The Cayman Islands Customs Department is forging ahead with its mission to streamline its operations and enhance its customer service.
As part of this effort, the department has announced that debit and credit card payments are now being accepted at all its duty collection locations. Accepted payments include cash, personal cheques and now all major credit or debit cards – with the exception of American Express.
Previously, only the airport collection counter accepted card payments but now the service has been expanded across all outlets. The latest additions include the ocean freight collections unit on Portland Drive, located behind the Port Authority’s billing offices, which is primarily for processing imports via ocean and the Customs Headquarters, located next to Cayman Airways Cargo on Owen Roberts Drive, which caters primarily to clearing goods arriving by air.
The dual locations give the added benefit of importers being able to complete their customs clearance and pay import duties just yards away from where their goods are to be collected. However, Customs Finance Manager Mitzi Watson-Jervis has also emphasised that the services received at both facilities are non-exclusive; therefore imports via air or ocean can be processed and paid for at both facilities.
Mrs. Watson-Jervis was encouraged by the positive feedback the department has received since the introduction of the acceptance of card payments at the airport terminal and noted that it was inevitable that the option be expanded throughout the department. The convenience and benefits of accepting the cards are also felt on the department’s administrative side as such payments will reduce the frequency of returned cheques. “So it’s a win-win situation for all,” Mrs. Watson-Jervis added.
The Collector of Customs, Mr. Carlon Powery, JP, agreed with the positive sentiments.
“We aim to enhance customer service by streamlining the process while at the same time removing inefficiencies. I am delighted that we have made this improvement at all our collection units,” he said.
