PDA

View Full Version : Royal Mail disruption - overseas post


ElizabethHerts
12-01-23, 09:45
I noted the DNA kits are sent to Ireland.

I hope this doesn't affect the prompt arrival of the kits:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64231473

Phoenix
13-01-23, 07:11
Given this appears to be a Russian ransom-ware attack, goodness knows when it will get sorted.

Given that Ancestry say it may take 5 weeks for kits to be shown as arriving, I suspect that Royal Mail fill a warehouse at Heathrow, and Ireland has a similar warehouse, from which they take batches. Such systems would explain why some kits take far less time to be processed than others. For me, it's four weeks and waiting.

ElizabethHerts
13-01-23, 13:44
My daughter's sample was received today!

"Sample received Jan 13"

That's a relief!

ElizabethHerts
13-01-23, 13:55
I've also received email confirmation. They say the result should take 6-8 weeks.

Phoenix
13-01-23, 15:34
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't your daughter's sent in January, Elizabeth?

ElizabethHerts
13-01-23, 15:54
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't your daughter's sent in January, Elizabeth?

Yes, eight days ago, Phoenix. 5th January.

Phoenix
13-01-23, 16:44
Blinkety flip!

ElizabethHerts
13-01-23, 18:25
Oh Phoenix, have you got caught up in the Christmas backlog?
We found that cards posted early to us for Christmas were the last to arrive, all after Christmas.

I do hope your test kit arrives very soon.

I must admit to being pleasantly surprised at our kit having arrived so promptly.

Phoenix
13-01-23, 18:56
It makes me wonder, Elizabeth. I do appear to have received all my Christmas cards now, but one family history journal took 39 days. I assume that "in progress" means it's somewhere in the system.

Phoenix
18-01-23, 10:36
Flipping Ancestry. They will send out a replacement kit if it takes more than 20 working days for them to receive the kit, But... this means they immediately cancel the kit that's in the post. If the problem lies with the post round here, what's the guarantee there won't be similar future delays?

ElizabethHerts
18-01-23, 11:03
Flipping Ancestry. They will send out a replacement kit if it takes more than 20 working days for them to receive the kit, But... this means they immediately cancel the kit that's in the post. If the problem lies with the post round here, what's the guarantee there won't be similar future delays?

There's the rub, Phoenix. Fingers crossed that you receive the next one and that they receive it after you have posted it! They ought to provide tracking information. It's £10 for delivery anyway.

In the end I got two kits as the first one took weeks to come.
We tried to activate both kits but they had invalidated the first one, so it went in the dustbin. What a waste!

Lynn the Forest Fan
25-01-23, 15:25
Flipping Ancestry. They will send out a replacement kit if it takes more than 20 working days for them to receive the kit, But... this means they immediately cancel the kit that's in the post. If the problem lies with the post round here, what's the guarantee there won't be similar future delays?
Did you send for a 2nd kit Pheonix and has it arrived yet? Mine was posted on 7th but probably didn't get collected until 9th Jan. So far there is no news of Ancestry having recived it. :mad:

Phoenix
25-01-23, 20:49
Waiting a bit longer, but I suspect it is irretreivably lost.

Lynn the Forest Fan
26-01-23, 15:01
Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. I hope mine arrives there soon

ElizabethHerts
26-01-23, 15:35
They received my daughter's sample on 13th January but they haven't started processing it yet.

Phoenix
26-01-23, 17:12
Well, I'm glad I didn't cancel it: it arrived today!

ElizabethHerts
26-01-23, 18:03
Well, I'm glad I didn't cancel it: it arrived today!

Good news, Phoenix!

Lynn the Forest Fan
27-01-23, 06:15
Well, I'm glad I didn't cancel it: it arrived today!
That's good. Do they notify you or did you discover it had arrived by checking Ancestry?

Phoenix
27-01-23, 08:46
The account holder emailed me this morning, as they had received notification. (But I was already checking daily)

Lynn the Forest Fan
27-01-23, 15:26
Thanks, I will keep checking.

Lynn the Forest Fan
03-02-23, 15:22
Woohoo! Got an email today saying my sample has arrived. :)

ElizabethHerts
03-02-23, 15:25
Woohoo! Got an email today saying my sample has arrived. :)

That's good news, Lynn!

Daughter's sample arrived 13th January but still no indication that they have started to process it.

*Drums fingers*

Phoenix
03-02-23, 17:33
That's good news, Lynn!

Daughter's sample arrived 13th January but still no indication that they have started to process it.

*Drums fingers*


Excellent news, Lynn!

Elizabeth, under details, Ancestry say sample processing is in progress for the sample I've submitted. It arrived 26th January.

ElizabethHerts
03-02-23, 17:35
Excellent news, Lynn!

Elizabeth, under details, Ancestry say sample processing is in progress for the sample I've submitted. It arrived 26th January.

There must be method in their madness, or vice versa!

Lynn the Forest Fan
04-02-23, 07:25
I was wondering how your samples were coming along. It is going to be a long 6 -8 weeks!

ElizabethHerts
04-02-23, 08:28
I contacted Live Chat yesterday evening and they are going to enquire whether our sample is being processed yet.

ElizabethHerts
08-02-23, 21:47
This is a long saga.

I contacted Ancestry via Live Chat on Friday afternoon. The chap told me he thought they had started processing the sample but said he'd ask for an update and I should hear within 48 hours.

I still hadn't heard anything by yesterday so I contacted Live Chat again.
The chap I was in communication didn't seem to be able to write very good English and it was very confused.
"Elizabeth, I'm very sorry about the delay. I can see here that the [name's] DNA was received and the lab started the process. They will start processing very soon. I will send a status update to the lab right now."

On looking back at the first Live Chat transcript, that is exactly the same wording!

Then I have had an email this evening:

"Through review, the shipment containing this sample is currently held up at Customs. Our Lab believes it should arrive within 1-3 business days. Rest assured, we will send an e-mail updates once your sample is already in process at the lab. We apologize for the delay.

We hope this helps. We sincerely appreciate your business and hope you have a great day!"

At this point, my patience was wearing thin! I send them an email by return and then received the following:

"In relation to your query, as you can see in your account : DNA - DNA summary results- 1 order in progress, the sample was received on the 13 of January, for some insight into the posting of your sample back to us, it is first sent to our holding facility where the samples are sorted and sanitized before getting shipped to our lab. This is why it can take quite some time before you get an update on the status of your sample. As soon as it arrives, you will be notified by email and for every step of the processing. There will be an estimated ready time for your results at the end of the DNA kit status bar on your DNA homepage when we start to process the sample.
The processing period can take between 6-8 weeks.

A status update request was created and the team from the lab sent you an email:

" Thank you for contacting Ancestry in regards to your AncestryDNA status. We regret not getting back to you sooner but we're happy to help you.

Through review, the shipment containing this sample is currently held up at Customs. Our Lab believes it should arrive within 1-3 business days. Rest assured, we will send an e-mail updates once your sample is already in process at the lab. We apologize for the delay." id from the Lab team."

The lab team will notify you as soon as the sample starts processing at the lab. "

The whole thing is absolutely bonkers!

I also received a non-personal email earlier today:

"Lab processing is taking a bit longer than usual

Due to high demand, our lab needs a little extra time to process your test. We are sorry for the delay, but rest assured — your DNA kit has been received. We are working diligently to deliver your results, and we will send you an email once processing begins. Thank you for your patience!"

Lynn the Forest Fan
09-02-23, 15:12
So when it says they have received it, that doesn't mean at the lab? How confusing!

ElizabethHerts
09-02-23, 15:20
So when it says they have received it, that doesn't mean at the lab? How confusing!

I don't think they know themselves half the time, Lynn. :(

That's the first time I've heard of a "holding facility".

Phoenix
09-02-23, 16:38
Kit activated
Dec 16
Sample received
Jan 26
Sample processing
Feb 9
DNA extracted
In Progress
DNA analysed
Est. date: Mar 2
Results ready
Est. date: Mar 5

Phoenix
09-02-23, 16:41
Sample owner reviewed the process on Trustpilot, and gave it a poor score. Interestingly, things have speeded up since then.

Phoenix
16-02-23, 13:06
Estimated Date for Results: Feb 19
Kit activated
Dec 16
Sample received
Jan 26
Sample processing
Feb 9
DNA extracted
Feb 10
DNA analysed
Feb 16
Results ready
In Progress

Phoenix
16-02-23, 13:14
So, in a week, they have moved the results date back approx 3 weeks! You would have thought they had so many samples to process, they could estimate times better. How are you doing, Elizabeth, Lynn?

Lynn the Forest Fan
16-02-23, 14:59
Estimated Date for Results: Mar 12th
Kit activated
Jan 7th
Sample received
Feb 3rd
Sample processing
Feb 16th
DNA extracted
In progress
DNA analysed
Est date Mar 9th
Results ready
est date Mar 12th
I was very excited to get the email today. A 6 to 8 week timeframe, takes us to March 31st, so this is faster.

Lynn the Forest Fan
18-02-23, 14:23
I had an update today to say that DNA had been processed!

Phoenix
18-02-23, 15:20
And mine are here!!! AND, most are divided between parents 1 and 2!

Lynn the Forest Fan
18-02-23, 15:39
How exciting!

Lynn the Forest Fan
24-02-23, 12:12
Today's update says that my DNA is being analysed and I should have my results on 27th February!

Lynn the Forest Fan
28-02-23, 16:17
My results actually arrived on 26th February and I have really enjoyed looking at them. It can be reather confusing though. I had one tht said there wasn't a common ancestor but when I looked at the tree, there was only we had different dates for them.

Phoenix
28-02-23, 19:40
You'll also find plenty of false common ancestors.
I colour code my common ancestors, as that is the only safe way to check I've looked at them. Some disappear when people remove trees and some pop up when they decide to create trees. All good fun!

ElizabethHerts
28-02-23, 19:44
I'm pleased your results arrived, Lynne. Now you can have fun!

My daughter's DNA was extracted on 22nd February and analysis is in progress. The results should be ready by 17th March.

Lynn the Forest Fan
01-03-23, 15:22
Hopefully they will arrive sooner

ElizabethHerts
10-03-23, 10:31
My daughter's results were waiting for me this morning and I've been having fun sorting them into groups.

They are proving quite helpful as they are helping me with my matches and OH's matches too.

I've had a cold/throat virus since last Friday which doesn't want to shift so it's good to have something gentle to do. My grandson seems to have something similar and my sister has just got over something. Still, this is the first cold I've had in about 3 years! That's probably why it's so bad. :(

Phoenix
10-03-23, 12:11
Hooray! Have fun, Elizabeth, and I hope your cold soon gets better.

Lynn the Forest Fan
11-03-23, 06:27
Good news Elizabeth, hope the cold soon passes