Left Heathrow, now stuck at sorting office?

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 08 Jan 2016, 14:11

I know Xmas backlog and all that, but when is it time to complain?

My parcel made it in record time from the US to the UK and passed Heathrow customs in 24 hrs. Since then it is sitting at a "sorting office". How long should I wait before I complain?

1/2/2016 4:21 AM In Sorting Facility UNITED KINGDOM
1/1/2016 7:06 PM In Sorting Facility UNITED KINGDOM
1/1/2016 12:27 PM Departed Processing Center London,
12/31/2015 5:38 PM Departed Processing Center Los Angeles,
12/30/2015 7:53 PM In Sorting Facility ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS),
12/30/2015 6:00 PM Departed Processing Center Bell, CA
12/30/2015 5:41 PM Parcel Order Manifested , Ready For Export Bell, CA
12/29/2015 10:53 PM Parcel Order Scanned Bell, CA
12/23/2015 4:02 PM Parcel Data Received, Shipment In Route To US Export Warehouse

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 08 Jan 2016, 18:59

What tracking entries are there when the tracking number is tried at http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 09 Jan 2016, 00:09

It's not at a sort office, no way was any mail delivered to sorting offices on 1st Jan, if anything it was at a mail centre and not your local sorting office

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 09 Jan 2016, 13:55

I am guessing thats a USPS item, they scan it at Heathrow which shows as "processing centre" is and then passed to Customs for checking and that shows as "Sorting Facility".

Without the tracking code its impossible to say if it has passed through Customs and on to Royal Mail. All the Customer can do is to be patient as it can take ages to go through Customs.

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 09 Jan 2016, 14:12

Royal mail says this:

LX228750852US

02/01/16 04:21 ON ITS WAY TOEASTERN CENTRAL CITY HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC
01/01/16 19:06 ARRIVED IN THE UK HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

so it is somewhere on the road from Heathrow to my local sorting office.... are they walking?

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 09 Jan 2016, 15:44

It's still in customs both those scans are at Heathrow, the next scan will be(if there is another scan) at a mail centre, it could take several weeks (4 to 6 are not uncommon unfortunately) for it to clear customs, if there is any import tax etc to pay you may get a grey surcharge card posted to you detailing the fees ro pay before you will get the item

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 09 Jan 2016, 16:53

But it shows it has passed customs? It says en route to sorting office

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 09 Jan 2016, 17:03

SabineH wrote:But it shows it has passed customs? It says en route to sorting office

it does not say it's going to a sorting office, both the scan on the royal mail website clearly state the scans took place at Heathrow, when there is another scan at a different location then it's moving, the scan does not say it's passed customs

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 18 Jan 2016, 17:09

Ok, this is really annoying now... still no movement. As per tracking, this is not in Customs, but has been handed over from customs to RM to deliver. No movement since - is the Xmas backlog still ongoing?

2016-01-02 04:21 UNITED KINGDOM, Processed Through Sort Facility, Your item was processed through a facility in UNITED KINGDOM on January 2, 2016 at 4:21 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.
2016-01-01 19:06 UNITED KINGDOM, Processed Through Sort Facility
2016-01-01 12:27 UNITED KINGDOM, London, Departed
2015-12-31 17:38 UNITED STATES, Los Angeles, Departed
2015-12-31 14:10 UNITED STATES, Los Angeles, Arrived
2015-12-30 19:53 ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), Processed Through Sort Facility
2015-12-30 19:53 ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), Arrived at Sort Facility

considering it hits 3 different points in the UK, this doesn't look to me as if it is still in customs - especially as it is a parcel with a value of below $15 and clearly marked as such. So why is it still sitting there?

Different tracking site:
30.12.2015 19:53 Arrived at sorting center Isc Los Angeles Ca (usps)
30.12.2015 19:53 Send item abroad (Export) Isc Los Angeles Ca (usps)
30.12.2015 21:11 Electronic notification of shipment Priority Mail International Parcel First-class Package International Service Langley Hwdc Great Britain (uk)
31.12.2015 14:10 Arrived at postal office United States Los Angeles
31.12.2015 17:38 Send item abroad (Export) United States Los Angeles
01.01.2016 12:27 Send item abroad (Export) United Kingdom London
01.01.2016 19:06 Import (Item arrived at country of destination) United Kingdom
02.01.2016 04:21 Import (Item arrived at country of destination) United Kingdom
01.01.2016 19:06 Import (Item arrived at country of destination) Heathrow Worldwide Dc
02.01.2016 04:21 Left postal office Heathrow Worldwide Dc

Does anyone know, if this is expected backlog, or if I should start to get worried? This is a subscription service which I receive every month. It normally takes 7 days door to door to arrive. If it is expected backlog still, does anyone know when things are back to normal?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 18 Jan 2016, 17:33

SabineH wrote:02/01/16 04:21 ON ITS WAY TOEASTERN CENTRAL CITY HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC
01/01/16 19:06 ARRIVED IN THE UK HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

Eastern Central City = Mount Pleasant, near Farringdon in London. Is this your local delivery office, if so, it might be worth asking them if they have it.

Another thought is that Mount Pleasant was the inbound customs point for the UK until 5-10 years ago. I suppose it is possible that HMRC have re-activated that customs operation to help with the backlog: this might explain the slightly unusual tracking info. Other customers on here are reporting several weeks to clear customs at the moment, including several who are waiting items from the USA (there are no official figures). If your parcel arrived at 19:06 on Friday 1st Jan (out of normal working hours and on a bank holiday to boot) it's unlikely that HMRC would have processed it by 04:21 on Saturday 2nd Jan.

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 18 Jan 2016, 17:44

Thank you Snaggletooth

Farringdon would be my local office (I assume so - I am in EC2A) - theoretically no customs is due on the parcel (it is only small as well) as it has a value of below $15.00 - and yes, I was rather positively surprised that my parcel moved on the 1st January, but assumed that was the USPS arrival scan in Heathrow.

This is a previous parcel tracking - which has a funny glitch as apparently Customs wasn't at home when it came off the plane :-) LX228645956US - so it looks like Farringdon is indeed my local delivery office.

02.12.2015 00:03 Send item abroad (Export) Isc Los Angeles Ca (usps)
02.12.2015 00:03 Arrived at sorting center Isc Los Angeles Ca (usps)
02.12.2015 01:48 Arrived at sorting center Isc Los Angeles Ca (usps)
02.12.2015 01:48 Send item abroad (Export) Isc Los Angeles Ca (usps)
02.12.2015 02:20 Electronic notification of shipment Priority Mail International Parcel Langley Hwdc Great Britain (uk)
02.12.2015 11:26 Arrived at postal office United States Los Angeles
02.12.2015 17:14 Send item abroad (Export) United States Los Angeles
03.12.2015 11:27 Send item abroad (Export) United Kingdom London
04.12.2015 04:23 Import (Item arrived at country of destination) United Kingdom
04.12.2015 00:41 Unsuccessful delivery attempt. Recipient absent United Kingdom
04.12.2015 04:23 Left postal office Heathrow Worldwide Dc Eastern Central City
05.12.2015 00:33 Arrival at delivery point Eastern Central City
05.12.2015 00:41 Arrival at delivery point
07.12.2015 02:09 Submitted for delivery Ec Official Pdo
07.12.2015 07:58 Submitted for delivery Ec Official Pdo
07.12.2015 09:04 Submitted for delivery Ec Official Pdo
07.12.2015 10:10 Item delivered. Eastern Central 1 Pdo

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 18 Jan 2016, 20:46

Yes, I believe that Mount Pleasant cover all EC postcodes. It might be worth asking in person (note: you want the Royal Mail delivery office, which is next door to the much more prominent Post Office).

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 19 Jan 2016, 16:59

Update: The bad news, tracking still shows exactly the same status - the Good News, my Parcel was just delivered...... Yay - thank you all for keeping me sane and I am glad it is finally here :-) Tomorrow the next one is being sent, so I will probably be back in 3 weeks wondering if it ever arrives

SabineH · Post by **SabineH** » 01 Feb 2016, 15:16

And here we are in round 2 of the winter blues.... anyone want to place any bets on how long it will be?

LX228819541US

current status:
Event Date Event Time Event Detail Event City
1/30/2016 8:30 AM In Sorting Facility UNITED KINGDOM
1/29/2016 1:16 PM Departed Processing Center London,
1/28/2016 5:25 PM Departed Processing Center Los Angeles,
1/27/2016 10:31 PM In Sorting Facility ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS),
1/27/2016 6:00 PM Departed Processing Center Bell, CA
1/27/2016 4:52 PM Parcel Order Manifested , Ready For Export Bell, CA
1/27/2016 12:31 PM Parcel Order Scanned Bell, CA
1/25/2016 5:22 PM Parcel Data Received, Shipment In Route To US Export Warehouse

And on Royal Mail
30/01/16 08:30 ON ITS WAY TOEASTERN CENTRAL CITY HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

swindonandy · Post by **swindonandy** » 01 Feb 2016, 17:17

SabineH wrote:And here we are in round 2 of the winter blues.... anyone want to place any bets on how long it will be?
30/01/16 08:30 ON ITS WAY TOEASTERN CENTRAL CITY HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC

Tomorrow

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