ParcelForce / USPS Help Priority Mail From USA

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 14 Sep 2019, 22:39

Hi,

I have an item incoming from the USA sent USPS Priority Mail International Parcel, I know this is a Royalmail chat group and that my item will be delivered by Parcel Force, but it must have a similar process to that of Royal Mail being sister companies, or that there might be Parcel Force staff also on here able to help.

USPS tracking states it was sent the 3rd of Sept, it left JFK Airport 6th Sept at 6pm to the UK, the following day it states "your item departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM on September 7, 2019 at 6:33 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination".

Yet when I go to the Parcelforce website and put in the USPS tracking number, it states exported only, nothing scanned in to the UK system as it's not generated a EH EE ending GB tracking number like what usually happens 99% of the time, I have had one before that never generated a UK tracking number on the website, then 6 days later it was delivered and did have an EH tracking form stuck to the box despite PF saying that never happens when I asked about this current parcel, so missed scans can and do happen.

Now today is the 14th Sept still nothing new showing on the PF website nor updates on the USPS website.

I called PF they said it wouldn't be shipped to Heathrow as they don't have a facility there so it wouldn't be sent to Heathrow and would be flown into Coventry from the USA, they said only RM are there at Heathrow but said the item is not in the UK so contact USPS, so I thought right I'll call RM for help, they said while PF don't have a facility there anything inbound to Heathrow that is using a PF service would then be transferred to Coventry, so I called PF back same thing they can't assist as the item is not in the UK as it would be assigned a UK tracking number, contact USPS, so I contact USPS they advise can't help as it's now in the destination country according to their tracking as its gone through Heathrow so its down to PF to help me.

So how can USPS have the item as leaving Heathrow when it's not even showing as such on the PF site???

An item usually gets an inbound arrival scan on the sorting line right? if customs need a look it's then sent to customs then waiting for the cleared customs scan, then arrived at hub scan etc right? or does the item only get an arrival scan once it's passed through customs? I'm just trying to figure out the process and where my parcel is as it can't vanish over the Atlantic???, again it's priority mail 6 to 10 days approx delivery aim as stated on the USPS website (although delays can happen) and as mentioned was posted on the 3rd Sept, even if delayed it would of flagged up by now with a UK tracking number at least surely?

Can anyone assist, does anyone know of any backlogs in clearing parcels be it going into Heathrow and then by truck up to Coventry, or any delays too at Coventry, or customs delays at either facility, I just find it odd its not in the system and more annoyed / frustrated PF are passing me off to USPS and USPS passing me off back to PF, just wish someone would take a little responsibility and help me the customer, it shouldn't be me having to run around.

Sorry for the rant any advice or help would be very much appreciated, thank you kindly :)

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 15 Sep 2019, 01:43

All items get sent to customs. Random batches of mail get chosen by customs for more detailed checks so if your item is in one of those batches it'll take longer to clear customs. I'd assume that once it's been released by customs, HWDC will send it up to the main Parcelforce hub at Coventry.

What's the tracking number?

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 15 Sep 2019, 01:54

SpacePhoenix wrote:All items get sent to customs. Random batches of mail get chosen by customs for more detailed checks so if your item is in one of those batches it'll take longer to clear customs. I'd assume that once it's been released by customs, HWDC will send it up to the main Parcelforce hub at Coventry.

What's the tracking number?

Thanks for the reply, I can understand that regards customs as obviously it happens and its border forces/customs role/job, its just strange that the USPS website states its departed Heathrow to next location, yet nothing on the PF website to corroborate that it's arrived / that it's in the system here, i'll send you a message with the tracking number.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Sep 2019, 12:17

For some reason, USPS scan all items before they hand them over to customs. No other postal company does.

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 15 Sep 2019, 12:27

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:For some reason, USPS scan all items before they hand them over to customs. No other postal company does.

Thanks for the reply, so the item is potentially held up in customs? Once cleared it would then get an arrival scan from a UK postal representative? Unlike say FedEx/UPS who have an arrival / import scan which then goes off to customs?

So nothing to worry about just yet? Just a potential customs delay?

Many thanks.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 15 Sep 2019, 14:29

Tmlaj wrote:Thanks for the reply, so the item is potentially held up in customs? Once cleared it would then get an arrival scan from a UK postal representative?

Yes, and yes.

If you tell us what the contents are, we could maybe rule out issues with customs.

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 15 Sep 2019, 14:35

Snaggletooth wrote:
Tmlaj wrote:Thanks for the reply, so the item is potentially held up in customs? Once cleared it would then get an arrival scan from a UK postal representative?
Yes, and yes.

If you tell us what the contents are, we could maybe rule out issues with customs.

It's a 2nd hand / used ice hockey jersey so clothing really

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 15 Sep 2019, 20:21

Tmlaj wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:It's a 2nd hand / used ice hockey jersey so clothing really

This is unlikely to cause a problem in itself. Either the sender has forgotten to attach / fill in a customs form, or it has been selected for extra checks at random.

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 15 Sep 2019, 21:30

Snaggletooth wrote:
Tmlaj wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:It's a 2nd hand / used ice hockey jersey so clothing really
This is unlikely to cause a problem in itself. Either the sender has forgotten to attach / fill in a customs form, or it has been selected for extra checks at random.

Should be a customs form on it as this was discussed as it was their first time shipping to the UK.

If extra checks i guess this can take any amount of time, if cleared it will have an arrival scan, if issues i assume they will contact me by mail or by phone as i asked the sender to add my phone number to the package, would that also be recorded with a scan of something along the lines of issues raised etc., just mainly looking for proof it's in the UK at least, right now I have no idea where it is which is causing concern of it actually being lost.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 16 Sep 2019, 06:59

I am pretty sure that customs never contact senders or addressees about a parcel, unless they have decided to seize it.

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 16 Sep 2019, 07:15

Snaggletooth wrote:I am pretty sure that customs never contact senders or addressees about a parcel, unless they have decided to seize it.

Hi ok well here's to hoping it flags as arrived in UK today or tomorrow!

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 16 Sep 2019, 08:52

Getting frustrated I did call PF again this morning, this person states last scan as NY so reckons its still in NY, I did asked about potential delays with customs they said nothing has been scanned into customs yet, so do things get scanned into customs so PF is aware of its existence or is that false information going by what has been said above customs don't scan it only mail representatives do when its cleared customs.

Tmlaj · Post by **Tmlaj** » 13 Oct 2019, 06:36

Just wanted to post an update the item arrived 20th Sept, I'm very lucky really as the original usps priority mail box was totally destroyed, all that was left wad the contents and half the usps waybill which luckily had my name address phone number and tracking reference, it was placed into a new box and parcel force enclosed a letter regards damage or loss of contents.

As i say thankfully nothing lost nor damaged in the post!

knighterrant · Post by **knighterrant** » 16 Jun 2020, 15:11

Hi. I just found this thread after pulling out my hair with exactly the same issue as the OP. I'm expecting a parcel from the USA that is shown on the USPS tracking as having "departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW ... on June 3, 2020 ...". Parcelforce has no record of it. When I tried to contact USPS online they said I had to contact the sender in the USA to get them to chase it. When I contacted the sender they said I had to chase Parcelforce because the package is showing as being in the UK. When I contacted Parcelforce they said "the parcel hasn't been handed to us by Heathrow for delivery, so the sender will need to contact USPS"!

So, after reading the posts from the OP perhaps the best thing for me to do is wait a bit longer and hope it eventually turns up. Covid-19 is probably delaying things a bit further, but it would be nice to know that my parcel hasn't disappeared. If the £97 worth of cast zinc parts for windows is held up in customs, I'm happy to accept that - it would just be nice to know.

(While writing this, the USA supplier just sent an email to say "It looks like the package is stuck in the customs process. We have no control over how long this will take to be completed. We have experienced many shipping delays due to the Covid restrictions placed on businesses including the postal service system. Thank you for your patience. Please check back with your post office every few days to see if the package has been processed any further." As they say, I'll just have to be patient!)

Grateful · Post by **Grateful** » 16 Jun 2020, 15:21

knighterrant wrote:Hi. I just found this thread after pulling out my hair with exactly the same issue as the OP. I'm expecting a parcel from the USA that is shown on the USPS tracking as having "departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW ... on June 3, 2020 ...". Parcelforce has no record of it. When I tried to contact USPS online they said I had to contact the sender in the USA to get them to chase it. When I contacted the sender they said I had to chase Parcelforce because the package is showing as being in the UK. When I contacted Parcelforce they said "the parcel hasn't been handed to us by Heathrow for delivery, so the sender will need to contact USPS"!

So, after reading the posts from the OP perhaps the best thing for me to do is wait a bit longer and hope it eventually turns up. Covid-19 is probably delaying things a bit further, but it would be nice to know that my parcel hasn't disappeared. If the £97 worth of cast zinc parts for windows is held up in customs, I'm happy to accept that - it would just be nice to know.

(While writing this, the USA supplier just sent an email to say "It looks like the package is stuck in the customs process. We have no control over how long this will take to be completed. We have experienced many shipping delays due to the Covid restrictions placed on businesses including the postal service system. Thank you for your patience. Please check back with your post office every few days to see if the package has been processed any further." As they say, I'll just have to be patient!)

Yep, it will undoubtedly be stuck in customs and you're right, patience and faith is the key!

If it helps at all, have a look at my thread here that shows the varying speed of packages through each process during these mad times...

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... =6&t=96248" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;