Dealing with Customs for Mail Items

The Send/Receive International Packages HowTo talks about this stuff and even has some useful comments. But, it just isn't time to update it because things just get stranger. Here is the latest on receiving a package.

I sent myself a package (that is, from a mailing address/service I have in the U.S.). In that package are a couple of letters, a box of business cards and two used CB radios. Before I sent this I checked with TELCOR. TELCOR regulates all "communications devices" which includes a regular POTS telephone. Now, so far, Wifi routers and such don't seem count but it seems they should.

Well, TELCOR told me that type-accepted CB radios (where type accepted meant U.S. FCC Part 95 regulations) are not regulated. You can import them and use them without a TELCOR permit. I have this in writing and it includes the related laws.

The USPS tracking information indicated my package was here. After a reasonable wait I call. Yes, they are in "postal customs" in Managua. They cannot be sent to me until I get clearance from TELCOR.

Now, this game has been going on for a long time and it sounds like there are only two choices. The first is "do what they are asking", and the second is wait a year. What they are asking is that I:

1. Go to postal aduanas in Managua to get the information on the radios
2. Go to TELCOR and get a permit for them—something that TELCOR says they don't do
3. Return to postal aduanas in Managua to show the permit
4. Wait for them to do the customs paperwork and forward the package to Estelí
5. Pay the duty in Bancentro
6. Get my $30 worth of radios

I would be lucky to get the Managua part done in one day so it is pretty clear this isn't a good option. So, I suggested they either throw the radios away and send me the other stuff or return the whole package to the sender (me at a US address). Well, my first idea is just that—they have no way to deal with "just throw it away". The second, however, can be done. But, there is a catch.

The catch is time. They hold the package for a year. If it isn't cleared by then, they return it. Now, I am the only person that can clear it (that has been discussed) and I am not going to do it. So, they will store it for another 10 months. What a deal.

Now, I have send things that needed TELCOR permission here before but not through the postal system. The courier (NicaBox at least once and, I believe, DHL another time) got the permission for me. All I had to do was FAX them a copy of my cédula and pay them for their service. The post office is part of TELCOR so this just doesn't make sense. But, both Miguel (the semi-new dude in Managua we are working with) and his boss say that's the way it is.