I recently received a note from the Louisiana Department of Revenue. It lists a long list of alleged deliveries at my home from Thomson Cigar Company. They want me to pay tax on the purchases (20% excise tax, plus 4% sales tax). Their estimate of the purchases is about a factor of 10 larger than what I normally pay. They want me to produce invoices for all the purchases going back to 2003.
My question is: how do they get this information? Thomson Cigar claims it did not give them the information. Could they get it from UPS?
I understand that every package UPS,or FedEx handles is 1st put in their computer, (for tracking). If the state should ask for any information; the company can just look at your address and then gives them a list of everything. If the company doesn't , it will lose its license to move freight inside the state.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bones,
Bones
If you bitch, some politcian will hear you, and God help the rest of us..
Posts: 329 | Location: Back in Califorina | Registered: March 26, 2006
I'm not surprized, that you have hit a blank wall. All three would give you up in a second, but won't admit it...
Maybe you should just ask the state, maybe they might, want to brag a little bit. Tell them it would be impossible that the cigars were sent to you, "who said so?"...
I assume you didn't brag to anyone about getting a super deal on your cigars on-line, right?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bones,
Bones
If you bitch, some politcian will hear you, and God help the rest of us..
Posts: 329 | Location: Back in Califorina | Registered: March 26, 2006
It would be interesting to find out if the responsible party who furnished your personal information to the LA Department of Revenue violated it's own Privacy Policy or somehow infringed your privacy rights.
At the very least, I think you should have been given the opportunity to quash the LA Department of Revenue's information/subpoena request for your personal identifiable information...
"Professionals built the Titanic, amateurs built the Ark"
Posts: 87 | Location: Orange County, CA | Registered: April 22, 2006
Originally posted by CajunPiper: They want me to produce invoices for all the purchases going back to 2003.
Wouldn't that be self incrimination? if they have proof then so be it, but how do they know you didn't buy humidors or cutters. Isn't the proof on there shoulders. If they do have proof of your purchases then only the merchant would be able to have provided the exacts, not the cc or ups/fedx
Life ISN'T like a box of Chocolates...it's more like a Jar of Jalapenos, What you do today might burn your ass tomorrow
Posts: 381 | Location: South of the Manson-Nixon line | Registered: June 13, 2003
Yesterday I got a form letter from Thompson Cigar. They claim that "a common carrier's records" were subpoenaed and that was how the state got the information.
Originally posted by CajunPiper: Yesterday I got a form letter from Thompson Cigar. They claim that "a common carrier's records" were subpoenaed and that was how the state got the information.
I'd consult an attorney. You might also find some useful information from these 2 sites:
From what I gathered from the UPS site it looks like the vendor is obliagated to help the shiper in selling are butts out.
quote:
We collect and store information about every package we handle so that we can efficiently provide the package delivery services demanded by our customers. We use information about our customers, their packages, and their shipping activity to provide or enhance the services we make available to our customers, communicate with our customers about additional services they may find of value, satisfy our legitimate business interests (including performing trend analysis and market studies), set prices, establish credit, fulfill a Contract of Carriage or Service Agreement, accomplish the billing function, and comply with government regulations. Although government regulations vary in the many countries in which we operate, they frequently include the reporting of information to transportation, safety, customs, and other regulatory agencies.
As we collect and use information about our customers, we may contract with vendors to assist us in processing that information for those purposes listed in the previous paragraph. These vendors are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information and are restricted from using the information for any other purpose. In addition, as UPS continues to develop its business, we may buy or sell subsidiaries or business units. As part of these transactions, customer information of the subsidiaries or business units may be one of the transferred assets.
Put it all together when vendor ships they agree to all of that above. the vendor could be made to help the shipper in giving big brother what they want. The vendor this time I bet was not made to give away your info but maybe that would have been cheeper. All i can say is the next earthquake California has I bet they'll start this crap too. Big brother is great at finding there money.
