awaiting custom clearance 3 times is that normal ? thanks

[leslie888]

Had a parcel being sent from china, checked parcelforce website it says

Date Time Location Tracking Event
02-12-2013 11:48 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
02-12-2013 11:47 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
02-12-2013 11:44 International Hub Received and processed
01-12-2013 22:13 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
01-12-2013 22:12 International Hub Received in destination country

is that normal? its mobile phone accessories, covers , usb wires etc, no battery inside . has anyone had the similar problem? will this due to backlog in the international hub? thanks

[tmastermind]

Its been normal of late due to time of year.

Whos the courier?

[leslie888]

EMS from China and I have checked Parcelforce website got the above information thanks

[tmastermind]

EMS is slloooowwww at the mo.

Best go DHL, might be more but its so much quicker and less hassle. Used them all the time and never had once a problem with them.

[leslie888]

thanks I will use DHL next time , 'Awaiting Customs clearance' few times in the log doesnt mean I will get a charge or package opened by customs does it ? Thanks mate

[natbabes]

I use DHL & i order from China all the time, the package(s) get here really quickly & i've never once had a package seized or had a problem with them at all

I've had quite a few problems with EMS in the past, especially so close to Christmas as customs tend to be more strict around then from my own personal experience. So i stopped using them & started using DHL. No problems so far! *Fingers crossed*

[isitworththestress]

Originally Posted by leslie888

thanks I will use DHL next time , 'Awaiting Customs clearance' few times in the log doesnt mean I will get a charge or package opened by customs does it ? Thanks mate

If I remember rightly from what I have seen on here I think it says something else when you are going to have a problem.

can't recall what it was though. Someone on here will know.

[tmastermind]

Originally Posted by leslie888

thanks I will use DHL next time , 'Awaiting Customs clearance' few times in the log doesnt mean I will get a charge or package opened by customs does it ? Thanks mate

No not yet, its normal to see this message for a good 3-5 days. If nothing changes after this then there could be a problem but at that point parcelforce should contact you. Often though its just a delay. I've heard of delays like this of up to 2 weeks before being released :(

[leslie888]

thanks for the replying, looks like there has been backlog in the international hub this time of the year.

[GreenBean]

@leslie888

Backlog started last week in the UK according to our papers.

[leslie888]

still no update today , is that normal?

Status
In progress

Date Time Location Tracking Event
02-12-2013 11:48 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
02-12-2013 11:47 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
02-12-2013 11:44 International Hub Received and processed
01-12-2013 22:13 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
01-12-2013 22:12 International Hub Received in destination country
27-11-2013 23:25 Delivery Agent - SHANGHAI - PTT Forwarded for export
27-11-2013 19:25 Delivery Agent - CHINA Collected from customer

[libbo]

Chances are you might get a vat charge if you are unlucky. Plus Parcelforce will stiff you an admin charge too.

[JamesNorth101]

Originally Posted by libbo

Chances are you might get a vat charge if you are unlucky. Plus Parcelforce will stiff you an admin charge too.

Not really a case of being lucky or unlucky.
Its automatically calculated by HMRC if the value of the invoice is over the threshold.

[Callidus]

Are these items questionable? If so, you may run into problems

[gdsco]

Hi,

Had this last month, got letter from parcel force askig to pay vat, which I did over the phone and arranged a deliverly date. Item did not show up on due date so had to go and collect and make payment again. EMS are very slow.

Best to wait for letter and collect from hub and make payment there when collecting.