Terrible experience

I've been waiting from 1st of August for my airfreight shipment to arrive, which I was told from the start that it would take between 4-7 working days. Perhaps, it's better for TNT to state a waiting period of 4-7 months. This may be of more a realistic approach than 4-7 days.

I've been importing goods for over 5 years on a regularly basis using an airfreight service and this particular shipment has been one that has taken the longest amount of time out of all my shipments to arrive and I still have not received an exact date as to when I am expected to receive the shipment, although I personally have been following up on a daily basis without much success.

This shipment was ready to be collected from Italy on the 1 August. I had made the booking with TNT and had paid for the courier of the shipment on the 2nd August.

However, this collection was not performed and again only by a constant follow up from myself was I informed that collection was to take place at the first opportunity on the very subsequent day. This same procedure was repeated every day from the 2nd of August until the shipment was finally collected on the 18th of August.

It must be highlighted that during this time there was no correspondence from TNT about the delay in collection and all information about obtained about the whereabouts of the shipment was through tiresomely spending my time and money phoning the customer support number and then been transferred to various other extensions until I eventually was at a lost caused.

There seems to me to be a very broken chain of communication within the various departments at TNT, although I would like to believe that the various people within each department tried to help, it was altogether a fruitless exercise.

After all this time, I was told that the shipment is finally in Cape Town, but is being help up at customs for inspection. I received an email that this process would take roughly 5- 7 working days, well the 7th day came and went and I was still without my shipment. At this stage, it was clear to understand that its my responsibility to waste more time and money in following up with the progress of my shipment with TNT.

I was then, having once again requested further insight about the progress of my shipment, sent the release document from customs stating that the goods had been released on the 29th August. I still do not have my shipment

I've waited far too long for this shipment to arrive and I am unable to obtain any contact details from TNT of someone in charge for this matter to be escalated.

Regards,