Post To USA Stuck At Heathrow

[Brian 62]

Hello There.

I was wondering if anyone out there can help me , please.
I posted a parcel , International Tracked And Signed to the USA on the 14th of this month.(Thursday)
Checking the Royal Mail website my parcel arrived at Heathrow D.C. on the morning of the 15th of this month( Friday)
The trouble is that it is still at Heathrow a week later!
I expected it to be in America by now, as has always happened before.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Thank you.

[Snaggletooth]

The most obvious reason for this is that it contains prohibited items. What did you send?

[Brian 62]

I sent a mirrored glass sphere, known as a witches ball.
Its stand, made of exactly the same material, was posted the same day and has arrived in the USA.

[SpacePhoenix]

When the tracking number is tried at: http://www.royalmail.com/trackdetails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; what entries are there? Does it show up on the USPS website?

[Brian 62]

Hello There

15/01/16 04:21 ARRIVED (MDN) AT HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC
This is what's on the Royal Mail website and on USPS I get NOT FOUND

[SpacePhoenix]

Looks like it's gotten mixed in with the normal airmail as it's missing at least two scans (2 from the outward MC) and a scan at a Post Office. Where was it posted (Post box, Post Office, etc)?

[Brian 62]

Thank you for your help Spacephoenix.

The tracking number is RN015564269GB and it was posted at a post office.

[SpacePhoenix]

Best guess at this point is that it's stuck in US customs

[abagnelle2]

RN246835404GB - posted 8/12. Last tracking 10/12 - on it's way to Spain - why??? Nothing after that. No help from Royal Mail at all.
Had to contact Thai police as legal documents being sent which must be reported is lost. Never went to Spain at all. Sick with worry about what's happened.

[Snaggletooth]

I sent a mirrored glass sphere, known as a witches ball.
Its stand, made of exactly the same material, was posted the same day and has arrived in the USA.

It is possible that it has broken in transit. I think that this would be consistent with the tracking so far, and then it often takes a while to get dealt with once broken. Sorry.

[Snaggletooth]

RN246835404GB - posted 8/12. Last tracking 10/12 - on it's way to Spain - why??? Nothing after that. No help from Royal Mail at all.
Had to contact Thai police as legal documents being sent which must be reported is lost. Never went to Spain at all. Sick with worry about what's happened.

Firstly, it doesn't seem to be lost. Using the website of Correos (Spanish equivalent of Royal Mail) brings up the following information:

Mailing code: RN246835404GB
Dates Statuses
22/01/2016 Dispatch from the point of origin international office

So it might be that there has been a problem that has held it up and that there is an issue with the two country's track & trace systems talking to each other.

Secondly, as it has taken well over 5 weeks you should be able to claim the cost of postage back from Royal Mail: complete a p58international form and send it with your proof of posting.

[Brian 62]

Hello Snaggletooth
Thanks for your help.
Obviously I hope you're wrong.
It would be nice if Royal Mail could just be upfront if my item is broken.
It would be even better in this day and age if we could actually contact Heathrow DC to locate a tracked item instead of having to contact a call centre in Sunderland!
Best Regards

[Dynastyjim]

Hi all, I seem to be having the same problem as Brian 62. I sent my item on the 16/01/16 as International tracked and signed and my item is going to California,America. The latest update i have got from the tracking was on the 19/01/16 which was ARRIVED (MDN) AT HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC. Since then i have not had any tracking updates. I had filled in all of the Correct forms etc and the item i was sending is not prohibited or restricted. My item was expected to get delivered between today and Wednesday (5-7 Days) but unfortunately this doesn't seem likely now. I was wondering also if maybe, there could be delays due to the Weather over there but still, this does not explain the missing tracking information (Departed Heathrow etc).

[Brian 62]

Hello Dynastyjim

It looks like your parcel has joined my parcel in the great unknown. Mine was also going to California.
If I have any news I'll let you know,
Best Regards,
Brian

[Snaggletooth]

I was wondering also if maybe, there could be delays due to the Weather over there but still, this does not explain the missing tracking information (Departed Heathrow etc).

Well, it would actually, up to a point. Most mail to the US seems to go in via Newark, even stuff going to the west coast. If the planes can't land then they won't set off, if they don't set off then they won't get loaded, and if they don't get loaded then they won't pass a tracking point.

Of course, this only explains delays over the last 2-3 days, not delays up to then.

One question: have you tried tracking your item with usps.com instead of Royal Mail? There have long been issues with only limited tracking coming back from the USA to RM's site, plus other customers on here seem to have had problems with tracking not coming through to RM in recent weeks.