Good Removal Companies?
#46
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 123
Re: Good Removal Companies?
John Mason team in tomorrow. I have spent the weekend cleaning bikes, golf clubs, shoes, power tools and anything else that has been exposed to the British elements . Will update you on how it goes and how John mason faired.
#47
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Stand by for action and make sure they don't pack things too early. They move pretty quick and we had to make sue they kept a few essentials for the second day (eg bed, TV, kettle).
They will pack anything unless you stop them. We brought over old newspapers, dirty rags etc.
They did a pretty good job though - we only had one small glass broken.
Charlie
They will pack anything unless you stop them. We brought over old newspapers, dirty rags etc.
They did a pretty good job though - we only had one small glass broken.
Charlie
#48
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Stand by for action and make sure they don't pack things too early. They move pretty quick and we had to make sue they kept a few essentials for the second day (eg bed, TV, kettle).
They will pack anything unless you stop them. We brought over old newspapers, dirty rags etc.
They did a pretty good job though - we only had one small glass broken.
Charlie
They will pack anything unless you stop them. We brought over old newspapers, dirty rags etc.
They did a pretty good job though - we only had one small glass broken.
Charlie
#49
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 123
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Well John Mason came, packed and loaded. They also did a damn fine job. Cant fault anything as they turned up on time (2 of them) and got stuck in. Pleasant enough and happy to add a few more things that we forgot to tell them about. 20 ft container was full to the brim and we had a panic moment towards the end thinking not everything would fit, but the last thing that went in was a double mattress that they had to hold upright whilst they closed the doors.
So my overall assessment of John Mason in the UK . Best price and couldn't fault the service. Lets hope it continues when our stuff arrives in Sydney.
So my overall assessment of John Mason in the UK . Best price and couldn't fault the service. Lets hope it continues when our stuff arrives in Sydney.
Last edited by MrJenkins; Sep 22nd 2010 at 6:56 pm.
#50
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Hi
Do you know who your Australian sub-contractors are ging to be? We were given Wainwrights.
Charlie
Do you know who your Australian sub-contractors are ging to be? We were given Wainwrights.
Charlie
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania and near Oxford UK
Posts: 47
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Good point about the Australian sub-contractors. We were given Chess who did the following:
1. Would not put books on shelves but dumped most of them on the floor...their bosses & UK shipper (Coles) would not believe us until we produced photographs. Keep your camera handy to document any irregularities or breakages.
2. Intimidated us by saying unpacking would be very difficult as we would not know where to put things so they had better just leave most things in boxes (ie they are keen to avoid unpacking).
Tip- get it clear from the beginning what the un-packers will do and not do and how many trips to the address you are entitled to as we got slugged for their second trip to unpack more stuff they had left before. You need to be strong with these guys. They may not all be like this -just depends on the local crew you get but be careful.
1. Would not put books on shelves but dumped most of them on the floor...their bosses & UK shipper (Coles) would not believe us until we produced photographs. Keep your camera handy to document any irregularities or breakages.
2. Intimidated us by saying unpacking would be very difficult as we would not know where to put things so they had better just leave most things in boxes (ie they are keen to avoid unpacking).
Tip- get it clear from the beginning what the un-packers will do and not do and how many trips to the address you are entitled to as we got slugged for their second trip to unpack more stuff they had left before. You need to be strong with these guys. They may not all be like this -just depends on the local crew you get but be careful.
#52
Re: Good Removal Companies?
We used Robinsons who were excellent, couldn't do enough for us in the UK or over here. Avoid Berk Bros, moving is stressful enough without these idiots. Beware scammers asking for money upfront before the 'autumn prices come in' like we had, I did a thread regarding that.
Mold/Mildew, things like fridges/washers get mold, they are in an unventilated container for about 6-8 wks. We washed our fridge with mild bleach solution and put unused tea bags and silicon sachets in the bottom and it was better, but still had mold, also try and put a peg in the door so it is partially open. Dishwasher had several hot washes and washing machine had a bleach wash, obviously run a wash through again before you use it.
We had no trouble with feather duvets or pillows and listed them as bedding so we weren't hiding anything. Were also told that the feathers were regarding feathers of endangered birds and didn't related to chickens/ducks/geese, so it seems its open to interpretation.
Hope it all goes well for you
Mold/Mildew, things like fridges/washers get mold, they are in an unventilated container for about 6-8 wks. We washed our fridge with mild bleach solution and put unused tea bags and silicon sachets in the bottom and it was better, but still had mold, also try and put a peg in the door so it is partially open. Dishwasher had several hot washes and washing machine had a bleach wash, obviously run a wash through again before you use it.
We had no trouble with feather duvets or pillows and listed them as bedding so we weren't hiding anything. Were also told that the feathers were regarding feathers of endangered birds and didn't related to chickens/ducks/geese, so it seems its open to interpretation.
Hope it all goes well for you
#53
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Good point about the Australian sub-contractors. We were given Chess who did the following:
1. Would not put books on shelves but dumped most of them on the floor...their bosses & UK shipper (Coles) would not believe us until we produced photographs. Keep your camera handy to document any irregularities or breakages.
2. Intimidated us by saying unpacking would be very difficult as we would not know where to put things so they had better just leave most things in boxes (ie they are keen to avoid unpacking).
Tip- get it clear from the beginning what the un-packers will do and not do and how many trips to the address you are entitled to as we got slugged for their second trip to unpack more stuff they had left before. You need to be strong with these guys. They may not all be like this -just depends on the local crew you get but be careful.
1. Would not put books on shelves but dumped most of them on the floor...their bosses & UK shipper (Coles) would not believe us until we produced photographs. Keep your camera handy to document any irregularities or breakages.
2. Intimidated us by saying unpacking would be very difficult as we would not know where to put things so they had better just leave most things in boxes (ie they are keen to avoid unpacking).
Tip- get it clear from the beginning what the un-packers will do and not do and how many trips to the address you are entitled to as we got slugged for their second trip to unpack more stuff they had left before. You need to be strong with these guys. They may not all be like this -just depends on the local crew you get but be careful.
We used Robinsons who were excellent, couldn't do enough for us in the UK or over here. Avoid Berk Bros, moving is stressful enough without these idiots. Beware scammers asking for money upfront before the 'autumn prices come in' like we had, I did a thread regarding that.
Mold/Mildew, things like fridges/washers get mold, they are in an unventilated container for about 6-8 wks. We washed our fridge with mild bleach solution and put unused tea bags and silicon sachets in the bottom and it was better, but still had mold, also try and put a peg in the door so it is partially open. Dishwasher had several hot washes and washing machine had a bleach wash, obviously run a wash through again before you use it.
We had no trouble with feather duvets or pillows and listed them as bedding so we weren't hiding anything. Were also told that the feathers were regarding feathers of endangered birds and didn't related to chickens/ducks/geese, so it seems its open to interpretation.
Hope it all goes well for you
Mold/Mildew, things like fridges/washers get mold, they are in an unventilated container for about 6-8 wks. We washed our fridge with mild bleach solution and put unused tea bags and silicon sachets in the bottom and it was better, but still had mold, also try and put a peg in the door so it is partially open. Dishwasher had several hot washes and washing machine had a bleach wash, obviously run a wash through again before you use it.
We had no trouble with feather duvets or pillows and listed them as bedding so we weren't hiding anything. Were also told that the feathers were regarding feathers of endangered birds and didn't related to chickens/ducks/geese, so it seems its open to interpretation.
Hope it all goes well for you
#54
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Hi
The Wainwright guys didn't want to unpack either.
Wainwrights also tried to charge me for a delay in delivery due to port congestion!
Charlie
The Wainwright guys didn't want to unpack either.
Wainwrights also tried to charge me for a delay in delivery due to port congestion!
Charlie
#55
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,816
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Let me add my experiences on Anglo Pacific from today...
I'm moving to Sydney in December and booked with Anglo Pacific - they have been awful.
Took a deposit from me then didn't confirm recipt of it in writing and when delivering boxes to me this morning I got a generic text message saying, and I quote "...boxes have been dropped outside your address". I live in a block of flats on a busy street in North London. Sure enough, I went straight downstairs to the main door and no boxes. Didn't ring the bell, didn't call me, just a text and then no boxes. i called him, no answer. Then I text him asking why he didn't ring the bell or call - no reply.
Put in a complaint by email first thing this morning to their Customer Services and to the guy I spoke to when booking - have heard nothing back. Have asked my bank to refund me the deposit and will leave them to sort these idiots out.
A bunch of cowboys - AVOID!
I'm moving to Sydney in December and booked with Anglo Pacific - they have been awful.
Took a deposit from me then didn't confirm recipt of it in writing and when delivering boxes to me this morning I got a generic text message saying, and I quote "...boxes have been dropped outside your address". I live in a block of flats on a busy street in North London. Sure enough, I went straight downstairs to the main door and no boxes. Didn't ring the bell, didn't call me, just a text and then no boxes. i called him, no answer. Then I text him asking why he didn't ring the bell or call - no reply.
Put in a complaint by email first thing this morning to their Customer Services and to the guy I spoke to when booking - have heard nothing back. Have asked my bank to refund me the deposit and will leave them to sort these idiots out.
A bunch of cowboys - AVOID!
#56
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 33
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Hi, I am currently getting the shippers in to quote...
The first one went on and on about having to pay duty on anything less than one year old...
We were going to buy new wardrobes/drawers as ours are all fitted - anyone else been told about declaring new stuff??
Thanks
The first one went on and on about having to pay duty on anything less than one year old...
We were going to buy new wardrobes/drawers as ours are all fitted - anyone else been told about declaring new stuff??
Thanks
#57
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania and near Oxford UK
Posts: 47
Re: Good Removal Companies?
This might be the theory but in practice as long as it is not excessive (ie a dozen wardrobes)and has the new labels removed all will be OK.
#58
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Don't worry about this. They may also tell you that you cannot take your fridge/freezer - just ignor them.
Charlie
Charlie
#59
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Was chatting with a long time friend this evening who over the years has shipped their belongings to several destinations around the world and back again. She said that something that we have to watch out for is that the shipping people pack tightly filling up every available space in boxes and the container. She said that at least on two occasions in the past they packed loosely and uneconomically such that they needed to pay extra for a 40 footer/additional container space. She said that we also have to watch out that sets of things / parts of dismantled furniture go in together and to have a "must go" grouping of possessions and "a can go if there's space" grouping. She said that a trick appears to be to separate dismantled sets /parts of furniture and then be told that the last bits won't fit in leaving no real option but to pay for extra space.
#60
Re: Good Removal Companies?
Good point about the Australian sub-contractors. We were given Chess who did the following:
1. Would not put books on shelves but dumped most of them on the floor...their bosses & UK shipper (Coles) would not believe us until we produced photographs. Keep your camera handy to document any irregularities or breakages.
2. Intimidated us by saying unpacking would be very difficult as we would not know where to put things so they had better just leave most things in boxes (ie they are keen to avoid unpacking).
Tip- get it clear from the beginning what the un-packers will do and not do and how many trips to the address you are entitled to as we got slugged for their second trip to unpack more stuff they had left before. You need to be strong with these guys. They may not all be like this -just depends on the local crew you get but be careful.
1. Would not put books on shelves but dumped most of them on the floor...their bosses & UK shipper (Coles) would not believe us until we produced photographs. Keep your camera handy to document any irregularities or breakages.
2. Intimidated us by saying unpacking would be very difficult as we would not know where to put things so they had better just leave most things in boxes (ie they are keen to avoid unpacking).
Tip- get it clear from the beginning what the un-packers will do and not do and how many trips to the address you are entitled to as we got slugged for their second trip to unpack more stuff they had left before. You need to be strong with these guys. They may not all be like this -just depends on the local crew you get but be careful.
The people you sent the photos to would have known this and were humouring you.
You are entilled to ONE only Debris disposal, others are to be paid for, so it pays to get all your cartons unpacked and disposed of in one hit..........MM