Removal Company Problem

ouchmyback

As far as I know they only told him to pay the extra upon arrival in Kent with the second van load. There is no way he would have agreed to it because he doesn't have the money, which is why he couldn't pay it!

The problem is he has nothing in writing and he has paid them in cash.

unholyangel

You want to put your complaint in writing to them and send it recorded delivery asap.

AFAIK, they have no legal right to seize property as they are not bailiffs and to do so is acting illegally. It could be different if perhaps the goods belonged to them and they were keeping them until they received payment. But they don't. It is especially worrying if the value of the goods far outweigh the alleged (not confirmed) debt.

Your dad should make a list of everything thats missing while its still relatively fresh in his memory.

You should also get quotes from other companies as to what it would have cost to get them to transfer the full amount. If its around the figure your father was quoted by the estimator, I'd argue the additional charges they made by either not paying or agreeing on a settlement with them. How attentive was the estimator? Was it boxed prior to his arrival? Did he look around or just ask your dad how much was to be transported?

If the quotes from other companies are around the new figure they are asking you to pay, i'd pay up. Although prices do vary, usually in these types of businesses the prices wont vary too wildly due to competitiveness.

Regardless, I'd contact Trading Standards. You never know, the company may make a habit of this sort of thing and may be well known to TS (giving cheaper quotes to get the work, then saying estimator made a mistake and asking for additional money etc).

Perhaps naming them will allow us to do a bit of research? Or if you're not comfortable with that, try researching reviews for their company on the internet If there are reviews stating similar stories to yours.......pretty much a given they've got a crooked business practice.