as they have no global recognition at all. OK, positive solution:

1. Let regular customers submit direct to Paris.
2. Improve QC and improve plastic used in slabs.

 

Hmmm. This sounds like you got a hold of someone who really has no idea what is going on as it seems really unfair that you'd have to pay an import tax on coins you simply had someone look at. Have you tried contacting an attorney or lawyer for a correct interpretation of the law? Occasionally we run itno this in the USA where a postal clerk will be adamant about NOT being able to send and insure coins through the mail. On the base level, no, you cannot send money through the mail and insure it BUT the postal regulations make a differentiation between money (which is spendable) and "collectible coins".

It's quite possible you've made contact with someone who is "familiar" with the laws but does not "know" the laws.

 

1. Isn't there a European Collectors Club for PCGS which would allow direct submission privileges?
2.Good Luck on this one. I've gotten slabs back that had hairline scratches and bits of this and that sealed in with the coin. Sure, PCGS will correct the problem if you send them back but it takes forever and then you have to address the postage situation.

 

I can see fissures inside the plastic which are unsightly........so not about getting banged up. Furthermore, my coins come in
the blue compartmentalised solid boxes, so no chance of getting banged up. I also see horrid smear marks inside the slab
on an express graded coin.....100 bucks for one coin. Waiting for resolution but if I have problems with PCGS and problems
with UK Border Agency, I need to change tack............or take up flower arranging.

 

Thanks 19Lyds.......good to be understood. If they allow dud slabs like the kind of thing you and I describe, this is a bit of a 'concern.'

Re direct submission..was told I'd have to approach the international director of PCGS or something.....got number but no answer. Just a techincal issue: the coins in large holders like Pandas, Chinese dollars etc seem to be OK...............the small coin like 10c, 5c (Canadian) or other small world coins, they use a different holder and these have been cra-