Parcel stuck in Coventry for over a month

[cornandbeans]

15/9/2015 8:18 International Hub Awaiting Customs Charging
14/9/2015 19:29 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
14/9/2015 19:21 International Hub Received in destination country
12/9/2015 0:30 TOKYO INT BAG Forwarded for export
10/9/2015 18:00 Delivery Agent - JAPAN Collected from customer

The tracking number is CC228839047JP / EH019019281GB. Japan Post indicates my parcel is in Coventry.
This is driving me crazy. I didn't expect the parcel to arrive in the UK within 4 days but spending over a month in the Customs!!
Should I wait for a few weeks more? Or should I contact the Customs? If I should contact them can someone tell me the email or the phone number please. Thank you.

[SpacePhoenix]

It's not unusual for stuff to get stuck at customs for a month or more, they might have a backlog as there seems to be an increase in threads here where people's stuff is stuck in customs

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

It's worth checking with your local delivery office it may have reached there but the grey customs charge card gone astray

[Snaggletooth]

It's worth checking with your local delivery office it may have reached there but the grey customs charge card gone astray

Sorry to contradict, but this is a Parcelforce item, not Royal Mail, so it won't be at the delivery office.

IIRC Parceforce send a letter out to customers if there is a customs charge to pay. It is possible that this has got lost or was mis-addressed or something. Have you called Parcelforce customer services about this? It may be possible to pay over the phone and get the item released.

[cornandbeans]

IIRC Parceforce send a letter out to customers if there is a customs charge to pay. It is possible that this has got lost or was mis-addressed or something. Have you called Parcelforce customer services about this? It may be possible to pay over the phone and get the item released.

Yes I did checked with Parcelforce numerous times. They said the parcel is still in the customs. If there is indeed a backlog I should probably wait then.

[Snaggletooth]

OK, just wanted to make sure that you were calling the right people. Also, we have had loads of complaints on here about Royal Mail / Langley customs, this is the first I can remember regarding Parcelforce / Coventry customs.

[cornandbeans]

Your delivery

Parcel number:
EH019019281GB
Service:
Express 24
Tracking status:
Held

Item tracking history Date Time Location Tracking event
12/11/2015 15:49 Plymouth Depot Delivery scheduled
12/11/2015 14:46 Plymouth Depot Awaiting payment of charges
12/11/2015 5:36 Plymouth Depot Received at delivery depot
11/11/2015 15:26 International Hub Forwarded for UK processing
11/11/2015 12:26 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
11/11/2015 12:25 International Hub Received in destination country
11/11/2015 12:21 International Hub Revised charges to be paid
15/9/2015 8:18 International Hub Awaiting Customs Charging
14/9/2015 19:29 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
14/9/2015 19:21 International Hub Received in destination country
12/9/2015 0:30 TOKYO INT BAG Forwarded for export
10/9/2015 18:00 Delivery Agent - JAPAN…+Delivery Agent - JAPAN Collected from customer


OK so this is what happened. I contacted Parcelforce 4 times on "how to contact the Customs" and for the first 3 times they just told me "your parcel is still in customs and sorry we can't help it". They didn't even answer my questions...

I was frustrated and contacted them again on Twitter last week. This time another person helped me and told me "As your parcel was sent on a Global Value service and this does not include a tracking facility, I'm unable to provide you with any specific details of it's current location or initiate a search. For more information the sender needs to contact the parcel company used in the country of posting who will them need to start the search with us."
Thanks for telling me that, but PF could have just told me right away when I asked them about it...
I contacted my delivery agent, who filed a report with Japan Post right at once. 2 days later (yesterday) my parcel was finally released after being held in the Customs for 8 weeks!!! Hurray!!!

However I am VERY unhappy that they charged me VAT of the postage fee. I paid a lot for the airmail ffs and they held it for 2 months. That's even worse than surface mail!!!!!! Why on earth should I pay VAT for that!?

[eric the viking]

However I am VERY unhappy that they charged me VAT of the postage fee. I paid a lot for the airmail ffs and they held it for 2 months. That's even worse than surface mail!!!!!! Why on earth should I pay VAT for that!?
Because VAT is charged by HMRC . It is a tax collected by the government and has nothing to do with Parcelforce.
, likewise the delay was caused by HMRC which is also out of the control of Parcelforce.

[cornandbeans]

Because VAT is charged by HMRC . It is a tax collected by the government and has nothing to do with Parcelforce.
, likewise the delay was caused by HMRC which is also out of the control of Parcelforce.

I understand, but just saying the backlog already negates the benefits of airmail.
Being a HKer it's really hard to get used to the British inefficiency sometimes...

[Kristin123]

I'm having almost the same experience now. My parcel was sent from China using EMS to the uk (I believe it's parcel force 24).

Date and Time 13/7/2016 at 21:01
Location International Hub
Tracking event Awaiting Customs clearance
Date and Time 13/7/2016 at 21:00
Location International Hub
Tracking event Arrived in the UK
Date and Time 7/7/2016 at 1:30
Location Delivery Agent - SHANGHAI - PTT
Tracking event Despatched to the UK
Date and Time 6/7/2016 at 21:10
Location Delivery Agent - BEIJING - PTT
Tracking event Prepared for despatch to the UK

After a long wait it finally arrived in the UK on 13/07/16. Then it stopped giving me anymore updates. Just want to know where my parcel is and has it been lost? When will this waiting game come to an end? Could anyone help me to trace my item?

[Kristin123]

I contacted parcel force for numerous time and they let their globle team to investigate in it. However, they destroyed my hope by simply saying they have no control with how long Customs will keep it, and the Customs may hold an item for as long as they wish without informing anyone as to why. He would advise you to keep eyes on tracking and also contact sender.

[Kristin123]

I have already contacted EMS and my sender. Still no sounds.

[Snaggletooth]

I contacted parcel force for numerous time and they let their globle team to investigate in it. However, they destroyed my hope by simply saying they have no control with how long Customs will keep it, and the Customs may hold an item for as long as they wish without informing anyone as to why. He would advise you to keep eyes on tracking and also contact sender.

The above is correct. However, if you bought this item from eBay you might still be able to make a claim for failing the contracted delivery time. Have a look at the T&Cs and the advert for the item.

It does seem slightly unusual for something coming by that service to have a severe delay: I wonder if the item is potentially not allowed / dutiable in the UK, or if the sender has not filled in the customs form very well?

[Kristin123]

Thanks for the quick replay. My sender filed a report for the Cudtoms. She put Desceiption of contents as 'gift'. It is dietary supplement inside if you are wondering.

[Kristin123]

Plus, same kind of product was sent to me before. Even it stayed in customs for a while, they finally just released it. Last time in Customs it probably sit there for a week.