Returned international package - no tracking in UK

[PeterR]

Hello, the package LE461413409GB is being returned to me from USA after being sent to an obscure rural address which was both incorrect (wrong "city"/ZIP combination), and does not have USPS postal delivery, only courier delivery (for instance UPS - one wonders whether or not the confusion between these two acronyms is intentional).

Royal Mail's tracking shows nothing since the failed delivery in USA on 2 January. The last tracking as shown at USPS and Parcelsapp says:
Your item departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND on January 9, 2025 at 10:24 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

Why doesn't this track within the UK? Does it have to go to purgatory (Belfast, and no, I'm not Catholic) before getting back to me, and how long is it likely to take? I ask because the customer with the questionable address is keen to know what's happening. He's asked me to resend it to an alternative, urban address at his expense.

Kind regards

Peter

[SpacePhoenix]

USPS scan all items before they hand them over to UK customs, so it's probably stuck in UK customs

[Snaggletooth]

It should only go to the NRC in Belfast if there is no return address on the outside. That is because nobody else is allowed to look inside the parcel to look for clues as to who it might belong to. If that is what is happening then it is the lowest priority mail for RM, so will get dealt with when they have the time.

[Snaggletooth]

USPS scan all items before they hand them over to UK customs, so it's probably stuck in UK customs

The tracking suggests it hasn’t even got that far. But like the UK, RTS is probably a very low priority for USPS.

[PeterR]

The package arrived back with us today. It was not tracked at all within the UK.

[saumunda]

I have send parcel to India but it was returned from India on 03/Jan/2025 but not yet received back to Uk my tracking no is UB813451884GB

[Snaggletooth]

I have send parcel to India but it was returned from India on 03/Jan/2025 but not yet received back to Uk my tracking no is UB813451884GB

Did you write your return address on the outside of the package?

[saumunda]

I sent parcel to India but it was returned from India on 03/Jan/2025 but has not yet been received back to UK my tracking no is UB813451884GB

Did you write your return address on the outside of the package?

[/quote]

Yes I have written on it but It was sent back from India to the United Kingdom not yet received in UK it was departed on 03/jan/2025 from delhi India not yet updates of it how can i track it now [/quote]

[Snaggletooth]

Items marked as “return to sender” and carrying the sender’s address on the outside, the item should go back to the sender eventually. This will be a low priority for postal services.

I can’t see anything in the tracking to indicate that this item got any further than Sheffield. Why do you think this was returned by India?

You should make a lost parcel claim with Royal Mail, if you are the sender.