Heathrow International LC

[BenBiscuit]

I know that the RM are under huge pressure but is a 73 day delay expected at the moment?

I've had a parcel QP034162988GB stuck at Heathrow International LC since 27th July, while delays are expected I'm thinking this is kind of excessive, has anyone else had these kind of delays recently? I did contact RM who said there is no tax to pay on the parcel and I could either wait or contact the seller which I've done but no-one seems to know what's happening, it's at Heathrow LC and that's about it.

[SpacePhoenix]

I'm wondering if RM have opened an outhouse as I've never heard of an office called Heathrow International LC. The only two that I'm aware of that deal with stuff going in and out the country are London AMU and HWDC.

What country is it going to and what's the contents (Sometimes the contents can cause issues with customs in the receiving country. Lithium batteries can also cause issues)?

[BenBiscuit]

It's definitely Heathrow International LC (track the number and you'll see) , nothing major just a digital watch from china, I could understand if this was a fake or counterfeit item that had been pulled aside by customs but this is a Chinese branded non-copy, non-fake watch.

I'm ok with it being late, I understand that these guys are under a lot of pressure, what I can't understand is how they know they've got it but it's not being processed and how it's just floating about in the system somewhere.

I'm loathed to call RM again as the agent I spoke to last time was extremely , and unnecessarily rude, but I get it , I run an IT helpdesk and after the 5000th call regarding the same related issue your patience tends wains a little. Still, the phrase "I'll tell you what options you have if only to end this conversation" tends to make one reconsider calling again especially as this was the first enquiry.

In an age with automated, barcoded and itemised system processing I would imagine it is rare not to know at what stage or process an item is at, or is that just wishful thinking.

;-)

[Snaggletooth]

...nothing major just a digital watch from china, I could understand if this was a fake or counterfeit item that had been pulled aside by customs but this is a Chinese branded non-copy, non-fake watch.

It hasn't been pulled aside by customs, it hasn't got to customs yet. That happens when it gets to the destination country. What has probably happened is that it has been pulled over by Royal Mail as part of their pre-departure checks.

The first issue is the Dangerous Goods rules. There are a lot of rules around batteries, and it seems to be normal for all watches to be stopped and examined before putting on the plane, to make sure that it complies with UK and International law. Hopefully you went through the RM Dangerous Goods leaflet and followed the relevant instructions?

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalma ... y-2021.pdf

They will also be looking for destination specific rules. You haven't said where it is going to, but if it was going to the People's Republic of China then it could have fallen foul of any of these Chinese prohibitions / restrictions:

Prohibited: Lithium batteries and equipment containing lithium batteries.
Prohibited: Platinum, gold and silver, whether manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles.
Restricted: Radio transmitter-receivers and units ensuring secrecy in communication.

That isn't to say that your watch breaks any of those rules. But if a customer sends a watch to PR China, and the customs declaration just says 'watch' and nothing else, then RM is obliged to see if it breaks any of the above. Full rules for PR China here:

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/inter ... ides/china

Lastly, if the watch was made in PR China then there probably needs to be a check on whether the watch was made using forced labour in, say, Wuhan province. Which is easier for big international brands than obscure ones.

[BenBiscuit]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, the watch is coming to me here in the UK from China, it took just over 2 days to get here from China but has been sitting with RM since the 27th July. The tracking on the sellers end say it's cleared customs but they don't know why it's so delayed and neither do RM

[Snaggletooth]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, the watch is coming to me here in the UK from China, it took just over 2 days to get here from China but has been sitting with RM since the 27th July. The tracking on the sellers end say it's cleared customs but they don't know why it's so delayed and neither do RM

The parcel was posted in the United Kingdom. You can see this from the tracking number: it ends with GB, if it was posted in PR China then it would end with CN. Also confirmed from the tracking information, which has none of the information you would expect for an inward parcel.

Some Chinese sellers send in bulk to the UK in containers, then split it and post it in the UK. Customs is cleared at the container stage in this method, so doesn't show up on the parcel tracking, except perhaps when it is going to Northern Ireland.

You should make a claim from the seller.

[SpacePhoenix]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, the watch is coming to me here in the UK from China, it took just over 2 days to get here from China but has been sitting with RM since the 27th July. The tracking on the sellers end say it's cleared customs but they don't know why it's so delayed and neither do RM

The parcel was posted in the United Kingdom. You can see this from the tracking number: it ends with GB, if it was posted in PR China then it would end with CN. Also confirmed from the tracking information, which has none of the information you would expect for an inward parcel.

Some Chinese sellers send in bulk to the UK in containers, then split it and post it in the UK. Customs is cleared at the container stage in this method, so doesn't show up on the parcel tracking, except perhaps when it is going to Northern Ireland.

You should make a claim from the seller.

My gut feeling is that it never got handed over to RM. I would have expected to have seen it scanned in at a RM office if it had been handed over to RM

[BenBiscuit]

Thanks,

Hmmm that's very interesting I didn't know about GB and CN being the origin country in the tracking number.

Their tracking details make it look like it's coming from China, makes sense though if they have stock already here, doesn't help matters that RM say they have it, just plain confusing.

"We have your item at Heathrow International LC and it's on its way.
We're working hard to meet our usual delivery aims. If a date is offered, we'll aim for it. If we can't - because of the continued effects of Coronavirus on our people and ways of working - we'll deliver as soon as possible. For UK items, a further update will be provided when it reaches your local delivery office. For awareness, you may get two deliveries in one day. Sorry for any inconvenience. Find out more about services in your area, the UK and other countries."

I'm going to get on to the seller and obtain a refund, I doubt very much that this item will ever arrive

Thanks for the info!! :-)

[waiinpun98]

Hello

I have recently posted a parcel from Macau, Tracking Number: RR272917234MO, and it says that it is at the Heathrow International LC since Friday 10 November 2023, and I got another update on the website last night and it says that the parcel is still at Heathrow International LC. I want to know if there is any issue with my parcel, inside are just some small gifts that I sent to my friend for Christmas.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

We can't tell you if there is an issue as we are neither an official Royal Mail site nor are we Customs.

Hopefully, you gave more details than gifts on the declaration form because if Customs have selected your parcel they may take some time checking and authorising its acceptance. Also hopefully you checked the list of banned and restricted items before you sent it.