Hi all,
I hope someone can help me out here cause I'm goin' round in flamin' circles.
Been dealling with removal company for about 18 months, Got reasonable quote and intended to use them as really helpful and patient. When we accepted offer on our house we requested up to date quote with them and 2 other companies.
Original company still offered best deal but then talked out of it by another company as they include "total loss" insurance. They told me that the 3rd company I had cheapest quote for was transport company so would not be packed properly and just packed and palleted. Advised that they could only provide GIT insurance which specifically excluded removals!?
Then offered 16 weeks free storage which made them the cheapest quote. Apologised to company we anticipated using advising why. They then offered to match the 16 weeks free storage. Again apologised and said I wish they had told me before as we had now committed to other company. Thanked them very much for their assistance to which they replied, quite understand, if any problems we are only a phone call away. Sent email back thanking them for their understanding.
The new company now, sent T&Cs which when I read *after cutting and pasting on word doc and increasing the font size!), advised only covered for TOTAL LOSS. When I asked for explanation they said for example if lorry fell off a cliff then this would amount to total loss. It did not , however cover us for individual loss. We were told that we would need to take out GIT (bear in mind what they had previously told me about this!) at a rate of 2.5% of value of goods to be carried. So for coverage for £20k this would cost us an extra £500 which made them far more expensive than the original quote.
Also, claims under their total loss coverage would only afford us up to a maximum of £40 per item or repair whichever was the cheapest.
I had already by this time paid 105 euro deposit and recieved 15 boxes, 1 pack of tissue 1 roll of tape and a marker pen.
I had NOT accepted the quotation in writing so spoke to initial company and reverted our business back to them. Sent email to the other company advising estimated cost now far in excess of original quotaion and advised we would NOT be accepting their quote and had given our business to another company.
They called me this morning when I reiterated our reasons for not accepting and they have advised that I would be liable for 40% of the cost of removal! I don't think so! :curse: I told them I had not signed to accept the quotation and therefore no charges would be applicable. They said because I had paid the deposit I had accepted. Told them that even if this was the case, their own terms and conditions advise if more than 14 days notice have been given to cancel then the amount payable would be NIL. As we do not have a removal date, they have no date to dispute. They tried to argue the point and said might be able to get away with it but that would depend on the Director (I don't think so again!) I asked what countries jurisdicion covers the contract and was told UK. SO, I checked the T&Cs as something rang another warning bell, only to find out that in the event of a dispute, the contract was covered by Spanish Jurisdiction!
The original company have advised that there is a £20k GIT coverage included within the quotation they provided.
This latest lot said they can't offer you GIT because the law has changed and unless you are a broker you cannot sell insurance to anyone else! What's this they are trying to flog me at 2.5% then????
Then was asked how do this company wrap goods. I said the same as all the other removers. They said they specify "Expert wrap", so I asked what is the difference? They said "EXACTLY, what is expert wrap? Should be export wrap" Told them I had been advised bubble wrapped, carded and all furniture and everything that wouldn't fit into a box would be individually wrapped by the removal men.
They asked what was the other companies name, when I told them they immediately replied BUT THEY AREN'T EVEN REGISTERED WITH BAR (British Association of Removers) Said they were regulated by Office of Fair Trading and are the industries regulatory body. Said I should call them and gave me their number.
So I called them, said I felt that I was being pressured and that they were trying to get out of cancelling their contract in conflict with their own T&Cs and that I didn't appreciate being bullied, or being given conflicting information which changed everytime I asked a question! He said he agreed that I shouldn't be liable to pay anything. I asked were they (BAR) regulated by the OFT to which they replierd "no". I asked how would a company become a member and was told by subscription! There you go!

Anyway, my query for anyone who can explain it to me in REALLY simplistic terms is: What insurance do I need? Would total loss cover for individual loss? If I am advised GIT is included in the price is this correct? My head is spinning and can't find the website for the insurance industries regulatory body to get these points clarified!

Would be VERY VERY grateful to anyone who could simplify the process please.

Thanks in anticipation,
Chris XXX

Mitzy will know the ins and outs.

Thanks JDR, I knew someone used to do international haulage, but couldn't remember who! I will PM him!
Chris XXX

Is that insurance for a Git or insurance to avoid Gits???!!!

I think in this instance Fortaleza, it amounts to pretty much the same thing! Lol!
Chris XXX

We got caught with this. Bishops Move - we had to insure items individually and pay to insure them so of course we only chose the expensive items to replace. So when the little items went missing like all our kitchen bits and bobs and OH´s winter clothes they weren´t covered. We were also told they provided the best service as they wrapped and packed UK end and then unwrapped and packed Spanish end. Oh yes they wrapped and packed UK end taking all day to do so whilst the Buyers were waiting in their removal van for five hours to unpack. It cost us 100 GBP to pay for their removal van to wait, and when they finally delivered our end they didn´t unwrap as paid for as they had another job to go to. After numerous letters to MD we got precisely nowhere.

Bishops Move chiclanagir? Sounds more like cheque mate !

Hi Chiclanagir,
That's exactly what we were talking about doing, just covering the most expensive and essential items! Really surprised me to hear the company you dealt with treated you that way as they are an extremely well known company! I am waiting for a call back from BAR. They emailed me back confirming in their oppinion this company have no right legal or otherwise to try and charge us anything! Ironic as they referred me to BAR in the first place.
Chris XXX

BAR members ....... well, you pay a premium and you can have a badge on your truck that makes people think you are brill!!!!

I have letters after my name me ....... FinstFF, Fellow of the Institute of Freight Forwarders. I had to be recommended by two other members who had known me for so many years and then I had to satisfy all kinds of requirements. BAR members do naff all.

You need full marine insurance to be sure. Preferably dont use the removals company as more often than not they will try to get out of claims. Insurance for personal effects is, I am afraid, fraught with worries. Have a read of the piece I wrote for a forum below, and then use the marine insurance link at the bottom. It gives the option of professional pack or self pack for a quote. Full insurance should cover you for individual damages or complete loss, you just need to get a quote from them and then just check to make sure the terms haven't changed.

If that one is no good I can get a contact for you from friends still within the industry

If the company you are dealing with is a member of the removals ombudsman scheme, you can report them. If they are members of no schemes then if they refuse to refund the only way will be through courts ... be a pain in the @rse and put it in writing.

PM me with the name of the company and I'll see if I know them.



One of the most difficult experiences in re locating is the actual shipping of your worldly goods and chattels. Not only are there a huge number of companies offering you the opportunity to use their services, but they all tell you that it will be trouble free and that all will arrive at destination in good order. In reality this is often far from the truth. We’ve all read posts from people arriving at destination only to find that their furniture is elsewhere. Whats that old saying? ….. breakfast in London, dinner in New York, luggage in Bombay!

Here are a few hints from someone who spent his life in the ever so stressful shipping industry and is glad to be out of it!

There are so many different destinations worldwide that it’s difficult to be specific so I will generalise as much as possible. If you want specific help then I have contacts in the industry and can point you in the right direction.

Get three quotes from different removal companies. Prices can vary enormously. Many carriers will not honour insurance claims unless they have packed the goods themselves. When you get their quote ask about full marine insurance cover (get a separate quote from them) and check their conditions of carriage carefully. Check to see if they are members of the British Intl Freight Association (http://www.bifa.org/Content/Home.asp )
It doesn’t mean they are perfect but at least they will be an established company.

Gain separate quotes for insurance. Again be careful about the conditions of cover, i.e. do the goods have to be packed by you, do they have to be packed professionally. How extensive is the cover. Check the exclusions and look for clauses about “atmospheric conditions”. If your goods arrive damp (usually deep sea long voyages) you don’t want the insurance company copping out.

If you pack your goods yourself, always make up a detailed packing list in triplicate of what is in each box with a nominal value (I’m assuming the effects are all used and not new). DON’T attach this to the box but number the boxes (and the packing lists) and keep the list separately as it will be required for (a) the shipping line (b) the Revenue & Customs and (c) you. Mark each box with your destination name, destination address and a destination telephone number.

If you are shipping to sea voyage destinations then your effects will probably ship in a steel shipping container. Although these are checked regularly it is not unusual for holes to appear. When you receive your goods you must check them carefully for wet damage as they come off the container. Once you have signed for them it will be more difficult to make a claim.

If you are shipping to Europe then it is more likely that your goods will travel in a box van / truck. The same rules apply when receiving the goods although quite often the effects will have been transhipped at least twice (unless you’ve commissioned a full load) before they get to you. Also remember that if your new home is in a difficult location then the effects may have to be transhipped to a smaller vehicle. Again, count the number of cartons and check for impact / wet damage.

If (in the case of international removals) the cartons have been examined by customs then there will normally be evidence of this. In the UK they are re sealed with security tape. If any cartons look as if they have been tampered with then call it to the attention of the delivery driver and then open to investigate.

Buy decent tri wall boxes to pack your effects in. Most removal specialists will supply them. Try to avoid cardboard boxes that you bought your last supply of baked beans in. They will collapse in transit.



Complaints: http://www.removalsombudsman.org.uk/yourqas.htm


Google: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...sociation&meta=

Marine insurance: http://www.marine-insurance-uk.net/i...=google&kw=all

I dont know about removals eg individual item insurance.but if you have a truck you have goods in transit insurance,which is what it says any goods are insured during transit.from one box of strawberrys to 24 pallets of soap powder unless its a high risk and needs extra cover then it may be extra dosh you only need maritime insurance for the time spent at sea.eg ferry if your that botherd about the boat sinking.or say in winter when you are sailing in a force 8 onboard a flat bottomed RO.RO

I have spent all my life running these trucks back and forwards in Europe, and was in charge of insurance claims, and arranging insurances for the company, whether it be CMR as it was, RHA or marine (full cover insurance if you want to call it that)

The insurance you are referring to is limited and provided as part of requirements, starts about £800 a ton iirc but dont quote me on that as it will be a few years out of date and hopefully its increased a little. Thats not going to cover Jack Sh!t when it comes to personal effects which are normally lightweight and cubey.

Hence anyone with sense takes out full insurance to cover their liability or ends up getting short changed in the event of an insurance claim

you must have worked for a reputable company mitz.I was a john waynne

I owned the company .... so it was reputable

so I guess there was no bellys filed with red.mick mouse permits,bent credit cards for the payajes and no 24 hour stints.swithes or the wire,dodgey insurance and no tax.3 day binge drinking.loose women in the bag house.a fistfull of runing money.and a rest when you used to clear or do revision.and no mobiles
ahh the fun days where did they go

You've worked in the industry haven't you!