International Track & Trace (France to uk)

nemethxyz · Post by **nemethxyz** » 11 Dec 2018, 20:57

Hi everyone I have a question about my International Track & Trace

I ordered a birthday gift from ebay at the end of November (30th). It got caught up in the french strikes but finally left France on the 6th December

Here is the tracking timeline so far:

Thu 6th Dec (5am) = "Item received at"
France
Thu 6th Dec (5am) = "Item Leaving overseas"
France
Fri 7th December (11.29am) = "Item Received"
LANGLEY HWDC, United Kingdom
Fri 7th December (01.52pm) = "Item has left our International Processing Centre"
Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre, United Kingdom

There is then a small box at the top which states: "In Transit" + "Your item has left our International Logistics Centre and is on its way to you. More information will be available as it travels through the network."

I'm wondering why the item hasn't been delivered to me yet? I know this is relatively early in the process but I was hoping to get it at the start of December in time to hand it out as a birthday gift. Is there another stage it must go through before the item will reach me and the Royal Mail tracking is updated? Conscious this is only Tuesday (11th dec) but I though the gift would have been here on Monday or today

jamesfan222 · Post by **jamesfan222** » 11 Dec 2018, 23:03

Tough one I'm waiting for a package posted from china on the 25/11/18 still no joy! In your case it's tricky I guess depends on the class it was sent by 2nd class etc plus there have been many issues at lots of distribution centres and vehicles getting there like plane delays motorway closures etc etc best bet is check the royal mail service updates page (search on Google) it lists issues in the UK and abroad you might see an issue around where you live that might be causing your delay good luck

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 12 Dec 2018, 06:52

The whole mail system is very busy at this time of the year.

nemethxyz · Post by **nemethxyz** » 12 Dec 2018, 11:37

jamesfan222 wrote:Tough one I'm waiting for a package posted from china on the 25/11/18 still no joy! In your case it's tricky I guess depends on the class it was sent by 2nd class etc plus there have been many issues at lots of distribution centres and vehicles getting there like plane delays motorway closures etc etc best bet is check the royal mail service updates page (search on Google) it lists issues in the UK and abroad you might see an issue around where you live that might be causing your delay good luck

Customs part is over then? Been reading through some of the threads and a bit confused. Is customs at Langley HWDC? or is there another part after Langley HWDC that it goes through before being released into the royal mail system?

Totally get your point about delays/2nd class etc. Just wishing I had of ordered from the UK as there would have been no delays/customs etc and would have had the gift in time for the birthday!

nemethxyz · Post by **nemethxyz** » 12 Dec 2018, 11:37

Snaggletooth wrote:The whole mail system is very busy at this time of the year.

Customs part is over then? Been reading through some of the threads and a bit confused. Is customs at Langley HWDC? or is there another part after Langley HWDC that it goes through before being released into the royal mail system?

Totally get your point about delays in the mail system at this time of year. Just wishing I had of ordered from the UK as there would have been no delays/customs etc and would have had the gift in time for the birthday!

jamesfan222 · Post by **jamesfan222** » 12 Dec 2018, 12:53

Yeah next part should be local distribution centre then your sorting office then delivery round all being well

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 12 Dec 2018, 19:01

Langley HWDC is customs. Customs don’t scan anything, so all tracking points happen either when in possession of the overseas operator (before customs) or Royal Mail (after customs).

nemethxyz · Post by **nemethxyz** » 12 Dec 2018, 19:50

Thanks all for the help, wasn't fully sure about some of the terminology used so thought i'd ask to get a better idea. This birthday present may become an xmas present :)

jamesfan222 · Post by **jamesfan222** » 13 Dec 2018, 07:58

Snaggletooth wrote:Langley HWDC is customs. Customs don’t scan anything, so all tracking points happen either when in possession of the overseas operator (before customs) or Royal Mail (after customs).

So snaggletooth item arrives on flight from wherever is passed to UK customs where it's either passed straight through or held for inspection, the first scan in UK will be when beyond this point at the HWDC? How do you know if it's being held at customs?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 13 Dec 2018, 12:41

jamesfan222 wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:Langley HWDC is customs. Customs don’t scan anything, so all tracking points happen either when in possession of the overseas operator (before customs) or Royal Mail (after customs).
So snaggletooth item arrives on flight from wherever is passed to UK customs where it's either passed straight through or held for inspection, the first scan in UK will be when beyond this point at the HWDC? How do you know if it's being held at customs?

Yes essentially thats correct, though some carriers do as they hand them over to customs which is where you'll get a HWDC scan.

How do we know it's being held at Customs - Officially we don't unless they raise a VAT query and in that case, it will depend on who the carrier is due to deliver the item. At Royal Mail, we will send out a Grey Surcharge Card. If there is no VAT query, then unless its a safety issue when you'll see scans sending it the Return Letter Centre, there will be no scans until Customs release it.

jamesfan222 · Post by **jamesfan222** » 13 Dec 2018, 13:29

Cheers