Outbound HWDC Processing Times?

andonym · Post by **andonym** » 18 Sep 2017, 21:32

Hi all,

Don't want to badger anyone with hopeless questions - but...

A sender in Bristol has posted a parcel to me with its destination: Canada. It's been stuck at HWDC Arrival since 09/09/17.

Now, I've read through this forum history so I'm well aware of the delays associated with HWDC. My question is - isn't this abnormal for outbound shipments to be delayed? - as there is no reason it has to be processed by Customs Agents outbound? My only logical answer to explain this limbo status is that someone missed the scan going outbound from HWDC. But if this is the case, the whole service to end-to-end tracking is useless - is it not? Particularly if the destination country does not use this number for domestic tracking (CanadaPost, and it does not recognize my tracking number as a service it will track).

If it didn't miss the outbound scan - and it is stuck, what does the worst case processing time look like?

Many Thanks for your attention!

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 18 Sep 2017, 21:45

andonym wrote:Hi all,

Don't want to badger anyone with hopeless questions - but...

A sender in Bristol has posted a parcel to me with its destination: Canada. It's been stuck at HWDC Arrival since 09/09/17.

Now, I've read through this forum history so I'm well aware of the delays associated with HWDC. My question is - isn't this abnormal for outbound shipments to be delayed? - as there is no reason it has to be processed by Customs Agents outbound? My only logical answer to explain this limbo status is that someone missed the scan going outbound from HWDC. But if this is the case, the whole service to end-to-end tracking is useless - is it not? Particularly if the destination country does not use this number for domestic tracking (CanadaPost, and it does not recognize my tracking number as a service it will track).

If it didn't miss the outbound scan - and it is stuck, what does the worst case processing time look like?

Many Thanks for your attention!

Its probably not stuck in HWDC but at Customs in Canada. Unfortunately, as you know they have some of the strictest postal regulations and import ones as well.

Also, end to end tracking comes with only a few international services Royal Mail do. If the tracking number is in the International format
XX0000 0000 0GB then Canada Post should be able to track it.

If you want to post the tracking number here and we can check the Public sites outputs for it. We aren't an official site so we don't have access to any sensitive information.

andonym · Post by **andonym** » 19 Sep 2017, 01:25

Hi TrueBlue Terrier,

Thanks for the reply. Tracking number is RNXXXXXXXXXGB. There's no need to run the tracking number to enlighten me - i've exhausted most of the publicly available sites to glean more info (to no avail). Unless you have secret tools up your sleeves.

What was weird, was in the initial days of transit - I plugged the tracking number into CanadaPost's site, and it gave me a different message than I am getting now. To the effect: this tracking number does not provide comprehensive tracking service (not exact words). I've seen this message before, and it usually comes up when the service is inexpensive, and when CanadaPost decides to ultimately slap on their own domestic tracking number when it enters Canada (rendering the original RoyalMail # useless).

If it doesn't get scanned again - it won't until it arrives at my door. Canadapost usually posts international tracking history before the parcel arrives at customs. Usually worded as: Item posted in origin country.

Also, you're right - forgot to mention, the parcel was sent International Track & Signed (which claims to have the end-to-end service).

Sigh.

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
andonym wrote:Hi all,

Don't want to badger anyone with hopeless questions - but...

A sender in Bristol has posted a parcel to me with its destination: Canada. It's been stuck at HWDC Arrival since 09/09/17.

Now, I've read through this forum history so I'm well aware of the delays associated with HWDC. My question is - isn't this abnormal for outbound shipments to be delayed? - as there is no reason it has to be processed by Customs Agents outbound? My only logical answer to explain this limbo status is that someone missed the scan going outbound from HWDC. But if this is the case, the whole service to end-to-end tracking is useless - is it not? Particularly if the destination country does not use this number for domestic tracking (CanadaPost, and it does not recognize my tracking number as a service it will track).

If it didn't miss the outbound scan - and it is stuck, what does the worst case processing time look like?

Many Thanks for your attention!
Its probably not stuck in HWDC but at Customs in Canada. Unfortunately, as you know they have some of the strictest postal regulations and import ones as well.

Also, end to end tracking comes with only a few international services Royal Mail do. If the tracking number is in the International format
XX0000 0000 0GB then Canada Post should be able to track it.

If you want to post the tracking number here and we can check the Public sites outputs for it. We aren't an official site so we don't have access to any sensitive information.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 19 Sep 2017, 07:24

Ask the sender where on the package they located the sender's address. I believe that Canadian Customs insist on the sender's address always being on the front of the item

andonym · Post by **andonym** » 19 Sep 2017, 16:10

I guess I am wondering if it was quite common that missing the outbound scan (departing HWDC) is a very common occurrence?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 19 Sep 2017, 17:28

It may be that the item is suspected to contain something that falls foul of the Dangerous Goods Act and has joined a queue for more thorough checks. What is inside the package?

andonym · Post by **andonym** » 19 Sep 2017, 19:52

Not dangerous at all - just a very expensive article of clothing from a small independent vendor.

Snaggletooth wrote:It may be that the item is suspected to contain something that falls foul of the Dangerous Goods Act and has joined a queue for more thorough checks. What is inside the package?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 20 Sep 2017, 07:46

That is very unlikely to be even suspected of being dangerous.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 20 Sep 2017, 14:47

I think you need to contact the sender and get them to chase it now.

You could also try twitter as RM have a good customer service reputation on that platform - however it tends to only operate during UK office hours.

@royalmail

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 20 Sep 2017, 14:48

I think you need to contact the sender and get them to chase it now.

You could also try twitter as RM have a good customer service reputation on that platform - however it tends to only operate during UK office hours.

@royalmail

andonym · Post by **andonym** » 20 Sep 2017, 18:40

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm going to wait till the start of next week, in hopes that it is delivered then (or starts tracking in Canada) - since it was initially posted Sept 8. I don't think 12 business days is too long to wait for end-to-end delivery. I'm just miffed at the information given on it's status. Is it true? Is it false?

Anyway, is there a consensus? Missed outbound scan?