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US - UK parcel - stuck at Heathrow

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For information about any other mail or if you have a complaint or general query, we first suggest you contact Royal Mail, see the link HERE.
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D&GCMR
Posts: 5
Joined: 06 Oct 2018, 17:31
Gender: Male

US - UK parcel - stuck at Heathrow

Post by D&GCMR »

Hello,

Last weekend, I bought a model railway locomotive from a shop in Pasadena, California. From USPS Tracking, and travelling by Priority Mail International Parcels, it left the USA via Los Angeles on Monday, October 1st. The next day, it is tracked as having "departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM on October 2, 2018 at 11:31am. The item is currently in transit to the destination."

That has been the most recent USPS update. Parcel Force Tracking still states that the item has not entered the UK yet. What has happened at Heathrow that would cause my item to be stated as passing through Heathrow on Tuesday October 2nd by the USPS, but not by Parcel Force?

Is it still, after 4 days, stuck in UK Customs, and if yes how long, on average, could it stay there? Is that where all US-originated parcels go after they come off a plane which has touched down in the UK?

Please could you help, as I am starting to get worried!

Chris
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12116
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

US - UK parcel - stuck at Heathrow

Post by SpacePhoenix »

It's not unusual for things to get stuck in customs for 3-4 weeks, until customs release it there's nothing that RM can do. It's possible that there could be a customs charge, don't know what Parcelforce's procedure is for when an item has a customs charge
D&GCMR
Posts: 5
Joined: 06 Oct 2018, 17:31
Gender: Male

US - UK parcel - stuck at Heathrow

Post by D&GCMR »

3-4 weeks?! That's ridiculous. Why should it potentially take that long?

The value of the loco is over £200, so there will be a customs charge, which I will pay to Parcel Force when they deliver it to me.

Is it likely to be sitting in UK Customs at Heathrow then?

Thanks,

Chris
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12116
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

US - UK parcel - stuck at Heathrow

Post by SpacePhoenix »

Customs randomly choose cargo containers for closer/more detailed examination of the contents. If your parcel is in the randomly chosen container then it'll take longer to clear customs.