Anti delivery syndrome at Langley

[PepinoBB]

First words:
I am not a newcomer in postal operations. I understand complexicity in this area.

I want to share with you a horrible experience with Langley, Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre, UK (aka Big Black Hole of Postal Operations).

Fot the first time in 20 years of postal experience I got five(5) consecutive undelivered parcels since 23.10.2018. They were lost, missed, stolen, returned, discarded ... who knows? All parcels were originating in Central and South America. Destination country was Slovakia. There are no problems with postal regulation, import taxes, no dangerous or prohibited goods ... only music CDs.
One thing I do not understand is: Why are TRANSIT parcels held by UK customs? Import status of these parcels can be decided by destination country customs ... e.g. slovak customs. This is nonsense.

Anyway, I cannot do anything in this case. Customer service of Royal Mail is incompetent and pathetic (only general excuses - especially D.S.), tracking number is useless (WHY use registered shipping method if NOBODY knows where the parcel is?). Only solution is to find postal carrier, which does not know, where is London, Heathrow ... e.g. is routing parcels via elsewhere, not UK.

Last words:
Royal Mail is effectively blocking my postal operations since 23.10.2018. But I did not choose Royal Mail as postal carrier willingly. I am victim of agreements between postal operators and Royal Mail. And this is BIG FAIL!

(Estimated loss amount: 120 £ ... is it worth it?)

[SpacePhoenix]

One thing afaik that there would for is safety, eg if a parcel was going to be sent by airmail then they'd need to inspect it to make sure there's no problems with things like lithium batteries. Some batches of mail get chosen for more intensive checks, maybe you were just unlucky.

Do the tracking numbers work on the GLS website (https://gls-group.eu/EU/en/parcel-tracking" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)? RM use them when sending stuff within Europe. If they have then GLS will first send it to their central hub in Germany who'll then send it to their local hub in Slovakia. If they've used GLS then it'll need to also go through German customs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

All parcels were originating in Central and South America. Destination country was Slovakia.

This to me means Royal Mail had no part in it, they may have scanned it for customs as it was being held in transit for some reason, but beyond that, I can't see why Royal Mail got involved.

Perhaps the sender in Central/Soth America and the receiver in Slovakia need to ask their postal authorities why it was routed through London and what should have happened.

Royal Mail is the UK postal Authority and deals only with items originating, or for delivery in the UK. GLS may have a contract with Slovakia or the sending country, but even then Royal Mail as a company would have no responsibility for it, only GLS would.

[Snaggletooth]

I got five(5) consecutive undelivered parcels since 23.10.2018. They were lost, missed, stolen, returned, discarded ...Estimated loss amount: 120 £

Why have you suffered a loss on these items? Most postal services would refund postage and the value of the item in these circumstances.

Customer service of Royal Mail is incompetent and pathetic

I have no idea why you are dealing with them. You should be submitting a claim with the postal service where the parcel originated.

One thing I do not understand is: Why are TRANSIT parcels held by UK customs?

Are you sure that they have been held by UK customs? Tracking shows the *last* place that an item was seen. Most postal operators don't track items into Langley, and there is no tracking in Langley, therefore the tracking point actually shows that the item has cleared customs and left Langley. If you want to be sure, post an example of the tracking into this thread.

There are no problems with postal regulation ... only music CDs.

Are you sure about that? I have been looking at the prohibitions for Slovakia and, though it doesn't specifically mention recorded music, there are some things on there which could be interpreted that way. For instance:

Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; clocks and watches; musical instruments; parts and accessories thereof

Frankly, if a country restricts books, newspapers and musical instruments, I wouldn't fancy the chances of music CDs getting through customs.

[Snaggletooth]

Should have posted a link to the prohibitions:

https://www.royalmail.com/slovakia/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PepinoBB]

Thank you for your suggestions.

But there is one more thing to mention: I got another 5 similar parcels sucessfully delivered ( despite the route via Langley... ) before October 2018.
Therefore I am asking: what was changed in October 2018 in postal service via Langley?

[PepinoBB]

Do the tracking numbers work on the GLS website (https://gls-group.eu/EU/en/parcel-tracking" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)? RM use them when sending stuff within Europe. If they have then GLS will first send it to their central hub in Germany who'll then send it to their local hub in Slovakia. If they've used GLS then it'll need to also go through German customs

Yes, absolutely no problems before October 2018.
Here is example of sucessfully transferred parcel:
Royal Mail ... https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-it ... 18480650CL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
GLS ... https://gls-group.eu/EU/en/parcel-track ... 18480650CL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As I say, no problems. But now?

Compare yourself:
Royal Mail ... https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-it ... 19276160CL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... or ... https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-it ... 99727020MX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
GLS ... https://gls-group.eu/EU/en/parcel-track ... 19276160CL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... or ... https://gls-group.eu/EU/en/parcel-track ... 99727020MX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Slovenská pošta ... https://tandt.posta.sk/en/items/RP599727020MX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... destination country postal service

Where are these parcels?

[Snaggletooth]

Thank you for your suggestions.

But there is one more thing to mention: I got another 5 similar parcels sucessfully delivered ( despite the route via Langley... ) before October 2018.
Therefore I am asking: what was changed in October 2018 in postal service via Langley?

I would suggest that what changed is the Slovakian postal prohibitions list. I don’t know where I could go on the Internet to find old versions of the prohibitions, but I don’t believe that any EU country was that restrictive 3-4 years ago when I worked for the PO.

[PepinoBB]

Big surprise today!
Parcel RR519276160CL was delivered!
Delivery was completed not by GLS, but by Slovenská pošta (Slovakia Post). And parcel was delivered as standard unregistered shipment, i.e.
1. was not scanned at arrival to destination country;
2. was not scanned at delivery.

This logistic situation is BIG mystery for me.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Compare yourself:

WE ARE NOT ROYAL MAIL

Its says that on every page.

[PepinoBB]

Compare yourself:

WE ARE NOT ROYAL MAIL

Its says that on every page.

It's ok. No action is needed.

Also independent postal workers can find out what catastrophic things are happening with parcels. And how postal providers do not fulfill their main role - delivery of parcels.

[PepinoBB]

Please explain for me status "parcel was missorted to UK and arrived in office of exchange".
What does it mean in Langley?

Thanks.