T1ony
Well-Known Member
Found the HIN #, phoned Fairline and they said they would send me a copy free of charge, thanks Mike
Do you need a VAT reciept if you go to France
- Thread starter T1ony
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Imperial One
Well-Known Member
Good news Tony,
The older boats often did a good job at locating HIN Numbers in odd places but glad you found yours and that Fairline were able to help you out.
Better to be safe and have the paperwork than having to suffer the law of sod and argue with a French Customs officer.
Mike.
pheran
Well-Known Member
Your post is definitely misleading and could lead others into trouble. If your 'unlikely to be asked for it' refers to VAT documentation, you could be right although I have been asked for it on two occasions over the years (France and Holland). On the other hand, an ICC with inland waterways endorsement (ie CEVNI) is essential as is insurance and proof of British registration, Part 1 or Part 3 (SSR). If people you know have got away without these, then they have just been lucky. Bit like driving on the roads at home without insurance but with a greater chance of being 'stopped'. I wouldn't take the chance, especially in France.
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
Glad to hear you got that Tony, a worthwhile doc to have in any case.
I've been following this as we might "nip" to France next year and as a result i was reminded that we need to be on the SSR. I did that online yesterday and had to enter the HIN#. Reading that you had difficulty location your HIN# leads me to wonder if you also have the SSR registration that you would need to go abroad ?
Adrianwool
Well-Known Member
Your post is definitely misleading and could lead others into trouble. If your 'unlikely to be asked for it' refers to VAT documentation, you could be right although I have been asked for it on two occasions over the years (France and Holland). On the other hand, an ICC with inland waterways endorsement (ie CEVNI) is essential as is insurance and proof of British registration, Part 1 or Part 3 (SSR). If people you know have got away without these, then they have just been lucky. Bit like driving on the roads at home without insurance but with a greater chance of being 'stopped'. I wouldn't take the chance, especially in France.
My intention was not to mislead, only to quote the experience of others. If you review other posts on documentation you will find my view is to be 'overdocumented' rather than 'underdocumented'. This has been significantly challenged with people saying that what I suggest as a level of documentation is OTT. So I do not know what else to say as there appear to be two different views on levels of documentation. I carry all documents as an insurance policy just in case asked for by an official, others say this is not necessary. So 'you pays your money and you take your chance'
T1ony
Well-Known Member
Your right Paul I don't have it, when I next visit the boat I shall write down the # you can see from an angle and see if I can renew the old SSR #, if not I shall have to have a new #, no panic at the moment,
Tony
Tony
maverickofpoole
Well-Known Member
We take a trip over to the channel islands once or twice a year but never been to France with our own boat yet.
Just in case we have to bolt into a french port or worse have to be rescued by the French I always ensure I have all the boats and my documentation
No point taking the chance of a fine even if the stories we hear are exaggerated
Martin
Just in case we have to bolt into a french port or worse have to be rescued by the French I always ensure I have all the boats and my documentation
No point taking the chance of a fine even if the stories we hear are exaggerated
Martin
neale
Well-Known Member
Do you follow correct customs protocol when entering the UK from outside the EU, or leaving the UK going direct to the CI? I know in the past this has probably been overlooked by many, but I am wondering if these new UKBA patrols are going to make following these formalities more important.
The below has been cut and pasted:
As a member of the European Union, EU regulations apply. Boats arriving from another EU country do not need to fly the Q flag and need only contact Customs if you have goods to declare or have non-EU nationals onboard.
For boats arriving from outside the EU, (this includes the Channel Islands), you must telephone the National Yachtline on 0845 723 1110.
Goods to be declared:
(1) Boats arriving from another EU country: any animals or birds; any prohibited or restricted goods; any duty-free stores; if VAT is owed on the boat.
(2) Boats arriving from a country outside the EU: any goods mentioned above; any goods in excess of the duty-free allowance.
On entering UK territorial waters (12 miles offshore), the yellow Q flag must be flown until customs formalities have been completed. At night the flag should be illuminated. Failure to fly the flag is an offence and may lead to prosecution and a fine. Yachts are liable to be searched by customs officers at any time while in UK territorial waters.
If there are animals or birds on board or any illness, health clearance must be obtained. The captain should contact the port health authority or local authority responsible for port health control by radio, 4 to 12 hours before arrival and, if this is not possible, immediately on arrival. Until health clearance is given no one except officials may board the vessel nor anyone leave.
On arrival in a place where there is a customs house, the captain must notify customs in person or by telephone. Notification must be made within two hours of arrival, unless arriving between 2300 and 0600, when arrival need not be notified until 0800 the following morning provided there are no birds or animals on board.
Failure to notify the arrival within two hours is an offence and can lead to a fine. If notifying by telephone, in some areas a message may have to be left on a telephone-answering machine, with the yacht name, time of arrival, location of the yacht and if there are animals on board. Radio telephones can be used to notify arrival while the yacht is still at sea. All persons must await clearance on board. Goods must not be landed until customs clearance is complete.
Anyone on board who is not an EU national must obtain permission to enter the UK from an Immigration officer. The Customs officer to whom you report your arrival to will be able to advise on contacting the nearest Immigration office.
Customs need not be informed by boats leaving the UK for another EU country. All boats going directly to a country outside the EU must inform customs. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
Departing boats should complete sections 1 and 2 of Form C1331 (available at marina and port offices) and return part 1 to customs either by handing it to a Customs officer; placing it in a Customs post box; or taking (or posting) it to one of the Customs offices listed at Main Ports
It is stressed that the form must arrive at the customs office before the boat is expected to leave the UK. Part 2 should be kept on board as evidence of notification of departure. If a planned departure is delayed by more than 48 hours or abandoned, customs must be informed accordingly. Form C1331 can be obtained from any of the customs offices listed at Main Ports , most yacht clubs and marinas, the National Advice Service (0845 010 9000), or online (as Adobe pdf document) from a link at HMRC Customs
Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
With respect to all the other forumers. In France you need a receipt for EVERYTHING, but your problems with lack of VAT documentation will probably only start if you want to put the boat up for sale in France. Also in France if you want to insure a boat with a French Insurance Company it has to have a Survey (in French) (AXA) which is not dear. Whereas unlike UK insurance companies who will accept a valuation from the boat owner without argument or comment, French Insurance companies wont. This is what happened to me in France.