UK Customs how long for parcel to get through?

[laurac]

My hoof boots from USA have been sitting in UK customs for 5 days Does anyone know how long small parcels take to go through?
Its the first time i've purchased anything from abroad

Many thanks

[misty]

We bought some boots from Sheplers in January and they took less than a week. I have bought stuff from US and it has taken as little as 4 days. Don't forget your tax!

[busybee]

I regularly have stuff delivered from Vanuatu, it usually takes about two weeks.

[laurac]

thanks everyone, i did pay extra for 5 day international delivery and its been 9 days so far, so bit disappointed, i am sure i have paid my tax of around £38 when i purchased them, we shall see !

[specialized]

Which shipping agent is handling them? There will be duty and VAT to pay before they are released from customs, anything you paid up front will be unlikely to cover UK customs. You will usually be contacted to pay customs charges before delivery is made, Parcelforce will write to you so there will be a delay there, and unless the courier firm has your phone number they can't get in touch. If the item is not cleared within a certain time, I think about 30 days, it will be returned to sender.
What you really need to do is find out which company it was shipped with and get the tracking number, then you can trace it here.

[misty]

Yes, you pay duty and vat here as it is a British tax. I have had stuff delivered before I've looked at the tracking. Small stuff usually come by parcelforce but large items by UPS or Fedex and I've always had a tracking number. Hope they arrive soon.

[laurac]

Ive got a tracking number so can see its at uk customs
USPS is the firm i think

[specialized]

USPS will come to you via parcelforce, which probably means your customs invoice is in the post. You can look up your local depot online and phone them with your tracking number, they should then be able to take payment over the phone and speed up delivery.

[laurac]

Well good news i have had an update to say package is out of customs and at delivery office (doesnt say which delivery office though !)

[laurac]

May 20, 2011 9:10:25 GMT 1 specialized said:

USPS will come to you via parcelforce, which probably means your customs invoice is in the post. You can look up your local depot online and phone them with your tracking number, they should then be able to take payment over the phone and speed up delivery.

Thanks for this, ive just gone onto parcelforce website and put in the USPS tracking number and package arrived at the Ipswich depot at 1am this morning ;D maybe it will be delivered today

[specialized]

It would be worth giving the depot a ring as they will still send an invoice, if there is customs due, before they will deliver and you can pay over the phone to save waiting for the invoice to arrive.

[laurac]

thanks just called them, yes your right i need to pay customs money and even if i pay today they wont deliver until next week unless i pay another 12 for delivery tomorrow so looks like i shall be doing a 2 hour drive round trip today to collect my boots

[benvenuti18]

The renowned courier deliver service provider will always offer you the safety of the products because they are experienced in delivering various kinds of products without any damage. For my interior décor stuff delivery I also have hired the best courier services Dallas and having good experience with them.