Only reason i ask is that we have a lot of stuff in our loft/attic which we will bring which isn't boxed up neat and orderly - oh no!!

This will be one of the last jobs to sort out hence my query as i want to know when i should call a shipping company out to do the inventory etc.

how soon does all this need organising before you go?

It is probably wise to gather your quotes and decide which shipping company you are going to use a few months in advance, when you send it depends upon when you want it to arrive in Canada

am just getting into this now, bloke coming to survey soon

- have been told that Canada Customs don't allow PBO ; packed by owner ?
(am sure i've heard different on here)

Someone is telling you porkie pies. Packing by owner is common and makes bugger all difference to Canada Customs. I packed my 20 boxes/cases myself.

I agree, we had the shippers in yesterday and they did not repack box's that I had already done as they were packed OK and the boxes were strong enough.

We have shipped about 4 weeks before we go, as the shipping time quoted to Vancouver was about 8 weeks as we have a 1/4 of a container and it has to go group age. we figured we only then have to wait 4 weeks for our stuff once we land.

We used Robinson's International and they have been very good so far.

yes, that's what i thought, but he quoted security reasons

have done a bit of digging on Canada Border Services Agency website &

"Container Security Initiative
The Container Security Initiative (CSI) is a multinational program that protects the primary system of global trade - containerized shipping - from being exploited or disrupted by terrorists. It is designed to safeguard global maritime trade while allowing cargo containers to move faster and more efficiently through the supply chain at seaports worldwide.

Under the Smart Border Action Plan, Canada and the United States are working together to enhance the security of our shared border while facilitating the legitimate flow of people and goods. In an effort to further harmonize commercial processes, the CBSA has partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Container Security Initiative (CSI).

The CSI is an extension of the Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Initiative, which was implemented in April 2004 and allows the CBSA to target and interdict potential terrorism threats before they reach our shores. Through the CSI program, CBSA officers are deployed to foreign seaports to pre-screen and examine cargo containers before they are loaded aboard a vessel destined to Canada. CBP implemented the CSI program in 2002 and has officers stationed in 40 foreign seaports."

meaning what ???, a CBSA officer has to check the container manifest in the presence of your shipping agent/removals co

starting to lose the plot already

i think am getting confused between, packing individual boxes and
packing the entire container oneself

which was is classed as PBO ?

indivual boxes... cuastoms are more likely to target your container if you have bought it, packed it, sealed ait and shipped it yourself..

shipping companyes are full of shite... i;ve had 12 quotes rangning from £9K to £2.5K for full packing by owner and full packing by company...

the biggest thing is the inventory - if you have a clear inventory then customs will be a doddle...

you have to be careful about insurance becuase if you do the boxes yourself, come companys then claim the container is only covered for total loss ie if it falls over board... others say the if full bioxes go missing, they are covered.... you need to check out the wording on isnurance carefully..

Hi there,

We received our visa on a Wednesday, phoned a shipping company (Britannia) and they came and did a quote on the Friday.

On the Tuesday, 3 men came to pack our possessions and take it away on their big truck. Emigrated the next day.

So 7 days after the receiving our visa we were gone. Now we were in a rented house and had been busily de-cluttering and selling frantically on eBay for a few months.

Now I do not recommend this level of stress for anyone. I virtually had a nervous break down on the Saturday (woke up in Kettering, sold a car in Loughborough, and delivered vanload of spare possessions to Swindon - all in one day).

However, it does prove how much you can achieve in a very short time. Also, we do not have children, which greatly simplified things.

The task of transferring your life from one country to another will fill the time available. We had 7 days, so that's how long it took.

I have to congratulate the Britannia agents (Pink & Jones) in Kettering. The men packed as we dumped things on the floor in front of them. No problem, everything arrived perfect in Vancouver.

Sarah

WOW that sounds good to me i like getting things sorted out quickly and efficiently. Did they inventorise everything as they went along?

If you pack yourself, it affects the insurance.

From a security point of view, you are also liable for meeting any shipping or customs requirements. For example, it is illegal to ship any pressurized containers. That includes things like spray cans of any kind and fire extinguishers. You are also limited in how much alcohol and tobacco you can ship without declaring and paying duty on it.

If you pack yourself and ANYTHING goes wrong, you can bet your butt you will have a hassle either from Customs or the insurance company. Not a huge risk but a risk nevertheless. It's your decision.

They did an inventory as they went along. When we collected our stuff in Vancouver, I ticked each item off the list as it went in our truck.

As a side note, we collected our stuff from Vancouver, saving ourselves over $1,000 by renting a truck and going to the receiving agents ourselves. It would have been nearly as much to send the stuff from England to Vancouver, as to have it trucked onwards to Powell River (90 miles and 2 ferry rides).

Sarah

I was told by my shippers that Canadian customs have no issue with BPO, but you will not get damage insurance on items contained in those boxes. You will get total loss insurance if the container is lost at sea or otherwise lost, but not damage insurance.

Dozzzzy