Parcel stuck at customs WB627960820GB

[DisgruntledGoat]

So I ordered a blu-ray from WowHD in America. Normally the parcels get here very quickly, but this particular one has been at Customs since the end of May.

I've had no correspondence from Customs to suggest there is an issue with the item in question -WowHD sorts out VAT, the film itself is a Japanese action movie. The sender has told me the item is "lost in transit" and has now shipped a replacement, but I think that may just be their normal response to this sort of thing happening.

I rang HMRC late June (4th week) who actually put me through to Borderforce (!) who were all "How did you get this number", then said that they could see the item was awaiting clearance and should take no longer than 5 weeks. Well, it's now six weeks and for all I know that was just their normal response to this sort of thing happening!

My question is: assuming there is nothing wrong with the parcel and it's just been taken for routine inspection, how long do items take to clear customs these days? Is there quite a backlog? And if the item has been seized for some issue, how long should it take from customs seizing the parcel to sending out some sort of communication to me?

[SpacePhoenix]

The tracking number that you've posted is a RM one. it sounds like they ship multiple orders in bulk as one big order to a warehouse somewhere. In that warehouse they'll break that massive bulk order down into the individual orders and then the individual orders will enter RM's system

[DisgruntledGoat]

The tracking number that you've posted is a RM one. it sounds like they ship multiple orders in bulk as one big order to a warehouse somewhere. In that warehouse they'll break that massive bulk order down into the individual orders and then the individual orders will enter RM's system

Thanks. This is the first time I've seen customs in the tracking so it looks unusual.

Do you think it's with Royal Mail again and therefore has got lost there?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The tracking number that you've posted is a RM one. it sounds like they ship multiple orders in bulk as one big order to a warehouse somewhere. In that warehouse they'll break that massive bulk order down into the individual orders and then the individual orders will enter RM's system

Thanks. This is the first time I've seen customs in the tracking so it looks unusual.

Do you think it's with Royal Mail again and therefore has got lost there?

Unlikely unless it got lost at the first scan point as it should be rescanned on release. Your best option is to advise the sender sometimes that seems to clear the problem. I would also fill out a complaint form as this also helps.

[DisgruntledGoat]

The tracking number that you've posted is a RM one. it sounds like they ship multiple orders in bulk as one big order to a warehouse somewhere. In that warehouse they'll break that massive bulk order down into the individual orders and then the individual orders will enter RM's system

Thanks. This is the first time I've seen customs in the tracking so it looks unusual.

Do you think it's with Royal Mail again and therefore has got lost there?

Unlikely unless it got lost at the first scan point as it should be rescanned on release. Your best option is to advise the sender sometimes that seems to clear the problem. I would also fill out a complaint form as this also helps.

Thank you. Who would the complaint be with?

[DisgruntledGoat]

Also, is it know if there is a general backlog problem at Customs?

[Snaggletooth]

There is no such thing as an average clearance time. But also, your item isn’t even coming through the mail part of customs, it is using the weird container route, so really hard for anyone on here to comment.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The tracking number that you've posted is a RM one. it sounds like they ship multiple orders in bulk as one big order to a warehouse somewhere. In that warehouse they'll break that massive bulk order down into the individual orders and then the individual orders will enter RM's system

Thanks. This is the first time I've seen customs in the tracking so it looks unusual.

Do you think it's with Royal Mail again and therefore has got lost there?

Unlikely unless it got lost at the first scan point as it should be rescanned on release. Your best option is to advise the sender sometimes that seems to clear the problem. I would also fill out a complaint form as this also helps.

Thank you. Who would the complaint be with?

Royal Mail, although it won't be a complaint really just a means of entering the details on the database in case it turns up at the returns parcel section. This happens when an address is unreadable or it can't be delivered, you filling out a claim will help them.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consu ... acked%2024'.

[DisgruntledGoat]

thank you for your help everyone.

It's interesting how inconsistent the tracking is from order to order. This one shows Heathrow and customs, but my next order from WOWHD, which got to me fine, only shows my local RM depot on the tracking.

[DisgruntledGoat]

No luck making a claim with Royal Mail, apparently the sender has to do that and they seem satisfied dealing with the US courier RR Donnelly.

7 weeks now and no sign of the parcel, or any communication from Customs...so I assume there isn't a problem per se with it.

[DisgruntledGoat]

Still no sign of it

[Snaggletooth]

7 weeks now and no sign of the parcel, or any communication from Customs...so I assume there isn't a problem per se with it.

Customs never contact the addressee. If there is a customs charge then they will get Royal Mail to send out a card requesting payment. In other circumstances there won’t be any contact at all.