theft by removal men

AnnaLMLH

this isnt giving me much faith in removal companys!

Generali

We had a load of cash nicked in one move and the removal company then refused to unload the lorry until we agreed to pay more than originally agreed! They were big beggurs so there wasn't a lot we could do.

In another move Mrs Generali found one of the removal men trying to bodge a repair on a piece of furniture he'd broken for him then to deny that he'd broken it!

I wouldn't trust a removal man. I always stand and watch them work. I never leave them alone with my things. I'm sure that not all removal men are thieves just as I am sure there's an honest banker out there.

I've moved house more than 20 times and spent almost 20 years in banking. I'm yet to meet an honest banker and the only honest removal man I know ended up in gaol!

esmerelda98

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

At an educated guess, I'd say the chances are that one or two removal men went back to their family and told their children "Look what Daddy got for you (from a carboot sale/passed on from a friends children/etc)" or some similar scenario. If the toys were new-looking and Christmas was coming up then the "falling off a back of a van" scenario in a pub is another possibility...

I would very much doubt removers ever leaving anything on a van. Odd bits left in a house maybe (hence the necessity for the owner to do as I did and check round after them)....but in a van....:cool:

I'd be willing to bet you've fallen victim to a thief too:(

I think this is the thing though, ie that most of us wouldn't be so daft as to steal things like that. On the other hand...some people are self-destructive and I guess stealing something (when it would be obvious that you were the thief) is another form of self-destructiveness (along with drinking too much/eating unhealthily/etc/etc).

This happened to me! It was a doll's house I'd been bought for my birthday. As I was just beginning to accumulate furniture for it, it was in pristine condition. It was December and we were emigrating. It never did turn up at the other end. We came to the conclusion that one of the removal men put it aside to give as a Christmas present.

moneyistooshorttomention

stevi63 wrote: »

We have just moved house and when we finally received our goods, well some of them. Loads were missing including all new tools, TV's, furniture, etc.etc. The police say they can't do anything. We can't afford a solicitor, so it seems crime does pay, very well. That's our livelihood screwed.

Put in a claim to the firm.

I was advised on here to make a claim to the firm and told most removal firms belong to that overall body (cant recall name). Mine did duly belong to that body. I never had to contact it...the threat to do so was enough.

I told the firm what they owed me and what items it was for and they originally refused to pay (quoting that it was outside the time limit - ie a ridiculously short one as I recall).

I persisted and threatened to involve that overall body they belong to. They paid up:T (still no admission of liability from them of course....and I do worry whether they are still employing that couple of pickpockets...but at least I got the money they owed me).

It was part of the reason I told the firm what their men had done, ie the more often the thieves amongst the normal workers get reported, then the more account the firm concerned has to take and it notches up black marks against the thieves and, sooner or later, they will realise that Mr X and Mr Z do seem to have a lot of claims happening "on their watch" and will click that they need to be sacked and replaced with honest people.

I firmly believe that thieves and inefficient people should be "helped out" of their jobs whilst there are honest and efficient people languishing on the Dole Queue that would like to do their jobs instead.

System

fionajbanana wrote: »

A family member moved once and they used the packing service from the removal company.

There were 3 rooms of stuff in each box. Because of that, it took them 3x longer to unpack. Plus they had to buy new remotes for Sky and tv as they could not find them. They were found in a box of books.

My parents have always down their own packing - starting with the non-essential stuff like ornaments and 90% of the books months in advance.

This the reason my parents pack their own things!

My parents then put the last minute stuff and things they need from Day 2 - cereals, bowls etc in boxes with stars marked on with a perm marker pen. The box also includes the remotes as well.

SerialRenter

I'd be tempted to not only number each box that you pack, but also to weigh and record each box. Then weigh it again when unpacking.

but of course you'd have to pack the boxes yourself.

System

Money, would you post what it was that was stolen now? I've just read the whole thread in hopes of a reveal at the end! Surely it can't be a concern now that it happened more than a year ago? Glad you got your money back as well

moneyistooshorttomention

:beer: Is this a clue?:rotfl:

You will find another clue about whats what in the (very careful) wording of my last post. Study every word and think about it......well I didn't want to "name the firm"....I picked my words carefully....

System

Yes, a very good clue along the lines of what I was thinking anyway! Hope you weren't saving the items for something special

phoebe1989seb

ScarletMarble wrote: »

This the reason my parents pack their own things!

My parents then put the last minute stuff and things they need from Day 2 - cereals, bowls etc in boxes with stars marked on with a perm marker pen. The box also includes the remotes as well.

Same here......despite advice that we should get the removers to pack for us as we have so much stuff

We've moved about six times and I would NEVER allow removal men anywhere near my prized possessions. Anything smallish of value/fragile nature we refuse to let go into the removal vans and instead take these to the new house ourselves. Last time this included an extremely delicate mirror, a statue and an antique painting as well as eight large boxes of ornaments (Good job we've got a large Defender - even so it was rather a squeeze with three cats and our overnight stuff too, lol!)

These things are irreplaceable and no amount of insurance would enable us to replace like for like.....

Furniture is always export-wrapped for added protection these days. We have one item that was valued by Liberty as being worth the same as a brand new small family car.....no way I'm going to trust that to a manky old blanket

Money - I think BAR was probably the *body* you were thinking of.....