Zollamt Surprise

If you live in Germany, you almost never voluntarily go to the Zollamt (Customs Office).  The one in Wiesbaden gets 1.9 Stars on average in reviews.  It's the place where Johnny Jobsworth (Johannes Jobswert?) hums and hahs his way through the day, thinking up even more ways of being customer unfriendly.

I'd ordered something from the United States and I knew that I'd have to pay the equivalent of VAT on it.  I was dreading coming home to a letter that would say "We have your package, please come to our office at a time that doesn't suit you, in order that we can mess you around for a couple of hours and then make you pay to get your parcel while all the time making you feel like you've done something wrong."

However, the company in the States complied with all the necessary customs regulations (description of contents, value and so on) which meant my parcel only spent 2 weeks in customs before being sent to me (with a demand for the tax).

I'm pleased with that.  At least it meant I don't have to wait until Monday to go to the office to face up to the cheeriest civil servants in the world.  Thank heavens for small mercies.