British Expats - Info on shipping and costs for those making plans

Hi

I've been fairly quiet of late as sooo busy with the last minute stuff:eek:

Our shipping container is coming on Fri 30th Oct. We have opted for Pickfords in the end and managed to get them down to £3500 :( plus insurance via Letton Percival. Some are paying less than this but our access is pretty awful and they will be carrying all the stuff up a flight of 20 steps to get to the container.:blink:

We are having a sole use 20' general purpose container and I have packed the majority of the boxes myself. They are only export packing the furniture!

When you pack yourself, you are unable to claim for any breakages...pretty obvious.....and the boxes are marked by the removers that the boxes were packed by owner. Apparently more chance of them being inspected by MAF this way.

With regard to the Marine Insurance side of it. Of course you can take the risk and not bother to insure at all. Just be mindful that if the container was to sink or be stranded. If you have no insurance, you do have to pay some costs for the salvage of the container. I don't think it is a massive amount but something else to think about.

Quotes were Anglo Pacific (£3846)
Pickfords £3880 or £3680 if not sole use
Brittania Lanes £4500
Purias Impact £3345

The last one, the lady was lovely and it was a good price but it was quoted without them coming and I had never heard of them. You have to hand your money over in full before the stuff is shipped so it is scary.

As I said, we have plumbed for Pickfords. Because I have packed so many boxes already they are actually going to come tomorrow and pick up stuff ready to go now at no extra cost. It should give us a bit more room around the house.

Good Luck to all
x