We own a clearing company (it's called Quick Clearance and don't make cracks about it) and we can clear customs quicker than almost any other agent. We are not expensive, either, we started this firm because we just got sick of the agents that we were using, they seemed to have no sense of urgency about releasing our goods Avoid these monkeys at Southampton call us and we will take the load off your shoulders.

Our charges are reasonable, we charge £30 per car and add whatever charges are passed on to us by the shippers but you pay your taxes direct to C&E by draft so there are no fiddles (yes, some clearing agents do fiddle and some fiddle a lot when they can get away with it) and you pay your freight direct to the shippers. We have caught one agent taking over £200 a car by fiddling the duty paid figures, it is not hard to do; beware if you are asked to pay your taxes to the agent. Pay direct to Customs and Excise.

We are fairly quick at Southampton but at Tilbury, where we have better access, we have had consignments cleared in ninety minutes in the past and we almost always get them done the same day. Can you get that service elsewhere?

The clearing game is a jungle, there are so many little tricks that I am sometimes surprised there is a prison bunk empty in the country.

If you are buying from Gary you don't even need to see your paperwork, we will take care of everything for you or as much as you want us to take care of.

To get us to clear you should send us:

1. One, and one only, of the original bills of lading, not a copy unless the original has been surrendered in Japan (speak to me about this surrender, it is the best way of doing things if you import regularly).

2. The commercial invoice

3. Your vat number, or temporary turn number, or some I/D.

4. A photocopy of the Japanese de-reg to give to Customs,

We can then take over but if you are just importing one car we may well pass the clearance back to the shippers as we make a loss

on one car, it all depends upon the circumstances.

DO NOT USE one man firms, or similar, to get your goods cleared or you will be fiddled. No shoulder, remember?

Someone has got to clear your cars, it might as well be us.