Parcel "On Its Way To GLS" for over a month

[234618508734]

Hello forum members,

A Deutsche Post registered parcel was sent to me--in Luxembourg--on the 16th of July. After about 2 weeks had elapsed, and no sign of the parcel, I decided to have a look on a couple of track and trace websites. Deutsche Post's states that the parcel arrived in the destination country (Luxembourg) on the 20th of July; however, DHL says that it arrived in the United Kingdom on the 20th of July. Thinking the item might have been mistakenly sent to the UK, I decided to check Royal Mail's website--and indeed, the item was scanned at Heathrow Worldwide DC. Here are all the entries from Royal Mail's track and trace site:

Tracking number: RB392438014DE

21/08/15 AM ON ITS WAY TOGLS LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG
23/07/15 AM ON ITS WAY TOGLS LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG
20/07/15 13:27 ARRIVED IN THE UK HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

From the looks of things, the package was mistakenly sent to the UK, where it was processed at Heathrow Worldwide DC and forwarded to Luxembourg, arriving on the 23rd of July. As you can all see, no scans after that for about a month, then another scan with the same status of "On Its Way To GLS Luxembourg".

I have plugged my tracking number into GLS Europe's site and nothing comes up, leading me to believe that it hasn't arrived at their depot yet. I phoned them up too, and they confirmed that they have no trace of it in their system. The national postal service, Post Luxembourg, has no information either--which is expected, as GLS deals with items sent 'by Royal Mail', not Post Luxembourg. Both the sender and I filed search requests before the 30-day deadline, but we have not heard back yet from Deutsch Post as to the outcome of their investigation. Compensation is in any case of less interest to me, as the item is irreplaceable, being personal photographic negatives.

I'd be interested to know what any of you think might be going on, and any ideas as to why the parcel doesn't seem to be moving. I find it especially bizarre--and somewhat promising--that after a month of no activity, the item was scanned again with the same status.

Regards.

[Snaggletooth]

At the start, it was almost certainly put on the wrong plane: that does happen, but it's interesting to see it in another country!

A question to the Royal Mail employees on here: the item arrived in the UK via Deutshe Post / DHL, but it was forwarded via GLS, could that be the problem? I.e. it is being sent on via a different mail system to the original one?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

My guess is that its caught in a loop.

DP sent it to us in error, so RM send it back. However the only way we deliver stuff in Europe is GLS. GLS won't be paid to deliver it as they don't have a contract/agreement with DP so the send it back to the UK having no way to send it to the German or Belgique Postal service. We get it, try to send it back, but as RM only have GLS delivering in Europe.................. and so it just bounces around.

[234618508734]

Thanks for those very informative replies!

Yes, had the parcel taken its normal course to Luxembourg, it would have been passed on to the national Luxembourgish postal network--they confirmed as much when I phoned them up. That idea of a loop seems spot on. Any ideas on a way I could potentially break that loop, by somehow 'intercepting it' at a certain point? I have relatives in the UK who, I'm sure, would be more than happy for me to send it there--does a phone call or email to Heathrow Worldwide DC telling them to redirect it to a UK address seem feasible? Just thinking off the top of my head now. Otherwise, intercept it on this side of The Channel before it gets 'On Its Way To GLS'?

[234618508734]

Just a quick update. I checked the Royal Mail tracking site again this morning, and there was another "On Its Way To GLS Luxembourg" scan yesterday, seemingly confirming the idea of a postal loop. The tracking page now reads as follows:

02/09/15 PM ON ITS WAY TOGLS LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG
21/08/15 AM ON ITS WAY TOGLS LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG
23/07/15 AM ON ITS WAY TOGLS LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG
20/07/15 13:27 ARRIVED IN THE UK HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

As per my previous post, any ideas of a way to get it out of this loop would be most welcome.

Regards.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

you could try the Royal Mail Twitter account @royalmail - they are very proactive and might be able to come up with something.

[234618508734]

you could try the Royal Mail Twitter account @royalmail - they are very proactive and might be able to come up with something.

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, they say I have to contact Deutsche Post and that they can't do anything their end. They were, however, very quick to reply and amiable.

[234618508734]

I just had a thought: If the package was being sent back and forth between Luxembourg and the UK, wouldn't there be an entry for "Heathrow Worldwide DC" every time? It seems odd that there wouldn't be.