After a nightmare of a move with Allied Pickford , my furniture and possessions have arrived 6 months late, in the U.K. and I’ve just got a random bill for demurrage and fuel surcharges of an additional £250. Has anyone encountered this ? Allied have been terrible down the line but I’m not sure (as I can’t find my contract) whether I did sign something which included the acceptance of extra costs at a later stage hidden in very small print.

Certainly going in the opposite direction there were additional fees when stuff arrived in Aus - from memory it was in $ what I had paid in £ for the transport from U.K..

When you ship anything internationally, other than by mail or some type of parcel service, there is certainly the possibility of several different types of fees related to port handling and storage charges, customs inspection, document processing, other costs or expenses unanticipated by the vessel operator, and potentially partial loss of the cargo and/or damage to the vessel (Google <General Average> to understand why you need good insurance for whatever you're shipping). These are the risks you accept by signing the shipping contract and the laws and practices surrounding such charges have developed over the past 400+ years since the times when international shipping was a wild adventure, but the risks, while greatly reduced these days, still exist and the laws that allow the ship owners to recover costs from those who had paid for goods to be carried still apply, as they have done for a very long time.

My contract is ‘door to door’, Allied have consistently tried to charge me extra costs along the way and the shipment is 6 months late. Do we have no legal rights in this process?

Yes, see my previous post above, and so does the shipper, also see above. .

Doesn’t seem like I have any from your post. I’m currently deciding whether I just dump the cargo and walk away.

Allied Pickford (who recently changed their name to Allied) have the following in their published terms and conditions.

1.1 Our quotation, unless otherwise stated, does not include insurance, customs duties, port charges including (but not limited to) demurrage, inspections, or any fees, or taxes payable to government bodies or agencies.
1.2.3 Our costs change because of currency fluctuations, changes in taxation, freight, fuel, ferry or toll charges beyond our control.
https://allied.live/terms/

Maybe call/email them if you're worried that the charges aren't genuine?

Unless the value of your furniture and possessions, plus the amount you've already paid Allied for the move totals less than 250 pounds, then that doesn't sound like a good idea.

Well you could challenge the fees in court, but that would cost money, and per my general advice supported by SoS post of the contract details, it is highly unlikely to get you anywhere as you signed the contract with those clauses.

Or as you said in a later post you can refuse to pay and your shipment will be seized and sold at auction to pay the charges.

The six months late problem has already cost me thousands as I have had to purchase a full set of new furniture already. Allied Pickford have already added £3500 for my change of address in the U.K so the furniture now has to go into storage until I can get home (I’m working currently abroad). The comedy of errors in dealing with these clowns has been so bad I’d be amazed if it’s actually my gear anyway when it comes to be finally opened !