Another Langley HWDC Query

[CuppaTea]

Hi all,

First I want to say I think Royal mail do a good job and are not the bad guys. I say that because I have contacted them about my package and they do try and give you the best support and help available to them.

I think there must be some kind of strange or unstaffed issue happening at Langley. I had a package received there on the 23rd (RL389998889EE) so coming up to a week still being held in customs. It is from banggood, contains a soldering iron tip, a drone, a few other electronics, which are tiny, no batteries or valuable goods. I have no issues paying duty if that's the problem, but the package just seems stuck there.

I want to also say, I think customs checking for dodgy items is a good thing, I don't have an issue with my package being inspected, but as it's a Xmas gift, all I'd like is some kind of update or progress bar, or even if it's been rejected, comment so I can pursue a refund and reorder.

Any insight, help or advice you guys can provide would be very much appreciated.

[Snaggletooth]

I think there must be some kind of strange or unstaffed issue happening at Langley. I had a package received there on the 23rd (RL389998889EE) so coming up to a week still being held in customs.

A week isn't that long, with several other posters on this site reporting 3 weeks to clear customs recently. Whether there is a staffing problem or not we won't know, because this is a Royal Mail website, not a HM Customs website.

In the run up to Christmas in a normal year, a week or more is standard.

It is from banggood, contains a soldering iron tip, a drone, a few other electronics, which are tiny, no batteries or valuable goods.

Are you sure there are no batteries in the drone?

Even without batteries, there are safety rules regarding drones, so you would imagine that this would trigger extra checks.

I want to also say, I think customs checking for dodgy items is a good thing, I don't have an issue with my package being inspected, but as it's a Xmas gift, all I'd like is some kind of update or progress bar, or even if it's been rejected, comment so I can pursue a refund and reorder.

HM Customs are a law enforcement agency, they aren't about to supply information on ongoing cases. As far as I am aware, there is no customs service anywhere in the world which supplies progress updates of the type you suggest.

[CuppaTea]

thanks for your reply!!!

So, yes I understand a week is not a terribly long time compared to others. I have also had items which have reached me which were ordered after this one, so I'm sure its a bad luck situation rather than an "every package gets stopped" issue.

100 per cent sure there are no batteries in the drone, it doesn't ship with batteries, there are a large number of drones they sell which do ship with batteries, but this one didn't. I checked that before ordering and even recently with their customer services team.

I am not aware of any safety checks on drones? you can order parts and make your own drone, so I don't think customs would try and inspect a hobby drone unless it contained a battery, also drone regulations are for things like drones over 250g, and even then that is not customs it's the UK aviation authority that requires a pilot registration before flying (which I have, but the drone is super light and nowhere near 250g)

I can see from previous posts that customs don't provide information which I do understand, but I think some kind of communication with the recipient or premium customer contact number (which if paid would fund the staffing of the line) would be helpful. But either way, yes I understand they don't have any kind of communication whilst they inspect.

I think what's happened is that the solder tip which I ordered might look like a sharp knife end, as its shaped like a scalpel for electronics work. That has probably triggered them to look or hold the package. I'll just have to wait it out, but will keep everyone updated to how long it takes.

[Snaggletooth]

I am not aware of any safety checks on drones? you can order parts and make your own drone, so I don't think customs would try and inspect a hobby drone unless it contained a battery, also drone regulations are for things like drones over 250g, and even then that is not customs it's the UK aviation authority that requires a pilot registration before flying (which I have, but the drone is super light and nowhere near 250g) .

I am thinking along the lines of the word 'drone' being a trigger for extra checks. Watches are allowed in the mail, but they pretty much always seem to go for extra checks. In the case of drones, they would probably be looking for compliance with the rules on batteries, the weight limit that you mention, that the correct part of the radio spectrum is used etc.

I think what's happened is that the solder tip which I ordered might look like a sharp knife end, as its shaped like a scalpel for electronics work. That has probably triggered them to look or hold the package.

That is also a strong possibility.

[CuppaTea]

Hi Snaggletooth,

thank you again for your reply, it's good to get a perspective on what could be happening. So very helpful to hear your thoughts.

I agree re the battery, I think if something is labelled drone, there might be extra checks to see if it contains a battery (mine doesn't) but i can imagine this is a protocol thing, rather than anything else.

I think the radio spectrum thing is not an issue, transmitters can be flashed to any region and when you buy them, they are generally either an international wave or LBT, it is not illegal to buy international wave transmitters, it is illegal to fly in a spectrum wave over 25mw. Even if a transmitter is capable of transmitting over 25mw its not illegal to use it as long as you set your drone to broadcast only 25mw. That is a standard thing though so I highly highly doubt they are stopping drones trying to figure out what MW the user is going to set their drone at. Again this is an aviation authority regulation, not a customs regulation.

I do think it the soldering iron tip, so let's see, I will let this thread know when it's finally released and on its way to me!!!

[CuppaTea]

Got the item today, so about a 7-8 day delay through customs. A few things to be clear about for anyone else who finds this thread.

1. Drones are not subject to customs checks on their legality with regards to the UK aviation authority. Basically, if you buy a drone from China, you have to make it legal when it gets here

2. I had two scans at HWDC, the second one happened yesterday and then the item cleared in an hour or so. Makes me think the whole batch that my item was on was stopped and each package checked one by one.

3. I did call RoyalMail customer services twice and they were really helpful.