Post problem

[Rubberduckie]

Has anyone had trouble sending gifts abroad this year? I'm annoyed to hear from my brother in Switzerland that the two parcels I sent him had several items removed & then were resealed and sent on to him. When I posted them I thought it odd I didn't have to fill out a customs declaration. Of course that means there's no proof of what was in them.Were the contents removed at customs or pinched at the shipping depot? Is there any point in going to the post office for a whinge?

[kempie]

You are correct to question the fact that you were not asked to complete a Customs Declaration (CN 23) for a parcel being exported to a non-EU country. This is a requirement under international postal agreements.

As to where the 'removal' occured; UK Customs do carry out selective examinations to ensure that no prohibited or restricted goods, or items relating to the proceeds of crime are being improperly sent.

[Buenchico]

If the parcels were opened by any customs authority there should be an indication that this has happened. (e.g. the parcel might be resealed with tape bearing appropriate wording or a note might be enclosed with the package). If this isn't present it's most likely that theft has taken place somewhere along the postal chain.

Details of the rules which apply to parcels posted to Switzerland are here:
http://www.swisspost.ch/en/spi_einfuhr_von_paketen.pdf
(Although the URL is in German the PDF is in English!).

Chris

[Lonnie]

I don't know about items sent abroad, but the problem is rife over here, I sent a birthday card with a p/o for my nephews birthday, the card got there, the envelope had been opned, and the p/o gone, a parcel was sent for my brother-in-laws 50th, never got there, the police say tho Post Office deal with these things internally, but they never got back to us after it being reported.

[DillyGent]

Rubberduckie, I agree with Lonnie, the problem is rife here in the UK. I sent my daughter a birthday card with �30 cash and had put a 1st class stamp on it. She said the card had been opened and re-sealed, the stamp had not been 'franked' but just squiggled over with a pen and the money had gone. It isn't the first time this has happened but what's the point of complaining? The last time I did I was told "don't put cash in the post". The point is mail should not be opened by anyone but the addressee. It is a criminal offence but the post office don't bother to follow through as they employ so many temp staff at this time of year it would be impossible to trace the source, so no sadly, I don't suppose there is any point in having a winge.

[Rubberduckie]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I have contacted the Royal Mail via their website for my whinge but I don't hold out much hope since they appear to have a backlog of customer problems.