Stuck at UK customs

[Lenny]

i can only pressume the same delay will apply to packages coming inbound to the UK from the USA will apply also - just gotta sit tight I/m afraid !!

 

[Alex_P1]

So it was just sitting around for eleven days waiting to get delivered?:err:

Yep, it got into the UK from China after 2 days on 01/06, and then nothing happened until about 20:30 on Monday night when the status changed from "Awaiting Customs Clearance" to "Forwarded for UK Delivery", and it was at my house at 10:40!

I can only assume it was sat at the bottom of a big pile of packages which built up over the bank holiday weekend.

 

[M_I_R_A_C_L_E]

I am finding this new mail tracking system far more reliable than conventional methods:

 

[sirhenrypoole]

UK custom is just so damn paranoid.. the country is almost bankrupt anyway y are they so afraid of replicas.. they need them!! omg

 

[ChrisKibbleDJ]

In the past all my EMS packages have been in customs for one day, my current package has been in there 3 days so far.

 

[greg_r]

Yup - UK customs appear to be backlogged badly at the moment. It happens occasionally - the longest I've ever had to wait is 10 days. Currently they have a package of mine that's been sitting there for a week. Hopefully they'll spring it loose soon (especially as it's not for me - it's for a competition I'll be running soon next door at RWG!)

 

[Alex_P1]

UK custom is just so damn paranoid.. the country is almost bankrupt anyway y are they so afraid of replicas.. they need them!! omg

UK customs are actually regarded as one of the least strict in the whole of Europe, hence a lot of people doing triangular postage through here, it is just the Olympics and Jubilee which have slowed things down a bit recently

I think you need to look a bit closer to home for a country which is "almost bankrupt", I certainly wouldn't swap your national debt for mine!

 

[Mambo]

Customs is slow indeed ....
Usually it's cleared in a day, now it's already stuck for days

 

[JeMuMue]

Took 4 days!


Date/Time Location Activity
2012-06-07**19:21:00 City of Guangzhou* Posting**
2012-06-07**19:51:00 City of Guangzhou* Despatch from Sorting Center**
2012-06-07**20:45:00 GUANGZHOU* Arrival at Sorting Center**
2012-06-07**23:00:00 GUANGZHOU* Despatch from Sorting Center**
2012-06-10**18:48:00 UNITED KINGDOM COVENTRY PARCELFORCE* Arrival at Sorting Center**
2012-06-10**18:49:00 UNITED KINGDOM COVENTRY PARCELFORCE* Handed over to Customs**
2012-06-13**17:58:00 UNITED KINGDOM COVENTRY TRA* Released from Customs**

 

[Alex_P1]

Lets face it, customs being too busy is probably better than having too little to do! At least this way they should be less interested in small packages with low value goods in than usual.

 

[Mambo]

Released from customs, .... it took them 5 days

 

[M_I_R_A_C_L_E]

I'm delighted for you :skeptical:

I think next time I need to pay extra for the EMS. I got it in my head that airmail was the safest way to go but the lack of tracking info has been tortuous.

 

[Bonesey]

No, EMS is the best mix of tracking + security. Airmail slowest, UPS etc more dangerous.

 

[M_I_R_A_C_L_E]

What can I say, I'm a noob. The site stated airmail took less than a week to the UK in most instances so I thought it would be adequate. Lesson learned.

Postie's just been and still no sign of my parcel. Is it worth phoning these people up and asking the question?

 

[Bonesey]

Not going to rush anything along really, it will arrive when it arrives. Just put it to the back of your mind.

 

[Alex_P1]

Agreed, just wait it out. No point drawing attention to it as it'll probably end up taking longer and costing more!

I know this is easy to say when I'm not waiting for anything, but I will be in about another week...

 

[Rich_IX]

I have a package from a TD took 2 days to get to the UK been at customs for 5 days so far through EMS...
I'm not bothered though, it will get here in the end..

 

[M_I_R_A_C_L_E]

Ah. Seems I've been wasting my time checking these websites:

Please note that items sent from overseas to the UK cannot be tracked using the Royal Mail website.

 

[Bonesey]

Try the parcelforce website

http://www.parcelforce.com/track-trace

 

[M_I_R_A_C_L_E]

Try the parcelforce website

http://www.parcelforce.com/track-trace

I have been doing, they're all the same company anyway are they not?

All I get at Parcelforce is:

http://www.parcelforce.com/track-trace#edit-tracking-number-wrapper

Parcelforce Worldwide parcel tracking reference numbers are either 9, 13 or 14 characters with no spaces. Please check and re-enter.