Parcels reaching Portugal but not customers

When we order goods from China they can get stuck at customs and we have to send proof of payment. Takes weeks to get them delivered. But packages from other European countries we have no problem with.

By Sue Callaghan from Beiras on 29 Jun 2019, 06:47

Been there, but never did that again. Unfortunately, CTT is no longer a mail delivery outfit, but only a cover for a postal bank; the only thing they are very careful about is state correspondence (particularly taxes).

It's a shame, because there was a time when they had one of the world's densest mail delivery networks. Now, it's a joke.

My advice? Switch to Amazon and try to order items where delivery is assured by them.

By João Soares from Lisbon on 29 Jun 2019, 09:50

Servico postal um dos piores de que eu tivesse visto o houviso terrivel servico de que as pessoa tem de que explicar o de que esta na encomenda mandar explicar o de que la est dentro etc ,se a emcomenda es mandada para Portugal para o cliente deve ser entregada ,pois isso es de que esta empatando as nossas encomendas por uma nova leia de que francamente is nothing but stupid nunca mais mando nada para Portugal

By Helena Kong from Other on 15 Oct 2019, 12:16

I sent a gift from Portugal to Slovakia (ESLOVAQUIA) via EMS a.k.a. CTT EXPRESSO 3 months ago. EMS or CTT EXpresso (what a thieving joke) opened the shopment and emailed me a joke message that I must come and pick it up in Lisbon (thousadns of miles away!!!) because they think it is prohibited items! Tjhievds, morons, idiots, assholes... After 3 months of intense correspondence the EMS or CTT Expresso (what a joke!!) still SERIOUSLY insistes that they cannot refund my €50 shipping charges and can not return my items to me (delivery/export was rudely cancelled!) because they want me to fly THOUSANDS OF MILES to their flea infested a***** warehouse to pick my stuff up!!! I will never consider portugal a serious destination after this! Scum of earth!

By Jimmy from USA on 18 Nov 2019, 22:53

I posted previously about failed deliveries and this time tried Royal Mail / GLS Group. The package tracker indicated the parcel had been delivered which of course it hadn't at all. GLS say that deliveries are tuned to local practice which means they can leave stuff somewhere - but have never left a delivery note to say when or where. Don't know what's worst, that it's a big SCAM or utter ineptitude.

By richard from Beiras on 31 Jan 2020, 16:02

My mum in the USA sent me a parcel on May 19 and I tracked it leaving Miami on the 22nd. It's been over a month and nothing! It's like watching paint dry, the thing is I actually need some of the stuff in my box. Same thing happened last year, where it took over a month to be received, My mum sent packages to my sister and I at the same time and she got hers over 3 weeks ago and she's in Singapore! It's infuriating and you get 0 answers! Maaaaan not even in the small islands in the Caribbean does it take so slow. This postal service echos the postal service of a 3rd world country 70 years ago!

By Chriselle Semper from Porto on 27 Apr 2020, 16:13

I have a complaint too.
I have been expecting a parcel to be delivered from the Uk. They've made one single attempt to deliver it, I was not at home. They did not leave any notification card in my mailbox, just took it back to a parcel shop 6 km away from me. I found out about it on the website, through the tracking system.
I managed to come across an email address on the internet that deals with english complaints in Portugal.
I made my complaint to that address. I got a reply saying that they would attempt to deliver it for the second time without giving me any time slot. On my behalf my sister who speaks Portuguese has asked them what time of day or time they would try to deliver it again. They said: we do not know..

So basically I will have to stay at home for a week waiting for my parcel which is not granted.
but who knows, it might not be delivered at all.

They also made a mistake with the ID of the parcel shop because it was an error, they gave me the wrong answer.

I would make a complaint to the headquarters directly but I do not know.
These people are paid to do nothing. This is unacceptable.

By Zoltan Fazekas from Porto on 27 May 2020, 14:59

I did not receive my residence card which was sent from SEF through CTT courier .I had a track number but CTT delivery guy drop it to the unknown house even he does not which house he just dropped it because it was his responsibility to drop the letter thats the very frustrating and careless job what they do.

Now I am waiting for proper investigation to get back the my letter with id inside.

By ASHRAFUL from Lisbon on 21 Jul 2020, 22:27

I just had a small package from the UK going to Cortegaca, Ovar, returned to the UK as undeliverable. Despite the address being correct.

By Christiaan from Porto on 03 Aug 2020, 11:47

And how about the Royal Mail that delivers registered mail addressed to UK as if non-registered mail was?? How about that?? This is going on for years! So, its just the CTT that works bad?? Try to ship an parcel from Portugal to UK, pay tracking, and see what happens when it arrives to UK soil! CTT is as bad as Royal Mail or other carriers

By Miguel from Porto on 27 Aug 2020, 05:16

I actually am hesitant to say this, but every indication is that CTT employees are perhaps actually deliberately discriminating against delivery to addresses of some people whose name does not appear to be Portuguese. My wife and I NEVER receive any deliveries, or even attempted deliveries to our actual door by CTT any longer. Our house, along with others', is only 60m away from the main road, on a public track, easily accessible, but all we ever get is 'Siga' cards posted into our letterbox on the main road, with information about attempted delivery and times which is 99% lies and fabrication. No response from CTT to our many complaints, and no change. Today, I actually got a message on my phone, when I was in the house, to say that non-one had been in again, followed by a message 10minutes later that said they would try again before 19:00 today, and literally 30 seconds later, another message saying that I had to go and pick it up from a CTT drop. They have cost us now well over 100euros in transport costs this year, yet they get paid to DELIVER!!! It is a joke, and yet they still seem to be able to get away witha whole catalogue of falsified statements and fabrtications. They are a disgrace to Portugal, and an endless source of frustration and unnecessary stress for us and many others.

By John S from Algarve on 18 Dec 2020, 14:45

I sent a package using CTT Express, because I was told it will take 2 to 5 days to be delivered (at the time I had 15 days to deliver the
package before the deadline), on September 1st, 2020. After a week passed I asked for the condition,
and I was told that it will be delivered in a couple of days. A week later I asked and I got the same response. After 20 days when the
deadline passed I asked again and they told me that they cannot send my package and I should go and collect it. I asked for my
money that I spent for the service that I did not get. but every time they come up with an excuse not to give me my money. Recently, I
asked again about giving my money back, but their response was that my package is delivered (the package is returned back to me, it
does not mean that they delivered the package). It is clear that they want to steal my money. I sent a complaint before but still they
have my money and ignoring me. I am sufferning a lot because of the lies that they told me every time communicating with them.

By Saeid Alirezazadeh from Other on 26 Jan 2021, 11:41

CTT is the worst service ever such a waste of time .i already pay my postage from uk and then this portugese fraud company also charge my brother to recieve his item why i already pay too much money here in Uk to send register delivery why the hell you people don't deliver my parcel on time and always take too long to deliver even if i just send latter.worst worst service

By Mayuri from UK on 19 Aug 2021, 01:47

This article is 2 years ago but nothing has changed. I sent a parcel for my in laws from Syndeynin August, it did reach CTT, they made my in laws pay for a customs fee and then they left the parcel for too long. And now it is being redirected back to us in Sydney. Appalling.

By Angela from Other on 04 Nov 2021, 17:58

This is still going on CTT is a dreadful company. I have had items stolen from packages that get delivered and a lot are not even delivered and just go missing.

A gift (just a collection of photos printed onto wood) that should not be charged at customs was held there. I paid a customs charge anyway in the hope that might enable the item to be delivered but it is still stuck in the system. How does business mail function in this country? Is there another company people can recommend or are they all as bad as CTT?

Also is there a way to report these incidents to a third party, maybe wishful thinking in Portugal but is there some kind of independent ombudsman to keep these companies honest?

By Sam Plant from UK on 15 Jan 2022, 16:01

And it continues...the CTT in association with the Customs not always delivers (outside EU) postal items to customers. The CTT is not capable of properly conducting international postal deliveries. Items continue often get "Lost". Where do they end up? They are not always "returned to sender". Time for an internal investigation. We are still waiting for our gift of Green tea from Indonesia. We've done the paper work. They called for more information, but we cannot access the relevant website section. The CTT assesses gifts "including international postage"! why should the customer be taxed on gifts and postal costs? I am taking this as high up as possible. I spend far too much time just trying to have an international item delivered. There are always delays, and those charges are complete unfair. I have already sent 4 emails to the CTT...there has been no reply. Made two telephone calls with no action being taken by the CTT staf member who answered the call. Had to wait up to 29 minutes for an answer, the customer pays extra for the call time. Sent a message to the CTT Facebook which was answered "by a computer"! from Stephen Fleay (former BBC Correspodent....I love Portugal....but the CTT, not best to put into those words in my mind.)

By Fleay from Porto on 10 May 2022, 11:15