Shopping British Army base

Hi there, do I have to be in the Army to do a little shopping ( food ) in the Army Base in Mönchengladbach ? Or can I just wave my passport to get in ??

Stephen

Hmmm I am not sure but think you have to be in the army!

This one has been discussed before I know!

Maybe, but I only joined the BB this week, so I have got a good excuse for asking silly questions that have already been asked b4

Stephen

Almost, try the search function though, you may find something interesting on the subject.. on the other hand I often search for threads I know are there but still can't find them.

@ far-lands I didn't think your question was silly! Was just saying from what I can remember from a post long ago that you need to be in the army!

@ muffin:
I was just fooling around a little, no offence taken
I was just wondering about the fact, as I will be visiting a friend in Erkelenz in september and wondered if I couold do a little shopping on the way ...

Stephen

Under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). You either have to be a member of HM Forces, A Forces Dependant or United Kingdom Based Civilian (UKBC) working with the MoD to be able to shop in the NAAFI. This is usually strictly enforced and NAAFI Staff are instructed to check ID Cards and NAAFI Shopping Permits. Even Army personnel that are normally based in the UK and visit Germany on Exercise are not allowed access to the Duty Free goods. This restriction also applies to ex soldiers that live in Germany.

To be honest you're not really missing a great deal. I found that the prices in the NAAFI were far more expensive than in the German Shops even though they are Mstr free.

If the Thread was in "Miscellaneous and Random Chat" then they are moved to an archive after a certain time. These archives can only be accessed by Britboard Supporters.

Having said that, I also have the impression that the Search function leaves something to be desired.

As Dusty said no you are not allowed. You can of course try and if you do get caught can be fined.

Has your friend just moved back to Erkelenz?

Somewhere I know very well...

I didn't want to buy DutyFree goods, just a few british goodies that you cant get over here. Thats all ...

@bulldog - No, he has lived there for a long time. He's German.

Stephen

So it is someone else then..

Sorry mate. The rules are straight forwarded. I fall into the same category. This link may help with British Goods.

http://www.rblpaderborn.netfirms.com/subpa...h_Shops_in_NRW_

You would be doing yourselve's (and me )a favour by not shopping in Naafi. They are the biggest load of lazy, exploitative, shits iv'e ever had the displeasure to work for. As we speak i'm not getting any unemployment money here in Germany, all because Naafi are too god damn lazy and ignorant to contact me, or HM Customs and Revenue in the UK. Without form E301 which the Arbeitsamt require from me ,i can't receive so much as a cent in Arbeitslosengeld and i'm having too borrow money off of people to pay rent etc.
How fucking long does it take to tell HM Customs and Revenue how much money i used too earn?. Certainley not 3 months!!!
Your local friendly Naafi folks, remember that if you ever have the stupidity too shop there!!!

I walked right into the PX near Würzburg and shopped away. Nobody said a thing or checked any ID. No problem. Maybe I got lucky (and this was pre 9/11), but I got the feeling that noone really cares (and why would those working there unless they were under strict orders).

Just to try and keep some sort of balance here I have to say I never had a problem working for them. Rather enjoyed myself actually.

you obviously never worked at Muenster Naafi for Miss Piggy then? The highest staff turn over known to mankind. As for my earlier rant. Naafi UK, Naafi HR in Moenchengladbach and Naafi Muenster are ALL guilty of ignorance. That's why i have to borrow money off of people. As for the staff, like everywhere else some were nice and hard working, others total melingering twats

That is terrible...is there nobody else you could approach about this?

That is true

For some reason American Forces have a different agreement. I know a few ex american soldiers that have been given an ID Card when the left the US Army and have the priveledge of being allowed to shop in the PX.

Dave,

Get a job mate!!!

Dusty, retirees can still shop in the PX they just have to voluntarily (yeah right!) pay VAT to the zollamt once a quarter. If you are medically retired you can also use the facilities.


I think you'd have a problem doing that now. There are security and MP's on the bases now with an electronic base entry system. The reason civilians can't shop on the base is to do with customs as everything is VAT exempt and the German Govt. have a problem with all that tax revenue that would be lost if everyone could shop there. You aren't missing much anyway. I tend to shop off the base 99% of the time