Difference between LB and RZ? Does RM have something similar to Fedex?

belamac · Post by **belamac** » 12 Nov 2016, 19:02

Hi,
My boyfriend is in UK and I'm in Brazil, he send me important documents for a visa procedure through royal mail, I had a deadline to give these documents, but they didn't arrive in time and I missed the appointment. First item was sent through RZ code and it has been more than 12 days, when they told him it would 5-7 working days. We could only track thats it has arrived in Brazil but its been there for days. Second item was sent through LB code and it seems it got here faster, but is still stuck.
what does these codes mean? I told him to ask for international, secure, insured, fast track delivery. I used to work in a Multinational company in Brazil and I sent international documents in 3 days from Sao Paulo to USA through Fedex business, that was specific for documents. He told me there was no Fedex in Swansea and Royal Mail didn't do similar service, so he just did this normal post. I know he is stubborn so I'm asking if RM does offer something like Fedex, as in insured secured "door-to-door" delivery for important documents so he know what to ask for the next time. Should he hire courrier service?
Thank you

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 13 Nov 2016, 06:04

No royal mail doesn't do an International documents specific service. They do a "printed documents" service but I don't think thats what you needed. http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder/printed-papers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Apart from that just the standard ones, some with tracking some without.

As to the 2 codes - RM use the Universal Postal system so the codes mean

LB= Letter post: express
RZ = Letter post: registered, but not insured delivery

But sorry can't identify the exact service used.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 13 Nov 2016, 08:30

Parcelforce do a guaranteed service for pretty much every country in the world and this is sold through all main Post Offices, this is similar to Fedex. One problem is that passports are not allowed in one or possibly both of these services, another problem is that if your boyfriend went to a smaller post office they might not have told him about the Parcelforce services.

There are two Royal Mail services to Brazil that have barcodes but neither have a guaranteed delivery time. Your items are almost certainly stuck in Brazilian customs and will turn up eventually.

Post by **eric the viking** » 13 Nov 2016, 10:35

Parceltorce global express is sent in conjunction with fedex. Next day delivery.

belamac · Post by **belamac** » 14 Nov 2016, 20:29

Hi,

thank you for you help guys!

The code RZ083448029GB was posted on 31/10/16, and it says its in Curitiba, wich is odd, but I can't see the full tracking details.
The code LB114129040GB was posted on 07/11/16, and its also in Curitiba, I live in SP and the customs is there, and I don't get why is it in Curitiba.

What's the name for guaranteed delivery then? I have time constraints, I have deadlines to deliver it and have to pay extra the more times I reschedule. These are mainly papers, not the actual passport, but all paper work, weights 0.200 kg. That's why he thought couldn't send through a parcel, as we need envelope. These are 2 batches but he will need to send more, and I can't afford to wait 3 weeks everytime he sends a envelope. We are willing to pay extra, but he just couldn't find these service for guaranteed delivery. Thats why I asked if there is one specific for documents. I dont undestand what printed papers thing is? Neither could find a guaranteed delivery, Post Office just told him I would have to sign and sais would be 5- 7 working days, but that didn't happen.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Nov 2016, 12:02

The good news is http://www2.correios.com.br/home2014/img/layout/logo.png they are shoẃing as in thier system
http://www2.correios.com.br/eng/sys/tra ... efault.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RZ083448029GB

11/11/2016
08:11
CURITIBA / PR Received by the Brazil Post
Object subject to inspection and delay on delivery

LB114129040GB

11/11/2016
09:17
CURITIBA / PR
Forwarded
from Unidade de Distribuição in CURITIBA / PR to Unidade Administrativa in Fiscalizacao Aduaneira / BR

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 15 Nov 2016, 16:44

Global Express and Global Priority are PFW's guaranteed services.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 15 Nov 2016, 20:15

bellman wrote:The code RZ083448029GB was posted on 31/10/16...

This item was sent International Signed, according to Royal Mail's tracking system (https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). For some countries, there is little or no tracking in the overseas country with this service.

bellman wrote:The code LB114129040GB was posted on 07/11/16...

This item was sent by International Tracked. It should be tracked from end to end.

Neither of these services offer a guaranteed delivery time, only a delivery aim, and can be held up by customs. It looks like both your items are stuck in Brazilian customs.

bellman wrote:...That's why he thought couldn't send through a parcel, as we need envelope... Thats why I asked if there is one specific for documents. I dont undestand what printed papers thing is?...

Whether it goes in an envelope or wrapped up as a parcel is irrelevant to the services offered by Royal Mail and Parcelforce. All services are offered for both and handled in the same way. The only things that might change is the price and a few special rules about minimum & maximum sizes, special packaging for certain contents etc, these are not relevant to what you are doing. Some of the private companies may be different, offering special lower prices for envelopes below a certain size, but we can't comment too much as we only deal with RM & PFW here.

There are no specific rates or services for documents either.

Printed Papers used to be a slightly reduced price for sending books & magazines overseas. However, all the special clauses have been taken away now except for the weight one, and again this is not relevant to what you are doing. However, the phrase "Printed Papers" indicates a set of services which does not include Global Express and Global Priority, it is best if your boyfriend does not use this phrase to avoid confusion. If he is asked what is inside, get him to say "documents".

belamac · Post by **belamac** » 16 Nov 2016, 00:31

thanks for the responses,

Yes unfortunatelly I went to the brazillian web site and its says that the first one coded RZ can take up 40 working days for customs! I'm so sad about this because I really needed this to arrive on time..... now I really don't know how my visa situation will be as it was essencial information. Now it can be delayed for 2 months! My boyfriend is gutted because the woman at the post office said it was "up to 7 working days" and now it can take 2 months :(

The second one may be here faster, but I needed both... I knew he should have posted some Fedex but there wasnt in Swansea.
Its stressful because we already had travelling plans that will be delayed. I guess he just didn't explain exactly what he wanted.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 16 Nov 2016, 07:50

Your boyfriend might have grounds to complain to the Post Office, but he has to be absolutely sure about this.

"...it will take up to 7 working days" is wrong and a complaint should be made.
"...it is expected to take 7 working days" is exactly what the clerk is supposed to say.

As you can see, these are very similar, and it is easy for either side to get this wrong. If your boyfriend is sure that he was told the wrong thing then he should complain to the Post Office (not Royal Mail) on 08457 22 33 44 or see postoffice.co.uk for other ways to complain.

belamac · Post by **belamac** » 16 Nov 2016, 15:54

I think the biggest failing in the communication was not to specify that it wouldn't arrive to the delivery address, just to the country in 7 working days. He understood that the package would be in my house in 7 working days. But the Brazillian post office says the time the Royal Mail gives is just to deliver to THE COUNTRY. And it it took 7 whole days to get to Curitiba, wich is in Brazil. But from Curitiba needs to go to customs in Sao Paulo, then to my house in the inner state, and Brazilian customs stipulate that they have 40 working days to do it so. The post office UK didn't explain this dynamic they needed to say " its expected to arrive in Brazil in 7 working days, it will be given to Brazil post office and u should check the time they take for customs and delivery" or "the Royal Mail can only expect to deliver to Brazil in 7 workings and Brazil is in charge for the rest of the process" something like that, because to say it like they did to him, the customer understand it will be delivery to the final addressed destination.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 16 Nov 2016, 16:31

Post Office staff are not allowed to say that, they have to say that it's expected to arrive [at the destination address] in 5-7 days except in exceptional circumstances (like major natural disasters). PO staff have to stick to the official line and cannot start adding other information like that unless Royal Mail tell them to.

belamac · Post by **belamac** » 16 Nov 2016, 16:50

He isn't used to send post, at least not with a time specific like we needed, so he just went there and said "I need to send this to Brazil, how long does it take?" PO: "5-7 working days" and he understood it would be in my house in 7 working days, which was within out time scheduled. But if they took 7 working days just to send to Brazil, how come it would b in my house during this time? they know there is long queue for customs, they could have explained it better. Or offered express or priority delivery. He wasn't even aware what is the RZ and the LB code, and LB is express, but he went and said the same thing and think that person just put in express.... I understand part of his fault of not being specific, but for someone who really isn't aware when the officer told him "5-7 working days" he just thought he was doing the correct thing. I dont even think there was a parcel force there or anything.

belamac · Post by **belamac** » 16 Nov 2016, 17:03

So he went to Post Office and was told that both packages would be delivery in "5-7 working days" and the RZ posted in 31/10 will be here, according to the Brazillian post office, in January, more than 60 days later and the "express" LB posted on 07/11 they said around december 4th wich is almost 30 days after he posted.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 18 Nov 2016, 06:37

Just to be clear, this is the list of information that is distributed to Post Office clerks in the UK about delays to services. No mention of Brazil. They are not allowed to work from any other sources.

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app ... /a_id/5317" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;