Saying that he sympathized with many of the complaints brought against the customs brokers exam, Walter Corley, the U.S. Custom’s Service ombudsman, told attendees of an Atlanta Women in International Trade (AWIT) luncheon Feb. 21 that he would carefully monitor new procedures in administering the test.
As ombudsman, Mr. Corley is to help resolve complaints affecting customs managers throughout the country. The brokers exam, he said, has been one of the hottest issues he has faced, even prompting a suit brought against the Service by the Los Angeles chapter of Women in International Trade.
In the past the exam was both prepared and administered by the Service, but beginning in April these responsibilities are to be transferred to the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Personnel and Management.
The WIT suit claims, he said, that the exams were inconsistent from exam to exam and confusing. He added that they have traditionally had a pass rate of less than 20%, below that of the bar exams.
He encouraged the AWIT members to contact his office concerning this exam or any other issue involving the Service, and may be reached at (202) 927-1440; fax, (202) 927-1969.