fizzyo2

Hi! We are moving to Guelph next month and have decided to ship all our worldly goods. We were going to land and then look for somewhere to live but the shipping company say we need an address before our stuff can leave England.
The address cannot be a hotel and we have no friends or relatives in the area to use. Any ideas?

Zoe Bell

Unless things ahve changed since we moved, your shippers are wrong.
We had no address when we shipped our things here.
When we landed and got somewhere to live we provided them with the delivery address.

I'm sure a rough location (Toronto) was all we provided them with

ninaDGBCA

Same here. We shipped 1st week of April 2010 and didn't have an address. Just told them Ottawa.

They told us that the shipping would take 8-10 weeks anyways and that we should give them our new address before the container arrives otherwise they'd leave it at customs (or POE can't remember) and we'd be responsible for storage costs etc.

If your company really does need an address see if there are any cheap self storage units that you could rent for a month, just in case, to provide the shipping company with an address and room to put your belongings and then you can change the address once you found a house. Sorry no other ideas.

Dave n Ailsa

It sounds like your shippers don't have the facilities at the other side to enable storage. Our shippers didn't even ask about a new address. They just said once we get a house to let them know and they would get our stuff out to us asap.

Yes, your container can sit at the dock for a while but that will cost. Our shippers are including that possibility in the bill.

But you don't need an end address at this stage.

fizzyo2

Thanks for all the replies

Who are you going with Dave n Ailsa? Did they ask you to fill in a destination address sheet?

We are looking at Whites- who seem to have an good reputation on the site (couldn't find any shippers who didn't have a scary story somewhere!!!)

Miss Clinique

You dont need an address in order to ship. Explain to Whites that you will give them a full address when you have one, for now just give them the area you are going to.

Whites are a good company, they will use a good partner in Canada, no need to worry that the receiving agent wont have the facilities to handle or store your shipment should you need to.

The container will not sit dock side for any length of time, unless pulled for a full customs inspection.

Dave & Ailsa: Are you certain that the quote you have covers any demurrage for the container sitting at port? I have never heard of this, ever. I have worked as an imports coordinator, and have never known any company cover this cost in their quote. I would be interested to know what cover they are offering.

kirstyp

There are some fairly recent changes to regulations, which is why a couple of people might have been allowed to ship without an address previously.
The reason they will need an address is at the UK side, they will be required to complete the National Export System (NES) entry before your goods are loaded for export and this has to have an address on it. From what I understand if you don't have friends or a work address already this can be a hotel, or a storage facility with the destination agent so perhaps double check that with your shipping company.

The other form that needs an address is a customs (B4) form which you will need to get stamped at the airport so you can wait until you're on your way to complete the address on that one.

Hope that helps?

fizzyo2

Thanks for that Kirstyp. Whites are saying the changes were implemented after 9/11. Hubby was phoning them today to see if a storage depot is an acceptable address

Zoe Bell

we moved after the whole september 11 thing , so thats blatently untrue

Miss Clinique

They can use the address of the agent they have appointed to recieve your shipment.

fizzyo2

Miss Clinique
You maybe the answer to our prayers- what a thoroughly sensible suggestion!

Krr607

This is an extremely useful site, I have been wondering exactly the same thing, we move out in April to Toronto and we won't have an address until we find somewhere.