Rude Border Control and HMRC staff.

[User269]

As a law abiding citizen who has never comitted any offence relating to Border Control, Revenue, or Customs, I'm curious to know why their staff are so rude and unhelpful to the public to whom they are supposed to be providing a service, and who pay their wages. I have worked with Doctors, Nurses, and others who have undergone disciplinary procedures for less than I've witnessed over many years from these charming characters. Why are they exempt from the normal codes of conduct which apply to the Police, and other public sector emplyees?

 

[Flying Dodo]

I've never had any issues with the above mentioned officials, and have always found them to be courteous and efficient, even in the middle of a heaving Terminal 5 at Heathrow, or a tax inspection. Perhaps it's been something you've said?

 

[Beebo]

if they treat everyone with contempt they can never be accused of bias.

 

[Archie_tect]

You do have to treat them with kid gloves... my father-in-law tried to be friendly and they cut him dead... he's 86, hardly a threat, but not a flicker of a response. It depends on the individual official though, some are clearly thrilled by the power.

 

[Alun]

I haven't witnessed any problems, although I don't see them smile very often. I don't think they are exempt from a code of conduct and if you have any issues perhaps you should detail them in a letter of complaint.

 

[dellzeqq]

border staff are often pretty grumpy looking. Whether it's a matter for complaint, heaven knows.

Mind you, the woman at Dover who dealt with me and my two girls (aged nine and five) was charm itself when the younger one said 'he's abducting us'.

 

[Alun]

I don't think looking grumpy is a cause for complaint, but the OP suggested far more than that !

 

[Archie_tect]

Took the DFDS ferry to Amsterdam, the British Border Patrol people going out of North Shields were very cold and suspicious- making a detailed search of every bag and even though the walk-through check didn't set off anything I was taken aside + got an intensive pat-down body search. Even when it's routine they make you feel you must have done something!

We then had a random interview further down the corridor [one of 1/100 spot checks we were told].... did wonder if they'd had a tip-off about someone and they were searching any similar looking couples.

Nothing at all on the Dutch side and nothing at all on the return from Amsterdam where you might have expected more interest!

 

[Hover Fly]

I used to think the bods at Eurostar London were particularly gurny, then I remembered they have to deal with Eurostar passengers day in, day out.

 

[Fnaar]

At JFK years ago, on a work trip, I was taken into a side-room, along with some rather dodgy looking folk, and made to sit for an hour or so while they did gawd-knows-what investigations. Not a word of explanation, nor apology for keeping me, just polite requests to come in here please sir, take a seat please sir, i can't tell you sir, you're free to go now sir. Never did find out what it was all about, but I missed my car into NYC and was a bit flummoxed by it all

 

[Andrew_P]

The only time I had lots of trouble was at Calais, returning from an over night in Belguim. After the meeting in Belgium I stayed the night and had a meeting in Holland and then drove back to Calais.

I got pulled in to one of those sheds, by the French. They asked me a few questions like were have you been, I just said Belgium overnight. They searched me and it felt like all hell broke loose when they found a petrol reciept from Holland... They had a good search of me and bagage and the car, then let me go but I am confident they radio the English 100 ft up the road bacause they pulled me and put the dogs over the car, scared the crap out of me as it was a new to me car and the dog went mental in the boot. I felt like a criminal and was cacking myself in case the previous owner and left some stuff in the car!

 

[Theseus]

Coming back from France on the Hover after a hockey tour with a car load of lawyers (corporate) and sweaty clothes we were pulled into the shed for questioning. I glanced to my left and saw sufficient car parts to build a complete car. I had visions of one of these lawyers (corporate) advising me in a loud voice to do something stupid. As for the customs chaps, no problem at all. When they found out where we had been they had no desire to investigate the luggage.


I never did get the make of the car that was sitting in bits.

 

[TVC]

Never had any bother with border staff, just keep it polite and don't try to engage with them and it's no trouble. On the other hand, try US customs.... they could make the Pope feel guilty. On the other hand, the Aussies are a joy, big smile "G'day sir". On the other hand, the French couldn't give a monkeys.

 

[compo]

I regularly used to get pulled into the sheds. When I smoked would make trips over to Adinkerke to stock up on tobacco, but never more than the "recommended" guidelines, and I didn't sell it. It seems that going over to France, into Belgium, then back to Calais within a couple of hours was suspicious. However I never had any problems with HMRC other than being pulled nearly every time I went over. I once went over on a motorbike through the tunnel and returned for a very early train, about 4.00am. Customs areas were empty, not a soul to be seen and the bloke checking passports just asked "British citizen" to which I said yes and he waved me through. Didn't even look at my passport.

 

[Haitch]

Friedrichstrasse, East Germany. Faced sprayed with spittle, strip-searched, buttocks parted with the barrel of a gun. Left naked for half an hour in a cell, whose only decoration was a club entitled "Lebensmittel". Made me pretty grumpy.