Confused with Parcelforce Website

scribblewibble · Post by **scribblewibble** » 18 Aug 2016, 11:03

Hi All, I hope that you can help, I'm expecting a parcel from Romania but when I check the Parcelforce website I get the following details:-

Your parcel has now been examined by HM Customs and charges may have been raised by them. Please check the tracking details below for further details. A letter will be sent to the recipient if charges are due.

Item tracking history
Date Time Location Tracking event
11/8/2016 12:47 International Hub Released from customs
11/8/2016 12:45 International Hub Arrived in the UK
10/8/2016 0:10
Delivery Agent - BUCHAREST - PTT…+Delivery Agent - BUCHAREST - PTT
Despatched to the UK
9/8/2016 20:49
Delivery Agent - BUCHAREST - PTT…+Delivery Agent - BUCHAREST - PTT
Prepared for despatch to the UK

I've was asked by a very aggressive customer representative this morning what was in the parcel but I'd assumed that since the Parcelforce website states that as it has been "released from customs" that it should now be out for delivery but it seems to have been stuck at the Parcelforce International Hub for a week now so I'm confused as to what is going on? Is it just a backlog of work on their behalf or what?

Many Thanks for any help

Scribblewibble

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 18 Aug 2016, 14:42

If your item has incurred customs charges then it will not move any further until those charges are paid. I guess that you have not received the letter yet?

There is no excuse for the customer service agent to be aggressive, but if there is tax to pay then your item must have included tobacco or alcohol, which are severely restricted items.

scribblewibble · Post by **scribblewibble** » 18 Aug 2016, 14:45

Thanks for the reply Snaggletooth, so it hasn't been seized by customs then it's just that they haven't updated their website for a week now or is it a mater of it being with customs and the webite is wrong?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 18 Aug 2016, 18:57

None of those. If customs have said that it is liable for tax then your item will be held by Parcelforce until you pay the customs charge to Parcelforce.

scribblewibble · Post by **scribblewibble** » 22 Aug 2016, 13:37

Thanks again for the help.

scribblewibble · Post by **scribblewibble** » 01 Sep 2016, 09:08

I've not had any letter from Parcelforce regarding Customs Charges and it was released by Cusoms over 20 days ago according to the Parcelforce and they've not updated their website since the 12th August. When I called them around that time the customer representative said it had been handed to customs so does but the webite states "released by customs" does anyone have any idea what's going on. Is it just delays with customs/Parcelforce due to the holiday season. Or is the website just plain wrong?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 01 Sep 2016, 10:48

One potential issue with the tracking is that Parcelforce usually put a new (UK) tracking number on items that come from abroad. If you put in the old (Romanian) tracking number in to the system it is supposed to be linked to the new one, so all of the tracking shows up from one end to the other, but occasionally the link does not work. I have seen this issue a couple of times. The result of this error can be that your parcel appears to stop dead upon entering the Parcelforce network.

That said, you should have heard something by now. The only way to resolve this is to call Parcelforce, and do it soon in case your parcel gets returned to Romania. Before calling, try to get the maximum amount of tracking info possible by trying a few different tracking websites: I would try the Romanian operator, Parcelforce and http://www.track-trace.com/post" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.