are pickfords worth it?

80schild

Well when we finally reach the point of moving, I am thinking of using Pickfords removals.

They have quoted us just over £600. Very expensive I know but they wrap everything and will dismantle and reassemble stuff for us which is quite important as we have limited hlpe with the move as family will be tied up looking after our kids on moving day and both my husband and I can only take the moving day off work, nothing else!

So what are people's experiences is it worth paying the extra-everyone is saying I am mad to pay that much and they can get me a 'man and a van' who will do it for £50!!

evoke

I don't know about Pickfords but i'd say that it's worth paying slightly over the odds to get a better service. It's a one-off cost and if they take extra care, are punctual and wrap, unwrap and move the items to the correct rooms for you then that's worth the extra cost.

nikki1520

Trouble with a man and a van is normally insurance. If it all goes well, then you've saved a packet. If they a)have an accident, b) run off with your stuff or c)break things, then normally you have a lot of hassle to get back to your original position, or end up massively out of pocket.

I'd phone a couple of other companies to get some more quotes, but if time is short, and you need peace of mind then go for the "professionals"

LandyAndy

evoke wrote: »

I don't know about Pickfords but i'd say that it's worth paying slightly over the odds to get a better service. It's a one-off cost and if they take extra care, are punctual and wrap, unwrap and move the items to the correct rooms for you then that's worth the extra cost.

I agree. If you have much to move, particularly heavy or awkwardly shaped furniture and stairs to negotiate, then get it moved by people who know what they are doing. I have always done my own packing as it isn't difficult just time consuming. The removers provide all the materials and boxes so you get the right stuff for the job. Much easier to handle uniform boxes than the random collection you might acquire from shops etc and they will be strong enough.

I've used these in the past http://www.gbliners.com/ . Again not cheap but very efficient. They also stored our stuff for 3 months.

Benson

Wow thats good they quoted me over £1000!

Ive chosen a local company who are £500 but thats just for transfer not wrapping/packing as that would have been £750

poppysarah

£600 sounds like a bargain!

Grimbal

3 of the nationals are quoting me getting on for £3k........!

Wyndham

It's a long time ago, but my parents used Pickfords in the 80s and had a terrible experience (things damaged, lost etc). Ended up with an apology and compensation and an assurance that it wasn't up to their usual standards..... So next time they moved, they decided to give them another chance. And had another terrible experience!

They may have improved, but personally I've always used local firms, and asked round for recommendations. Get about 3 quotes if you can, and remember that you may well get what you pay for and cheapest isn't always best. Good luck!

Mupette

Wished i had the money to use 'professionals' when i moved in May last year.

I did the 3 quotes from 3 different companies, OH told me to make sure they had insurance, etc.

I was quite poorly at the time and didn't fancy anyone trapesing around my home whist it was in the mess of boxes and packing etc, quite stressful.

The company i chose were happy for me to walk around my home and describe what was in each room, i was throurough and they were happy with that, and both agreed on the phone it was a large home i had.

Moving day, 2 men and a transit, these professionals could not move a single divan bed, dangling it over the balcony for the other to catch, OH made me come over to new house with dog, whilst this was going on, as we both agreed that the stress of the moving was too much for me, the horror story was relayed to me by DS when they all got here.

So the 2 men and the transit arrive, OH telling me that they have left half the house and want more money to do another run

I rang the company and asked what was happening, he said that i told him i had a small house and all i needed was a transit and if i payed an extra few hunded pounds they would come back the next day and do another run.

The man was so agressive, scared the life out of me, told the men no more money, they unpack, and leave, i then find the back of my washing machine ripped off.

They were insured but after i spoke to the man on the phone i was too scared to ring him to complain.

I should of gone with my friends which would of been cheaper, but no insurance, but they would of treated my things with a lot more respect.

slummymummyof3

Last time we moved we had Pickfords and it was an experience I will never forget! They were paid for their packing service in addition to moving. They used temps in addition to the crew (firemen on their days off) - we ended up with over £10k in damaged furniture and possessions.

Not only that, but I had to fight tooth and nail for them to send me a loss adjuster. Initially they sent me a manager from a local depot who when he saw my fridge had a foot long dent and scratch to the door and all the shelving inside the door broken, offered me £10 compensation. They sent a furniture restorer to the house to repair all my wooden furniture - he was incompetent and caused a further £2k in damage. Eventually I managed to get a loss adjuster who was fantastic. I claimed from their insurance rather than my own insurance.

I was moving with a baby and two other children under 5 years old - OH was working overseas. I was left with boxes piled up in our garage that were stacked so high I couldn't reach them and to make matters worse they had put them so close to the garage door that I couldn't close it! They took no notice of what rooms boxes were labelled to go in and stacked heavy garage items from floor to ceiling in my baby's room that I couldn't even get to her cot.

My £2k sofa covers were found on their lorry several days later being used as dust sheets!

spugzbunny

I've always found Pickfords to be fantastic. I've used them in both a professional and private capacity. They are always helpful, polite and I've never had anything damaged.