Parcel stuck at UK customs

[Liybpg]

I am importing stuff from China and I haven't encountered this before.
My parcel was stuck at customs since 1st of June, my supplier says that I need to go to the customs and pick the item up myself.
I have asked parcelforce and they told me that the parcel was in fact lost. Supplier, on the other hand, tells me that the item is not lost, but it is just stuck at the UK customs and they have had many cases like these.

Supplier letter:

Dear friend
Customs requires you to collect items. Project was the Customs stay. Need you to go yourself. I just remind you. I have encountered many customers like you. Goods are to stay in the customs. Require the recipient to receive items directly to the customs. Customs may require you to provide information. You can tell me. I can help you provide the form of invoices. Now this is an invoice(Invoice attached). You need to bring this evidence to the Customs and Excise Department to receive the project.


Anybody has any ideas? I cannot imagine how I can go to UK customs and pick the parcel up myself, I will probably spend more money & time that the parcel's worth

 

[harryboon]

I would have thought that HMRC would have been in contact with you if this was the case, well that's what has happened to me before.

 

[WarbyGK]

Unless your supplier arranged the courier in the UK, then the parcel could well be at customs BUT I have never known them to not be in touch as soon as the parcel touches down in the UK. Even if your supplier has arranged the courier, customs will not release the goods until you've paid them your pound of flesh, and your courier will also want a handling fee too!

Probably not applicable to the OP BUT...... Be aware that if you haven't an EORI number then the parcel will have to sit in customs incurring "storage" charges for each day you are without the EORI too.

 

[florenceij]

Strange when my parcel was at customs I got a notification card asking for payment for the goods to be dispatched. If you haven't been contacted its difficult to know. What courier service did they use and were you given a tracking code?

 

[Eagle]

Err, didn't you pay to have the goods delivered...

 

[deniser]

Was it sent by EMS? If so, the price includes delivery by Parcelforce to your door.

More than likely the letter asking for payment of duty has gone astray.

Presumably you have a tracking number for the parcel. What does it say when you enter it into Parcelforce's website? What does it say when you enter it in EMS's website?

 

[Liybpg]

Thanks for your replies.
I order from them on frequent basis, and this has never happened before. If I had to pay charges, I received a letter, this time no letter - no anything. The item was sent by EMS, and delivered here by Parcelforce - it has always been without any problems.

The problem is that my supplier tells me to go to the customs and I have no idea how to contact them. I can't just go to their office (God knows where it is..) and expect to get the parcel from there.. could be such a waste of time (and probably will be).

Parcelforce tells me that the parcel has been lost. It seems very strange to me, as the tracking system shows that the parcel is still at the customs, and my supplier says that they have cases like these and the item hasn't been lost.

 

[forummember]

Hi,

I'm having the same problem, and the parcel has more than likely been seized by customs, is your parcel at the outward office of exchange?

Customs seized £4million worth of products coming in from China last week, check BBC news for more info.

If you reply, I'll tell you what will happen is this is the case and whether or not your item has been seized or whether or not it's caught up somewhere.

 

[Liybpg]

Hi,

I'm having the same problem, and the parcel has more than likely been seized by customs, is your parcel at the outward office of exchange?

Customs seized £4million worth of products coming in from China last week, check BBC news for more info.

If you reply, I'll tell you what will happen is this is the case and whether or not your item has been seized or whether or not it's caught up somewhere.

Hi,

Yes that's exactly the situation I am in. Do you know what's going to happen now?

 

[forummember]

Its the first time it's happened to me to. You will get a letter from customs asking you to sign and return it. My advice is don't as this shows you take responsibilty for the items. The parcel will be destroyed.

 

[Liybpg]

So, your advice is just to forget about it?

 

[Liybpg]

Its not too much money anyway...

 

[deniser]

So, your advice is just to forget about it?

No, of course not.

Why on earth do you think your parcel would have been seized? What is in it? Unless it is something that requires an import licence (or the contents were wrongly declared) there is no reason for it to have been seized.

More than likely it is just stuck in a backlog. Who has told you it is lost? Parcels don't usually get lost, they just get caught up somewhere in a warehouse and can do for months.

Get out one of the previous Parcelforce letters. On it you will find the number for Customs. Ring them and ask them if they have your parcel and when they will be releasing it. The number is quite often engaged so you just have to keep trying but you will get through if you do last number redial for a few minutes.

 

[forummember]

I got a letter today about whats going on from HMRC. If you PM me telling me what you have in the parcel e.g. clothing I can tell you whether or not it was seized.

 

[deniser]

I got a letter today about whats going on from HMRC. If you PM me telling me what you have in the parcel e.g. clothing I can tell you whether or not it was seized.

Why is it secret if it is in the news?

What is being seized? They haven't introduced clothing quotas again suddenly have they? (off to look at BBC website......)

 

[deniser]

Oh OK, got it now. Counterfeit sporting goods relating to the World Cup. In which case no surprises.

 

[forummember]

If the items in question are prohibited then yes.

 

[forummember]

It was also anti-counterfeiting week, hence the reason for doing this.