Weight Czechs

Beware if you travel to the Czech Republic if your motorhome is over 3,500kg.

In preparation for travelling to Prague last September, I investigated what was needed pay the road tolls.

On entering, I stopped at the first garage after the border/ distribution point, obtained an OBU and paid for the deposit and an amount for prepaid tolls.

We had our stay and all was well until we called at the last stop-off point to return the

OBU toll device and receive any refund due.

Several people were walking around with OBU boxes, which seemed a bit strange, and we were all being told to return the box by post.

After getting home, I went on the MYto cz website, downloaded a form, followed the instructions and posted the OBU box at a cost of £14.20.

I sent an email, so it knew the OBU unit was in the post. I tracked the post and received confirmation that it had been received by Czech customs.

After a month, I contacted Myto cz to say I hadn’t heard anything and the reply asked me to send proof of ownership, which I did.

I had already enclosed a copy of the V5 with the OBU. I still heard nothing and chased again and then just before Christmas received the OBU box back with an attached sticker marked that the box had not been claimed.

On emailing Myto cz again to ask it what was going on, the reply was that the customs duty hadn’t been paid. Nowhere in the process was there any mention of customs duty.

I have been in touch with the London office of the Czech Tourist Office, which has done what it can to help by contacting the OBU issuer, but we have had no more success in resolving the matter.

After several communications, the company’s current position is that it is the responsibility of the vehicle operator to know the rules.

I have asked if customs duty is actually payable, as I can’t understand why it is on an item being returned to a Czech organisation that owns it. I can’t even get an answer to that question, the response being that I should find out from UPS or DHL.

What a ridiculous situation. My advice – don’t visit Czechia in a 3.5-tonne-plus motorhome.

Trevor Smith