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International Parcel taking a return trip

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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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ParcelsParcels
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 Apr 2021, 18:02
Gender: Male

International Parcel taking a return trip

Post by ParcelsParcels »

Hi there,

I am in sort of a pickle, I unfortunately had the inconvenience of returning an Amazon EU parcel to their warehouse in Slovakia. It turns out Slovakia Post is really poor compared to RM standards and would not share details about anything when I requested information about my parcel. RM Customer service did not know anything other than what the system reports to them. The return date due for the parcel was the 27th April 2021 and it has just been past that and for some reason its been taking a trip back to the UK. I followed the Amazon EU customs declaration of including the commercial invoice on the outside and inside the package and had printed a International Tracked label from RM and it turns out customs is picky in Slovakia. I went on to contact the Slovakian Taxation office and got referred to their customs and they told me using the tracking number they have not received this parcel at all in Slovakia, but Slovakia Post tracking and Royal Mail tracking says otherwise! That's when my alarm bells were ringing and RM CS did not have any information for me regarding that - other than to wait till the 24 Apr 2021 to claim for loss item (I am still holding hope before I claim).

The tracking information looks like:

29 Apr 2021 12:26 Item has left the overseas International Processing Centre Heathrow Worldwide DC ROYAL MAIL
29 Apr 2021 08:36 Item Received Slovakia ROYAL MAIL
22 Apr 2021 15:31 Arrival at Outward Office of Exchange SLOVAKIA POST
22 Apr 2021 14:35 Item Leaving the UK. Your item is now leaving the UK. More information will be available when it arrives in the destination country United Kingdom ROYAL MAIL
22 Apr 2021 13:35 Departure from Outward Office of Exchange SLOVAKIA POST
21 Apr 2021 15:35 Departure of the item from the Customs Office SLOVAKIA POST
21 Apr 2021 14:35 Released from Customs Slovakia ROYAL MAIL
02 Apr 2021 16:32 Your item is currently with Customs in the destination country. BRATISLAVA 090, Slovakia ROYAL MAIL
02 Apr 2021 07:57 Item Received BRATISLAVA 090, Slovakia ROYAL MAIL
02 Apr 2021 06:57 Arrival at Inward Office of Exchange SLOVAKIA POST
30 Mar 2021 02:32 Departure from Outward Office of Exchange SLOVAKIA POST
30 Mar 2021 01:32 Item Leaving the UK LANGLEY HWDC ROYAL MAIL
30 Mar 2021 00:23 Item Received by Royal Mail LANGLEY HWDC ROYAL MAIL
29 Mar 2021 18:30 Item Despatched to Royal Mail site Greenford MC ROYAL MAIL
29 Mar 2021 17:42 Item received at Greenford MC ROYAL MAIL
29 Mar 2021 09:41 Item posted at post office SLOVAKIA POST
29 Mar 2021 09:21 Sender preparing item ROYAL MAIL
29 Mar 2021 08:41 Accepted at Post Office ###### Post Office ROYAL MAIL

In some events, the timings of the parcel arriving between the UK and Slovakia are insanely quick it makes me feel like it has never moved at all but is mis-scanned on a cargo cage lot. Interesting, Slovakia Post do not report any more tracking events after 22 Apr 2021, I reckon it has been returned back to the UK from that point - likely to be returned back to me (my return address is on the item) for some unknown reason. Luckily the parcel has not vanished from the systems.

So my questions is:
  • Does RM have a tracking event for when the parcel is to be returned back to the sender?
  • If the return address is present on the parcel, it will be returned to the sender? (It is on both the customs declaration and the shipping label)
P.S. Do not order from Amazon EU if you expect returns to be anything like the UK site - it isn't.. You ship the items by yourself to a warehouse in Sered, Slovakia and that's if you are lucky for it to arrive.
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12118
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: International Parcel taking a return trip

Post by SpacePhoenix »

What was the contents? It's probably now stuck in UK customs
ScootyUK
Posts: 1
Joined: 26 May 2021, 19:49
Gender: Male

Re: International Parcel taking a return trip

Post by ScootyUK »

Hi,

I am having a similar issue, I purchased an item from "Amazon EU". It was delivered within 3 days.

After returning it though RM the below is the tracking information on the Slovakian postal site:

Departure from outward office of exchange
20.5.2021 15:48
Returned from import Customs
19.5.2021 16:24
Presented to import Customs
15.5.2021 17:24
Arrival at inward office of exchange
15.5.2021 08:48
Departure from outward office of exchange
11.5.2021 05:46 (United Kingdom)

I posted it via RM on 10/05/2021, it is now 26/05/2021 and it seems to be stuck somewhere..

I wish I read your advice before, did you resolve your issue?

Any advice would be great!

Scott
Cher79
Posts: 1
Joined: 29 May 2021, 12:41
Gender: Female

Re: International Parcel taking a return trip

Post by Cher79 »

Hi I’ve had a returned /refused parcel back from Slovakia today .

No idea why it was refused as it had all the correct customs forms on the inside and outside of the parcel . The returned parcel just has a red sticker on which says refused and nothing further .

The tracking said exactly the same as above .. it arrived in Slovakia , went to customs , then updated to say leaving the UK again . Just wondering if anyone has got any further with Amazon ? I don’t really want to send it internationally again if Its going to get returned .

Thank you
TrueBlueTerrier
FORUM ADMINISTRATOR
Posts: 72628
Joined: 30 Dec 2006, 10:29
Gender: Male
Location: On my couch

Re: International Parcel taking a return trip

Post by TrueBlueTerrier »

Cher79 wrote:
29 May 2021, 12:53
Hi I’ve had a returned /refused parcel back from Slovakia today .

No idea why it was refused as it had all the correct customs forms on the inside and outside of the parcel . The returned parcel just has a red sticker on which says refused and nothing further .

The tracking said exactly the same as above .. it arrived in Slovakia , went to customs , then updated to say leaving the UK again . Just wondering if anyone has got any further with Amazon ? I don’t really want to send it internationally again if Its going to get returned .

Thank you
Refused is usually used only when a customer refuses delivery. Can you post a picture of the red sticker, and any other postal stickers from Slovakia. Obscure your address obviously.

Also if you can post the tracking number that will help identify where it was refused.
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