Parcel stuck at Heathrow Langley HWDC

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I must reiterate we are not Royal Mail and we do not represent them or speak in an official capacity for them.

All of the posts are opinions or insights nothing further.

If you have concerns and want to make something official then this is not the correct place.

[Clayp]

What's the last tracking entry on the USPS site?

Heathrow, London April 24

[danfish13]

USPS are probably unique in that they track the items off the plane at Heathrow. So in this case, it's stuck in UK customs. Most items do no not spend 9 days there but a small percentage do. There is nothing you can do about this.

Hi Snaggletooth, I appreciate your replies on this and providing a bit of insight to us anxious civvies. I have spoken to Parcelforce and USPS and HMRC and Royal Mail and everyone denies they have it. I find it amazing that there is this occasional black hole in the system that can take weeks to get through and nobody officially seems to know about or acknowledge. I keep getting told that as soon as it gets to UK it is given an EH number before customs get it but from all the evidence here that is not necessarily the case in all instances. We have opened an investigation with USPS at suggestion of Parcelforce so hopefully they can track it in detail to the last known point and provide some info. Also it seems that as a non-priority parcel it may get left at the bottom of the pile for some time whilst the priority parcels speed on through.

[fraxos]

Apologies for hijacking this thread but as many others here before, I am in the same situation whereby an incoming parcel from Singapore has been stuck at Heathrow DC for almost two weeks now. I would appreciate any insights as to whether the previously reported backlogs of 2+ weeks are still an issue...Many thanks in advance

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Once they are delayed by Customs it seems the average wait is around 2 to 4 weeks. This is ongoing and probably for the long term as well with the current situation.

Its possible Brexit (depending on the agreement eventually drawn up) may exacerbate the problem if border controls and import duties from the EU are reintroduced.

[fraxos]

Many thanks for the response.

So the only option I have is to wait? I have spoken to Royal Mail who have actually told me that the sender should claim for a lost parcel...

[Snaggletooth]

Yes, you can't do anything but wait.

The sender should claim, but in most countries you can only lodge a claim if it hasn't arrived 5 weeks after sending.

[fraxos]

Thank you for the response. This is very frustrating especially since the sender thinks that as the parcel has arrived in the UK it is fine whilst Royal Mail are saying that it should have been delivered by now, so the sender should claim...

[WIBBLA]

Hi All

Same situation with myself.

My Dad sent a parcel from Florida on the 27th June all was going well with USP tracking upto 3rd July then the dreaded..

Your item departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM on July 3, 2017 at 7:30 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

And no movement since. I am guessing its with Customs.

It was sent priority parcel from US and should come Parcel Force when delivered.

Its nothing that shouldn't be allowed into the UK its a piece of Radio equipment for Amatuer Radio, My Dad had put all costs on Customs form etc and filled everything as it should be.

So I am also yet to see my parcel move or receive anything from Customs.

Craig

[Snaggletooth]

I am guessing its with Customs.

Absolutely correct.

It was sent priority parcel from US and should come Parcel Force when delivered.

If your father used a guaranteed delivery time service then he may be able to claim a partial or full refund for late delivery. For some services you have to make a claim within 2-3 weeks, so best to check now.

One potential problem when using Parcelforce is that they usually change the barcode label to one of their own once received in the UK. This works well most of the time, but very occasionally the old and new barcode records fail to link. It might be worth calling Parcelforce to check on this.

Its nothing that shouldn't be allowed into the UK its a piece of Radio equipment for Amatuer Radio, My Dad had put all costs on Customs form etc and filled everything as it should be.

As long as it doesn't involve batteries, oil or caustic chemicals then it should be fine. But some parcels are randomly selected for extra checks, it is probably one of those.

[WIBBLA]

I have just called Parcel Force

They inform me it has not arrived in the UK 100% and its not been scanned.

They say if it was with customs they would see it.

So USPS have they lost my parcel.

Now have to get my dad to chase usps dam parcels

Craig

[Snaggletooth]

Are you sure that it is coming via Parcelforce? That would imply either that it is coming by a guaranteed (time-limited) service or that it is over 2Kg in weight, or both. If none of the above, it could be coming via Royal Mail, who definitely can't see anything until it has cleared customs. USPS use both at this end.

[WIBBLA]

Well well well

I don't believe it...

After a call earlier to Parcel Force and them saying it wasn't in UK and also saying it wasn't in customs otherwise they would see it..

Guess what...

11/7/2017
15:10
International Hub
Awaiting Customs clearance
11/7/2017
14:55
International Hub
Arrived in the UK
27/6/2017
11:57
Delivery Agent -
UNITED STATES AMERICA
…+
Delivery Agent - UNITED STATES AMERICA
Collected

Awaiting Clearance.. hahaha how odd after I call it gets found and moved forward lol..

[fraxos]

Unfortunately I have not been so lucky. So far and despite several calls, with contradictory responses (some people saying it is definitely at customs and other saying it is definitely lost) here I am 4 weeks on and still waiting...

From your experience does the parcel eventually make its way to the intended recipient or is there a chance it could just magically disappear?

[Snaggletooth]

Most parcels arrive. Some have to be returned to sender because the contents are not allowed into the UK or because the sender failed to complete the customs declaration. A very small number are destroyed by customs due to the contents or lost in the system.

4 weeks is an unusually long time. What was inside?