Firstly I understand what you are going through because I have experienced a lot more Customs activity with my erodvd.nl orders as of late.

I had a 2 disc order confiscated about a month back and they were not "dodgy". I was going to write to C&E to ask them to clarify what their policy was regarding adult material. It clearly follows no pattern at Dover. One order may be passed and another confiscated.

A consequent order was inspected and let through. Another single disc got through safely 2 wks ago, then an empty dvd case??? arrived last week which was inspected. I thought that C&E were taking the piss by nicking the cover and disc. But I suspect erodvd sent it because I requested the cover(meaning the paper cover) be sent separately for the single disc order. It would help if erodvd let you know when and what they send so you can gauge if things go wrong.

In your Notice of Seizure did they list all 7 titles or the one they deemed "obscene"? All 7 should be listed if they have seized the lot.

It would be costly for you to go to court to fight your case and C&E know it, so most seizures end at this stage. Its up to you how far you want to take it but I would consider writing to them just to clarify what their policy is. It may not get your other 6 titles back but it could influence how you order next time.

I wouldn't worry about getting arrested as long as you are not importing the really sick stuff.

ps Drop Aline a note at erodvd they should help with replacing the order. You may want to consider an alternative shipping method.

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The items below are liable to foreiture because(schedule 3 to the c&e management act 1979):-
They are considereed to be indecent or obscene and are therefore prohibited from importation (section 42 of the customs act 1876 ???)
From...The Netherlands
Quantity and Description....DVD's x 7

I will ask Aline how they shipped the order as they usually send 2or3 per envelope.

Whats got me worried is will they examine everything i order from now on ?, if my order came in a few envelopes they must have been looking for my name.

Thanks for your reply, i dont think i will write to customs it just worries me about importing anything else, i havent found any other place as cheap as Erodvd on the web as yet, and was happy with the service.

The last paragraph i posted earlier really worries me about imprisionment, do you think it means if i am selling them on?

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F*

Edited by - Flinty on May 6 2002

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From the experiences that Deanos, Charlie and I have had lately, it does seem very likely that your package from Ero DVD will be examined, and therefore it's best that you don't order stuff with the verboten content i.e. fist/piss/serious BDSM etc.

Unfortunately, it appears that you won't be able to get any sense out of this mess without some embarassment or expense, but my suggestion is that you get on to them by letter and politely demand the return of your discs which are NOT prohibited, plus a full explanation of what they are playing at. You should have a right to know if you are being targetted. I wondered this myself, if they are keeping a track of the names & addresses of people whose porn packages are opened? Surely not!

Personally, I know the EU rules on trade etc allow for individual countries to set what is and isn't permitted, but frankly I believe the law is totally unclear and indefensible. The lines between what is OK and what is forbidden are so narrow as to be ridiculous. Could you convince a court, for example, that four fingers is OK but fisting is totally obscene? And further to that, the lack of hard and fast information on specific detail of what is prohibited is totally unfair, and I would suggest unjust, to those seeking to buy adult products from abroad.

I guess it might be too much for me to ask that you stand up to their bullying tactics, deanos, but you should definitely claim your discs back. Unfortunately I can't give you good advice about this. Maybe you can ask at Citizen's Advice. It might be embarrassing, I guess it depends on how much you want those discs.

Someone definitely needs to take this to court to force HMCE to justify themselves - they are a law unto themselves on many issues - anyone got the cash to take them on? The trouble is that I fear that if they were in the wrong they would simply return the discs that were OK rather than contest the case, so they avoid exposure of their mistakes. Pure conjecture on my part, of course.

Anyway, good luck Deanos. I shall try enquiring about this myself.

Edited by - Gabriel Nine on May 6 2002

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I will let you know the outcome.

Edited by - deanos on May 11 2002

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after ready other posts about importing porn from Outside the UK.

If you are going to order from the US ( i know hou havent) then i heard that its best not go over the £18 limit (inc. Shpping) as customs expect something is going on..

anyway i may not be right. just a penny Thought :)

- -
Regards and Thanks
ShiWarrior
www.UTinstagib.co.uk

Edited by - ShiWarrior on May 25 2002

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Edited by - deanos on Jul 3 2002

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