Nearly 4 weeks sitting in UK customs?!

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 25 Jul 2020, 18:10

bmlodge wrote:They must see my packages and send them straight to customs where it sits there for weeks.

All packages go through customs. Customs chose random batches of mail for closer inspection. Best guess it's a combination of customs being short on staff and a lack of flights to transport the mail

bmlodge · Post by **bmlodge** » 25 Jul 2020, 18:32

SpacePhoenix wrote:
bmlodge wrote:They must see my packages and send them straight to customs where it sits there for weeks.
All packages go through customs. Customs chose random batches of mail for closer inspection. Best guess it's a combination of customs being short on staff and a lack of flights to transport the mail

Yeah, I'm starting to think that my packages are always in the random batch they pick for a closer look.

karlmarx · Post by **karlmarx** » 26 Jul 2020, 21:16

Snaggletooth wrote: Why are you expecting this tracking point? Earlier, you posted an example of another item (HJ287252442US), that item did not have that tracking point as far as I can see. Here is the tracking from departing London onwards from USPS.com:

July 20, 2020, 2:49 pm
Delivered
SWITZERLAND
Your item was delivered in SWITZERLAND at 2:49 pm on July 20, 2020.

July 20, 2020, 10:24 am
Collect for Pick Up
SWITZERLAND

July 16, 2020, 10:39 am
Processed through Facility
ZURICH-URDORF, SWITZERLAND

July 16, 2020, 10:34 am
Customs Clearance Processing Complete
SWITZERLAND

July 15, 2020, 10:50 am
Customs Clearance
SWITZERLAND

July 15, 2020, 10:49 am
Processed Through Facility
SWITZERLAND

July 11, 2020, 11:00 am
Departed
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

Because I have another recent parcel on the way to me with the tracking info as mentioned.

FYI: The USPS tracking shows always only the most recent status with a complete sentence like "Your item was delivered in ... at ... ..., .... or "Your item departed a transfer airport in ..., ..., ... on ..., ... at ... The item is currently in transit to the destination." The previous informations about the tracking status have only a short description – i.e. "Collect for Pick Up", "Customs Clearance" or just "Departed". (You can see it on the example above.)

Snaggletooth wrote:It isn' stuck in Heathrow, they put it on the plane at 07:55 on 05 July - see your earlier post.

Not sure about that. My earlier packages transferred via Heathrow arrived in Switzerland within 3-4 days. This tricky one did not arrive after 21 days being transferred...

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 28 Jul 2020, 06:58

karlmarx wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:Why are you expecting this tracking point? Earlier, you posted an example of another item (HJ287252442US), that item did not have that tracking point as far as I can see.
Because I have another recent parcel on the way to me with the tracking info as mentioned.

USPS track parcels into the airport in the destination country. Most national postal administrations, including Royal Mail, do not do this. Your 'tricky' item is arriving in Switzerland via Royal Mail, so it will follow Royal Mail's procedures. And if you check the example that you posted of an item that was routed via the UK, you will see that was the case (important to check the times of the scans...)

karlmarx wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:It isn' stuck in Heathrow, they put it on the plane at 07:55 on 05 July - see your earlier post.
Not sure about that. My earlier packages transferred via Heathrow arrived in Switzerland within 3-4 days. This tricky one did not arrive after 21 days being transferred...

The other parcel did not take 4 days for that item to fly from Heathrow to Zurich, it wouldn't even take that by road. It was scanned when it was put on the plane on 11/07 and when it left customs on 15/07, there were no scans in between (as is normal), the majority of those four days are likely to be customs clearance. It is unreasonable to assume that customs clearance time will always be the same because, apart from anything else, most customs administrations select batches of mail at random for extra checks.

karlmarx · Post by **karlmarx** » 30 Jul 2020, 12:34

So where is the parcel then? It's on the way since 35 days. Departed from Heathrow 25 days ago. It makes me insane.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 30 Jul 2020, 12:41

karlmarx wrote:So where is the parcel then? It's on the way since 35 days. Departed from Heathrow 25 days ago. It makes me insane.

Sorry, we are not an official Royal Mail site so anything posted on here is unofficial and is posted on a voluntary basis. We try to give insight and advice but if you want specific answers you have to go to an official source.

karlmarx · Post by **karlmarx** » 04 Aug 2020, 10:49

Short update: My parcel arrived today (after one month being "departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW") at the Swiss customs and should be delivered within next few days. I'm happy.

Cainshiro · Post by **Cainshiro** » 04 Aug 2020, 13:38

Can somebody explain to me why Global Priority Mail & Express Mail parcels are stuck at Heathrow when they are supposed to go to Coventry for CUSTOMS CLEARANCE and delivery? Does it mean Heathrow Customs can hold parcels before they are transported from the airport to PFW International Hub in Coventry for additional checks? PFW customer support people told me UK Border Customs share the same building with them in Coventry so something doesn't make sense here.