Express parcel mysteriously stuck in Birmingham

[posterdude]

Hello,
I shipped a parcel as International Express Mail from Spain to Smethwick on September 8th. Tracking on Royal Mail shows that it arrived at the Birmingham mail centre on the 16th but no new info has been updated since.

The tracking number is LX115132283ES

I suspect foul play or something by the person that is supposed to receive the package since he estarted a Paypal case against me just two days after I shipped the parcel. I need to know if the parcel in question has been delivered or if it's at least being returned to me. My local post office has send a query to Royal Mail but no answer so far. This has never happened to me before.

Could someone please give me any extra information?

[SpacePhoenix]

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

Date Time Status Track point
16/09/15 04:22 ARRIVED ATBIRMINGHAM MAIL CENTRE BIRMINGHAM MAIL CENTRE
16/09/15 04:11 ON ITS WAY TOSMETHWICK PDO BIRMINGHAM MAIL CENTRE
15/09/15 11:43 ON ITS WAY TOBIRMINGHAM MAIL CENTRE HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC
15/09/15 10:59 ARRIVED IN THE UK HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

It's at Smethwick delivery office, there's probably a customs charge to be paid. You need to contact Smethwick delivery office today, items are only held at a delivery office for 18 days before they are returned to sender

[posterdude]

It's imposible for there to be any customs charges since it was shipped from inside the Europea Union. Could it be that the buyer has asked for it to be retained or something?

[Snaggletooth]

Just a thought, but under what circumstances would there be a customs charge on an item coming from Spain? The only thing I can think of is if the sender is in the Canaries and therefore outside the EU.

I wonder if the buyer has changed their mind about the purchase shortly after you dispatched it, and has now opened a claim and not attempted to collect from the delivery office in an attempt to get a refund. As the seller, you should be able to resist this for a time on the basis that you have a tracking number. Ask the buyer to visit the delivery office to collect the item: tell them that they need to take ID (passport or driving licence) and make sure you get a record of their response to use in the eBay case.

[posterdude]

The guy tried to make me ship the item to a different address, against PayPal protección rules, so the whole think smells fishy. I'm afraid he'll try to get the refund and then go to pick up the item.