Goods and Vehicles Seized by UKBA

Multi-Award Winning Experts in Recovering Seized Vehicles and Reducing Penalties levied by Border Force

IMD Corporate have an excellent track record in a number of matters where we assisted clients with recovering vehicles seized by the Border Force, reducing fines imposed by HMRC, and implementing procedures and policies meant to protect businesses dealing with transports to and from the UK.

Transport of undeclared goods, clandestine entrants or non-compliance with transport regulations may result in your vehicle being seized or a penalty being levied on your company. We appreciate this can lead to significant financial and reputational losses for your business.

Our experienced solicitors can analyse the circumstances surrounding the seizure, present a compelling case on your behalf, and guide you through the relevant process to make sure we minimise the negative impact of the seizure on your business.

Get in touch with us by calling on 0330 107 0106 in order to arrange a free no no-obligation call or request a free quote.

My vehicle or goods have been seized – what now?

Even if you did not know of the undeclared goods being transported and believe you have done all you could to prevent clandestine entry, your vehicle and/or seized goods will not be simply given back to you upon request.

Border Force will hold you accountable for the incident unless you provide compelling reasons and evidence as proof that you have undertaken sufficient steps to prevent misconduct by your own drivers or clients. Your items will be sold or destroyed if you do not act within deadlines imposed by the Border Force.

If your goods and/or vehicle have been seized under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, you have three options:

1. Notice of Claim: if you believe the Border Force or HMRC did not have any right to seize your items, we can challenge the legality of the seizure through appropriate court proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court;
2. Restoration Request: if you accept the seizure, but want to restore the goods and/or vehicle, we can help explain your circumstances to the Border Force or HMRC and provide them with appropriate accompanying evidence;
3. Both options: If this solution is suitable, we can ask for your goods and/or vehicle to be returned promptly, while also claiming that it was seized illegally in the first place.

HMRC and Border Force will dispose or sell your vehicle if you do not submit a Notice of Claim within a month of the date of seizure or request its restoration within 45 days of the seizure. As such, we urge you to contact us as soon as possible, so that we may advise you on the best way forward.

Get in touch with us by calling on 0330 107 0106 in order to arrange a free no no-obligation call or request a free quote.

When should I involve solicitors?

The administrative restoration procedure gives us just two chances to present our case and prove that your items should be returned promptly.

Our solicitors have achieved wonderful results even in cases where our client’s initial request was refused in the first instance, but by contacting us early you are maximising your chances of success and restoring the vehicle early.

If each of the chances to present our case is not fully taken as part of the administrative process, the only avenue will be an appeal to a tribunal, which carries significant costs that we appreciate all business wish to avoid. We can, however, offer you our support at each stage of such matters.

Get in touch with us so that we can arrange for the goods to be reloaded onto a different transport, guide you through the restoration process, and also offer you training on implementing procedures that will better protect you from such incidents in the future.

Get in touch with us by calling on 0330 107 0106 in order to arrange a free no no-obligation call or request a free quote.