Parcel Lost in the System

[FrankieInOz]

Hi
I hope that you can help me because I think that you are my last hope!

I live in Australia and own a Citroën C3. I love my car but it's really expensive and hard to get parts out here so when the tail light cover came off the easiest place to find one was a company called nicedeals.co.uk. To be fair they did deliver the second item I asked for.
Unfortunately, despite photographs and descriptions, they managed to send me the wrong side tail light - probably something to do with lack of attention to detail and driving on the right...

Anyway, they took very little interest in fixing it, which I'm sure won't surprise you. They even suggested it would be easier if I sold it over here and used the proceeds to buy the right one from them! Grudgingly they conceded that if I returned the item and it actually turned out to be their mistake they would replace it, but refused to even discuss reimbursing postage until that point.
As the point for me was fixing my car I returned the part, and paid for tracking to ensure that when it was delivered they couldn't deny having received it. I probably should have sent it registered but the cost was already high, that wouldn't be reimbursed for sure and I didn't really think this would go walkabout; I only wanted the company to be forced into admitting that they had it.

Well you guessed it! The parcel never showed up. When I followed up the Tracking Number LK901542492AU it told me that the parcel had been 'received and awaiting clearance for delivery' in Langley HWDC. This was on 31/01/13 at 1600 (that may be Australian time, UK time would be 31/01/13 0400?). Since then I have been trying to find it. Both sides of the postal system (Australian and UK) are dead ends. Australia say that I need to follow it up with the UK, and I have never received any response to my enquires from the UK. Australia went so far as to suggest that I find someone in the UK to call them on my behalf! I did ask the company for help but I don't feel that they much of an effort, if any. I have submitted a complaint to Australia Post here without any joy so far. I was finally hoping that it would be sent back to me if it wasn't delivered but nothing so far. I had pretty much given up when I found your forum.

Hence the plea for help!
- Why was my parcel never 'cleared for delivery' from the look of it?
- Is there anything you can advise me to do? Perhaps check with the Belfast Office? If so what's the best way please?

This status has never changed until today when I checked again. It's now saying the Tracking Number shows 0 results - this is probably because I have been trying to find someone to help me look for it for so long it's now dropped out.

Any help or advice you can give me would be gratefully received, even if it's only a gentle hint to give it up!

Thanks

Frankie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

09/05/13 12:05 RETURNED TO CO BRADFORD SOUTH PDO
31/01/13 16:00 COLLECTED HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

Looks like its on its way back to you ?

[FrankieInOz]

http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails

09/05/13 12:05 RETURNED TO CO BRADFORD SOUTH PDO
31/01/13 16:00 COLLECTED HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

Looks like its on its way back to you ?

Thank you TrueBlue.

The parcel hasn't shown up yet here; although I'm assuming it could take 6 weeks or more to make it back. Is there anything else I can do or anyone I can contact to ensure it does actually get back to me?

It's also interesting that this record reads collected on 31/1, I'm assuming that doesn't mean that the sender collected it but that it was collected as part of the distribution process?

Rgds

Frankie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Now its getting strange http://auspost.com.au/track/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; shows that number as having delivery attempted from Bradford South Delivery Office on that day. Its all very confusing.

However if the AusPost scan is correct then it might be worth checking with the receiver to see if they collected them since the 9th.

If they haven't then its possible its being returned back to you only recently as they should wait 18 days before they do, but it can be longer if they are understaffed in Bradford South DO.

might be worth sending a request to @royalmail on twitter - they are usually pretty good though they operate on UK hours 9 - 5 (5 days a week) rather than 24/7.