Delivery of our effects by storage company

MumsterB

Hi there,

Would appreciate if anyone could give us some suggestions!

We moved to California a few years ago and just moved back to the UK. When we left, we knew we will be downsizing from a 3 bed semi to a small flat so we shipped half of our effects with Doree Bonner and stored the other half of our things with them. Everything was paid for in advance then.

We recently contacted them to ask for our things to be delivered and they have quoted us a delivery charge of almost £900 + vat + insurance. I find that extortionate considering that cost as much as two years' of storage with them! Is there any way around this? We weren't advised at that point about this additional cost. It just feels like they have had us trapped and now we have no choice but to pay them that!

Ok, rant over!

bitsandpieces

Don't they allow you to collect your effects yourself? If so, you could DIY or pay another company to do it if cheaper.

Depending how far you're shifting things and how much stuff you have, £900 may or may not be unreasonable. If it's a case of transporting half a house-full of furniture etc. a long distance, that may be a decent price to get professionals to do it!

PasturesNew

Ask them if they have a "part load" price - with this they tell you when they're coming, you don't get to pick the date. When they're in the area and have a half empty van they load up yours in the same run. It can work out half the price.

tbs624

MumsterB wrote: »

We recently contacted them to ask for our things to be delivered and they have quoted us a delivery charge of almost £900 + vat + insurance. I find that extortionate considering that cost as much as two years' of storage with them! Is there any way around this? We weren't advised at that point about this additional cost. It just feels like they have had us trapped and now we have no choice but to pay them that!

Did it not occur to you and your OH to clarify *all* the likely costs? Why would you assume that them moving your stored goods onward to a final address would be included?

If you think their costs are too high ring around for quotes from other firms and then see if the original firm will negotiate ( or follow up Pastures excellent suggestion)