Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Hey gents. Taken a turn for the worse. Despite providing my Ukara to PF who passed it on to BF, I have been advised that the rifle has been seized by UK Border Force and a legal notice has been sent to my address. I have no idea what is in the letter. Apparently it has been seized under section 36 and 39 of the VCRA. It's not looking good 😕 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Adolf Hamster Posted October 10, 2019 Supporters Share Posted October 10, 2019 not good, possible the shop didn't downgrade it and it's been seized for being too hot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Rogerborg Posted October 10, 2019 Supporters Share Posted October 10, 2019 31 minutes ago, Adolf Hamster said: not good, possible the shop didn't downgrade it and it's been seized for being too hot? That would make it a Firearms Act 1968 Section 5 offence, not a VCRA S36. Very sorry to hear this. It sounds like you haven't done anything wrong, but either the seller hasn't put your UKARA number on it, or it's been damaged, or Border Farce don't know or didn't follow their own procedures, or (gulp) they've decided to change them. Remember, we enjoy a defence to the offence of importing a RIF, and nothing more. A defence is not a licence, and nothing requires Border Farce to continue to treat it as such, or to let RIFs in to the country. Good job you got that S75 started. I just hope that you didn't over-complicate it. Ordered it, hasn't arrived, not your problem what the story is, monies back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 7 minutes ago, Rogerborg said: That would make it a Firearms Act 1968 Section 5 offence, not a VCRA S36. PF said section 36 and 39. VCRA Section 39 specifies that the specification of the gun may not match UK specs. So wouldn't that apply? I am more worried about the legal ramifications of S39 rather then the money at this point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper780 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 I had the same problem when I order an AEG which was 400fps from ehobby Asia. You will get a Notice of Detention letter, explaining why it has been sized and they will ask you to provide evidence of a valid defence/reason for you to own the item and a defence to support your claim. You will also get a C160 form that you have to fill out and send with a copy of your defence to support your application to get your stuff back I was going to uses my UKARA defence form. However, in my case, they did not send the C160 to me so I phone them up a number of times on the number provided on the letter but received no answer in the end I emailed: [email protected] Told them my situation and provided my UKARA number took them 3 days to respond but they confirmed my UKARA status and release it back to me I have attached the response I received Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 8 minutes ago, Sniper780 said: I had the same problem when I order an AEG which was 400fps from ehobby Asia. You will get a Notice of Detention letter, explaining why it has been sized and they will ask you to provide evidence of a valid defence/reason for you to own the item and a defence to support your claim. You will also get a C160 form that you have to fill out and send with a copy of your defence to support your application to get your stuff back I was going to uses my UKARA defence form. However, in my case, they did not send the C160 to me so I phone them up a number of times on the number provided on the letter but received no answer in the end I emailed: [email protected] Told them my situation and provided my UKARA number took them 3 days to respond but they confirmed my UKARA status and release it back to me I have attached the response I received This sounds a little promising. Did they quote Section 39 to you? Why did they release it being 400fps? Did you ask the shop to downgrade it and had proof? Did they know it was above the UK legal limit or did you get lucky and they didn't know or wasn't written in any of the paperwork with the rifle? Sorry for all the questions! Anyone know if Real Sword stuff comes with FPS test readings on the paperwork? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper780 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 In the letter, I believe they mentioned VCAR but it was a copy and paste response, If I can find the letter I will confirm. They just X-rayed the box and saw the AGE and just doing their job. Not sure if they knew the FPS it was an RS type 56-2 and yes all RS products come with an FPS test readings sheet but it in meters a second, not FPS. I was not asked if I will downgrade it nor was it a condition that I had to have it downgraded before being released back to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 1 minute ago, Sniper780 said: In the letter, I believe they mentioned VCAR but it was a copy and paste response, If I can find the letter I will confirm. They just X-rayed the box and saw the AGE and just doing their job. Not sure if they knew the FPS it was an RS type 56-2 and yes all RS products come with an FPS test readings sheet but it in meters a second, not FPS. I was not asked if I will downgrade it nor was it a condition to it being released back to me. So they ignored the UKARA number on the package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporters Rogerborg Posted October 10, 2019 Supporters Share Posted October 10, 2019 Phew, sounds like there's still hope then. On the fps/energy, I'd be surprised if Border Farce agents know about the power limit, or if they do, that they care enough to open the package and find out whether it contains an airsoft gun, or a S5 firearm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper780 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 I think my UKARA number was damaged in transit, so they did not see it but they did open it up and check the AEG. Then re-wrapped it and put my UKARA number on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 1 minute ago, Sniper780 said: I think my UKARA number was damaged in transit, so they did not see it but they did open it up and check the AEG. Then re-wrapped it and put my UKARA number on it. See I have already provided my UKARA number to PF who had passed it on to Border Force. Yet they decided it was still be seized. 4 minutes ago, Rogerborg said: Phew, sounds like there's still hope then. On the fps/energy, I'd be surprised if Border Farce agents know about the power limit, or if they do, that they care enough to open the package and find out whether it contains an airsoft gun, or a S5 firearm. The worry is that the PF person told me it was sized under S39. RS stuff gets sent with a card that shows the FPS rating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper780 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 8 minutes ago, Asomodai said: See I have already provided my UKARA number to PF who had passed it on to Border Force. Yet they decided it was still be seized. When I was dealing with PF they were very nice said the same thing, but whether they did pass on the info, I had no way of checking, and as soon I mentioned it was an airsoft replica they got very nervous. Also, my type 56-2 was held in customs for over a month before they even told me it was sized by border force and that was because I phoned them every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DrAlexanderTobacco Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 35 minutes ago, Asomodai said: See I have already provided my UKARA number to PF who had passed it on to Border Force. Yet they decided it was still be seized. The worry is that the PF person told me it was sized under S39. RS stuff gets sent with a card that shows the FPS rating. I really don't think you should be going through PF at this stage - speak to BF directly. Otherwise you'll never be sure of the exact situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 5 minutes ago, DrAlexanderTobacco said: I really don't think you should be going through PF at this stage - speak to BF directly. Otherwise you'll never be sure of the exact situation. I haven't seen the letter yet. PF told me the gist of why it was seized but couldn't give me any details such as a case number etc. I would need to wait for the letter before I talk to Border Force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DrAlexanderTobacco Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Just now, Asomodai said: I haven't seen the letter yet. PF told me the gist of why it was seized but couldn't give me any details such as a case number etc. I would need to wait for the letter before I talk to Border Force. I disagree - You lose nothing by contacting them, and you lose valuable time whilst you wait for the letter. You don't have a case number, but you do have valuable info that can help them identify your case - Your full name, your address, the package seized, the rough date of when it was seized, and so on. Normally if you're getting a case ref number then your case is in a CRM system of sorts, meaning they can hopefully filter for the info I posted above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Tackle Posted October 10, 2019 Moderators Share Posted October 10, 2019 18 minutes ago, DrAlexanderTobacco said: I disagree - You lose nothing by contacting them, and you lose valuable time whilst you wait for the letter. You don't have a case number, but you do have valuable info that can help them identify your case - Your full name, your address, the package seized, the rough date of when it was seized, and so on. Normally if you're getting a case ref number then your case is in a CRM system of sorts, meaning they can hopefully filter for the info I posted above Agree, gotta be proactive on this, be shit if through some element of miscommunication it gets put a crusher, & then hmg say "oh well, not our problem" 😰 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 I am on my way home from work early to see if the letter has arrived. Either way I will be ringing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgePlaysAirsoft Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 I dont think s39 is worth too much concern in of itself - though thats easy for me to say! In this context s36 and s39 are two sides of same coin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper780 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 If parcel force knows you got the Notice of Detention letter they will not talk to you about it until you dealt with Border force. That what happened to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 I have got the letter. I have rung up. The officer who dealt with it will be calling me back later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDcase Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 Just got off the phone with BF. I don't know much more at the moment. The guy who I spoke to said it was his manager who seized the package and said to send an email with evidence that I can import the RIF. I sent my UKARA number, registered address (Just in case the address was wrong) and my UKARA issuing site. This can be a little encouraging as it assumes that it was just a UKARA issue. But as he didn't know much more, it could be something like it was too hot entering the country, in that case then there is no defence! We'll see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilMonkee Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Fucking jobsworths. This country seems to breed them. Hope it works out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asomodai Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 28 minutes ago, EvilMonkee said: Fucking jobsworths. This country seems to breed them. Hope it works out I disagree. Everyone who I have spoken to regarding this with PF and BF have been really nice people. Its just unlucky that my parcel got caught out in a random search. Just doing their jobs and the law is there for a reason! Of course I hope everything goes through fine, but considering my luck I am sure I will have worst case scenario! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supermoose Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 This might be of use to any one who finds this thread in the future or who is following this, Current rules regarding the importation of fire arms to the uk, as of july 2019, even though the filename says 2017 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819047/Notice-to-Importers-2922-Imports-of-firearms-and-_ammunition-import-licensing-arrangements-2017.pdf hopefully it will get sorted for you, especially if its just cos your UKARA number was worn off Notice-to-Importers-2922-Imports-of-firearms-and-_ammunition-import-licensing-arrangements-2017.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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