Post To USA Stuck At Heathrow

Dynastyjim · Post by **Dynastyjim** » 25 Jan 2016, 16:48

I have tried tracking the item through USPS but unfortunately it comes back as not found. I am starting to wonder if it is possible that maybe it has been put in with items that are International economy or another service that doesn't provide tracking ? I cant see my item as been lost as Brian is also having the same problem and he sent his parcel a couple of days before me so the odds of that would be small.

Brian 62 · Post by **Brian 62** » 14 Mar 2016, 09:33

Well , here we are 8 weeks later. My parcel , posted International Tracked and Signed to California , is still at Heathrow!

I now assume it has been stolen by an employee.
This must be a huge problem at Heathrow D.C.

Why is it impossible to make an enquiry direct to Heathrow D.C., where most of our tracked and signed parcels '' Disappear'' They keep telling us about their incredible technology....lost for words.
What use is a call centre in Sunderland???

mrbob · Post by **mrbob** » 14 Mar 2016, 10:00

Trying to find out what happened to my package that is also at Heathrow. It was a broken pair of headphones sent off for repair with no value and declared for customs. It would be weird if they were stolen because of that. Although they were worth nothing to anyone else they were to me and I won't be getting any compensation now. Grrr.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 14 Mar 2016, 13:02

Brian 62 wrote:Well , here we are 8 weeks later. My parcel , posted International Tracked and Signed to California , is still at Heathrow!

You need to put in a claim form (P58International) as you are now in the time window for that. There is a time limit.

Brian 62 wrote:I now assume it has been stolen by an employee.
This must be a huge problem at Heathrow D.C.

Stuff being stolen is very rare. In fact, in all of the items discussed on this website over the years, I have never seen a tracked item which went missing like that: when we get a final answer on what happened, it's always something else. If you think about it, why would anyone steal a tracked item, which is kind of traceable, instead of a completely untraceable untracked item? But also, the vast majority of posties are very honest, bad eggs are few and far between, and it is far more likely for an item to get lost or mangled in the machinery. That goes double when you are sending a glass ball.

Brian 62 wrote:Why is it impossible to make an enquiry direct to Heathrow D.C., where most of our tracked and signed parcels '' Disappear'' They keep telling us about their incredible technology....lost for words.
What use is a call centre in Sunderland???

It isn't practical to physically search for every single item that goes missing - and if you aren't going to do that, what does it matter where the call centre is? Answering of calls is centralised because it aids the smooth running of the operation, and having it in places like Sunderland benefits both Royal Mail and the community up there, by providing jobs in an area with high unemployment.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 14 Mar 2016, 13:05

mrbob wrote:Trying to find out what happened to my package that is also at Heathrow. It was a broken pair of headphones sent off for repair with no value and declared for customs. It would be weird if they were stolen because of that. Although they were worth nothing to anyone else they were to me and I won't be getting any compensation now. Grrr.

Were they battery powered headphones? If so, did you put them in a hard box (not a jiffy bag), did you post them via a post office and did you include your name and address for return? Otherwise, there might be a dangerous goods act issue.

julian.mat · Post by **julian.mat** » 14 Mar 2016, 15:11

[quote="Snaggletooth"]Stuff being stolen is very rare. In fact, in all of the items discussed on this website over the years, I have never seen a tracked item which went missing like that: when we get a final answer on what happened, it's always something else. If you think about it, why would anyone steal a tracked item, which is kind of traceable, instead of a completely untraceable untracked item? But also, the vast majority of posties are very honest, bad eggs are few and far between, and it is far more likely for an item to get lost or mangled in the machinery. That goes double when you are sending a glass ball.

Hi. in fact i have a 77 days now that i'm expecting an item from UK and i have no answer from them. the sender put a claim and they only are saying the are investigating it and nothing more. in the tracking sites it shows only in transit RU741906836GB

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 14 Mar 2016, 15:51

"Investigate" just ,means that they will check some likely places (e.g. the dead letter centre) or in this case, ask the Albanian postal service. RM may well be waiting for a response from them.

If this is something you bought, you need to put in a claim for a refund ASAP, you may be running out of time. It's the seller's responsibility to get it to you, not RM, so the seller is obliged to refund you in line with their terms and conditions regardless of whether RM have got back to them or not.

julian.mat · Post by **julian.mat** » 14 Mar 2016, 15:56

Snaggletooth wrote:"Investigate" just ,means that they will check some likely places (e.g. the dead letter centre) or in this case, ask the Albanian postal service. RM may well be waiting for a response from them.

If this is something you bought, you need to put in a claim for a refund ASAP, you may be running out of time. It's the seller's responsibility to get it to you, not RM, so the seller is obliged to refund you in line with their terms and conditions regardless of whether RM have got back to them or not.

I did in fact and i'm waiting for a refund from the seller.

mrbob · Post by **mrbob** » 15 Mar 2016, 12:01

Snaggletooth wrote:
mrbob wrote:Trying to find out what happened to my package that is also at Heathrow. It was a broken pair of headphones sent off for repair with no value and declared for customs. It would be weird if they were stolen because of that. Although they were worth nothing to anyone else they were to me and I won't be getting any compensation now. Grrr.
Were they battery powered headphones? If so, did you put them in a hard box (not a jiffy bag), did you post them via a post office and did you include your name and address for return? Otherwise, there might be a dangerous goods act issue.

They were just the headphones in a new box wrapped in bubble wrap. No batteries inside. "From" address was on the label and it was mailed at the Post Office who filled out the appropriate customs declaration. I contacted the RM via twitter who told me it was on the way. After a bit more discourse they changed their mind to admitting they had no idea.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 15 Mar 2016, 14:40

OK, there should only be an issue with cordless headphones: unless RM are now stopping and checking all headphones to make sure that they are legal to fly.

It would be helpful if you could either post the item barcode number or copy and paste the tracking information into this thread.

mrbob · Post by **mrbob** » 15 Mar 2016, 23:31

The cord had been removed as it was detachable, but there are no electronics in the headphones at all. The tracking number is RN182223486GB and they were also off to sunny California.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 16 Mar 2016, 19:58

mrbob wrote:The cord had been removed as it was detachable, but there are no electronics in the headphones at all. The tracking number is RN182223486GB and they were also off to sunny California.

Yes, I've tried several likely sites and you are right, they haven't moved for 8 days. You could try calling RM and see if you can give them a prod (03457 740 740) or on Twitter. Otherwise, not much else you can do.

You said in an earlier post about not getting compensation: if RM have lost them then you will be able to claim the value of them back as long as that's within the value of the compensation level you paid for at the Post Office.

mrbob · Post by **mrbob** » 17 Mar 2016, 19:37

Thanks I gave them a call and they said it must be a barcode error and couldn't do any more but wait it out and give it 25 days. The thing is, because it's a repair I was advised at the post office not to put their actual value down so they didn't get a customs charge incurred when they get there. Hmph

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 17 Mar 2016, 22:23

mrbob wrote:The thing is, because it's a repair I was advised at the post office not to put their actual value down so they didn't get a customs charge incurred when they get there. Hmph

Did you refer to this with respect to a claim? If so, the customs form has no bearing at all on what you can claim. You can claim up to 50 £ as standard or up to 500 £ if you paid for the extra compensation. The crucial thing is what's on your receipt from the Post Office.

mrbob · Post by **mrbob** » 01 Apr 2016, 15:44

I'd all but given up hope, but I got a confirmation from the recipient that they'd finally got it! 3 weeks, but phew. Now it's return is stuck at Stansted but at least I've learnt to be a bit more patient.

I'd been originally told to send it as a repair of no value so the company wouldn't have to pay customs on their side. I wasn't made aware I could insure it for more than that claim - I assumed it would just look suspicious. It is being sent back in the same manner.

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