Impressed with PCNA / Recall Clearance Letter
 

I was very impressed with the service level of PCNA when i called requesting a Recall Clearance Letter. I need this to import my 993 into Canada. I called the 800 number and spoke with Tammy, Customer Commitment Specialist, who instructed me on what to fax (title and bill of sale). I faxed the info and she called me a few hours later saying she was faxing the letter and mailing it to me. Apparently it can take up to a week but I got mine in a few hours and there is no charge. It's not often these days that customer service is impressive and especially so considering that there is no charge for this. Just read the forums on what kinds of hassles BMW importers are dealing with! I also spoke with RIV Canada yesterday about extending the 45 day time period for inspecting the car (before you are required to export it or crush it) and they were friendly and flexible on this if there is a good reason. I just hope that Canadian Customs is as easy to get along with.:)

Glad to hear that things are going well with this process Matt. For any other Canadians looking at this, if you don't have a fax handy, they are actually able to email you the letter in .pdf format as an attachment, as I found out last year.

Canadian Customs has always been easy to deal with - at least at the Blaine-White Rock border. They filled in Form 1 for me as I stood there waiting, and then they were very happy to take my money. (Maybe they get a commission ;-)

Good to hear your experience with RIV - they have been a nightmare for folks in the past. In 2005 I had to fax them the completed fed inspection document 3 times over a period of a couple of months while all along they were threatening me with impounding the car, etc. This after Can Tire faxed them the form also on the day of the actual inspection. Last year they claimed they had sent the approved Form 2 to my home for my 993 bought in the US but after 2 weeks of it not showing up (10 business days) they sent it to me also in .pdf format when I started to harass them. The mailed original never showed up, so they either lied to me or it got lost in the mail.

I guess RIV is getting a lot of business these days with the favorable $ exchange rates, so maybe they have cleaned up their act to deal with the increase in US imports.

What did you do about the child seat tether/restraints?

ps I'm going through the Coutts/Sweetgrass crossing.

Can Tire never even looked at it! Hopefully, they are equally realistic in your area. :)

I have generally found Canada Customs to be reasonable, provided your paperwork is in order: present a file containing only the essentials. This is especially true concerning the declared value for taxation ...... if one is proud of the $5K they negotiated off an asking price showing on the 'For Sale' spec sheet, brag to the wife - but don't let Customs see it, or you'll be sorry ;). I have had Bills of Sale challenged - and you are left guilty until proved innocent - and I've seen some pretty pathetic, sputtering, excuse making in the adjacent lines at the counter.
My preference is to purchase by Bank wire xfer, 10% deposit followed by the balance some days later. This Bank issued paper trail adequately supports the bill of sale, shifting the burden of (dis)proof should an Officer take issue with purchase price vs blue book valuation.

Canada Customs are very efficient once the deal is agreed :) , submitting Form I data, Letter of Clearance (recalls), and fees to RIV on your behalf. The essential Form II from RIV is expected within 2 weeks, but can be held up for the most trivial issues. A friendly phone call is usually reciprocated and has the form emailed to you as mentioned; however, you must have the Case Number ( top right of Form I, yellow copy) to begin the dialogue.
Good luck!

Thanks. I did wire the money to the seller and have the bank receipt on file for Canada Customs.