Customs damaged my speaker!

[DJ_Peanuts22]

Got back from cross border shopping last night, crossing at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia going to Michigan to the outlets. Got back around midnight and declared everything we bought (only $160 spent between the 4 of us), and despite answering all questions thoroughly and truthfully, the agent slapped a yellow slip on my car and told me to proceed to the side of the building for a search.

In the process, one of the agents ripped off one of my door panels searched it! I have expensive aftermarket speakers installed into the drivers side door and once they were done, I turned on the radio and now the sound coming from the drivers side door panel and all fuzzy, buzzing and distorted!

They damaged my speaker.... is there anything I can do?

[cwb27]

File a damage claim, these things do happen.

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

[Ebola]

File a damage claim, these things do happen.

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

+1.

Did you talk to the superintendant before you left about the possible damage to your vehicle?

[DJ_Peanuts22]

+1.

Did you talk to the superintendant before you left about the possible damage to your vehicle?

No I didn't. This was my first time coming back into Canada that ended having my car searched.

[Ebola]

No I didn't. This was my first time coming back into Canada that ended having my car searched.

Allright? You getting searched isn't a big deal, although I'm well aware of how people take it as a personal insult.

The fact is this would have been much easier for you if you made the complaint about damages before you left the port so that it could be documented.

Now it's kind of hard for you to prove your case.

[gmark2000]

About 20 years ago, Customs lifted the rear bench off of my Dad's Audi 5000. It comes off because the battery is stored there. Well the latches were broken and we could never get it back on to resume our trip. We had to call some relatives to pick us up (rear passengers).

We later paid to have the seat repaired ourselves. I think that we complained at the time of search, but the officials told us 'tough luck'.

[Ebola]

About 20 years ago, Customs lifted the rear bench off of my Dad's Audi 5000. It comes off because the battery is stored there. Well the latches were broken and we could never get it back on to resume our trip. We had to call some relatives to pick us up (rear passengers).

We later paid to have the seat repaired ourselves. I think that we complained at the time of search, but the officials told us 'tough luck'.

And if that happened now, (I've seen it happen.. not on an Audi mind you), you talk to the Supt. pictures are taken to document the alleged damages, and you file a damage claim which the government almost always pays sans questions.

I once saw a damage claim approved for this old rickity RV, of which one of the officers had broken a piece off the countertop. Now the officer said it was already cracked, they said it wasn't.. no big deal.

They claimed the countertop was granite .. there was no photo documentation to say otherwise... and they got their ridiculously large claim approved.

Two lessons:
#1. Take photo documentation
#2. The gov't doesn't really care, they spend just as rigidly as they enforce tax collection.

-You always try to be careful when searching vehicles and items.. but you cant walk on eggshells because then you would never find anything.

[cwb27]

About 20 years ago, Customs lifted the rear bench off of my Dad's Audi 5000. It comes off because the battery is stored there. Well the latches were broken and we could never get it back on to resume our trip. We had to call some relatives to pick us up (rear passengers).

We later paid to have the seat repaired ourselves. I think that we complained at the time of search, but the officials told us 'tough luck'.

That is all.

As Ebola said, the government dolls out money fairly readily when it comes to goods damaged during CBSA inspections.

[DJ_Peanuts22]

The fact is this would have been much easier for you if you made the complaint about damages before you left the port so that it could be documented.

Now it's kind of hard for you to prove your case.

Well, it's hard to hear the distortion unless I turn up the music, which in no way I was planning on doing while still parked in the search port. Kind of hard to notice unless you're on the road. Which I did, but by then I was already far away.

So you're saying I'm SOL then?

[Ebola]

Well, it's hard to hear the distortion unless I turn up the music, which in no way I was planning on doing while still parked in the search port. Kind of hard to notice unless you're on the road. Which I did, but by then I was already far away.

So you're saying I'm SOL then?

I don't know if you're SOL.

It's not the typical type of damages I see.

Best advice, file your claim, see what happens.

[Jay1234]

Well, it's hard to hear the distortion unless I turn up the music, which in no way I was planning on doing while still parked in the search port. Kind of hard to notice unless you're on the road. Which I did, but by then I was already far away.

So you're saying I'm SOL then?

Could it just be that either your speaker or door panel is a little loose? did you check this? If so, that would be easy for you to fix and hassle free.

Jay

[DJ_Peanuts22]

I will have a look at it today and post the results.

[gmark2000]

That is all.

Even though it happened over 20 years ago doesn't diminish the fact that it happened and I still have a vivid memory of this significant event even after all these years. I'm glad there's a provision now for repairing damage. My story highlights perhaps how Customs is more accountable for ancillary damages in course of performing duties.

[ChopSuey]

In the process, one of the agents ripped off one of my door panels searched it! I have expensive aftermarket speakers installed into the drivers side door and once they were done, I turned on the radio and now the sound coming from the drivers side door panel and all fuzzy, buzzing and distorted!

Wow... This wasn't even a basic search. That was a full out search. I never had one of those searches before (just a regular search where they just look through the vehicle). I haven't been searched for ages ever since I started using NEXUS.

It's funny though.... I crossed the Blue Water Bridge on Dec 31st after a shopping trip. I went to the NEXUS lane and dropped my TDC card in the box. I then drove ahead for the visual inspection and the customs official didn't even look at me. They just waived me through without saying a word. As I drove by the search bay, they were fully loaded with cars being searched.

I am pretty sure what you went through was a random search, but it was a strict search.

[cwb27]

Wow... This wasn't even a basic search. That was a full out search. I never had one of those searches before (just a regular search where they just look through the vehicle). I haven't been searched for ages ever since I started using NEXUS.

It's funny though.... I crossed the Blue Water Bridge on Dec 31st after a shopping trip. I went to the NEXUS lane and dropped my TDC card in the box. I then drove ahead for the visual inspection and the customs official didn't even look at me. They just waived me through without saying a word. As I drove by the search bay, they were fully loaded with cars being searched.

I am pretty sure what you went through was a random search, but it was a strict search.

Nah, full out would be a vehicle in pieces.