UK customs info

I just ordered a book from Foyles bookstore in the UK - the new memoir by Tracey Thorn.

To have it sent to the US, there was a choice to either send via airmail or by courier (I assume the equivalent of UPS/FedEx in the states).

However, apparently if you select courier, new UK customs regulations require that you provide your "tax ID number" - which for individuals in the US would be their social security number.

Wondering if anyone has experienced this with any book or LP/CD/music shipments? I ordered earlier this year from Amazon UK and didn't have to supply it. Was curious if others had experienced this or were aware of this.

 

I think I'd be asking them if they had an employment situation they were offering me otherwise pee off.

 

That was MY feeling about it, but I didn't know if this was just this particular bookstore (Foyles) having a very strict reading of regulations, or if this was something others have had to do.

 

Never heard of it! Sounds suspicious. Customs forms I have filled in to sell items to USA have never required this information.

 

You'd be surprised to see how many times I've encountered business asking for my social insurance number these last few years. I just reply I don't give it out except if I'm applying for a job. They promptly brush it off saying that's ok, it's not necessary. The information digging age I think we're in.