theft by removal men

phoebe1989seb

Glad to see you're settling in to your new home money, but sorry to hear you've had something go AWOL during the move

We've never trusted removal firms to pack our stuff, but more because we have quite a lot of antiques/fragile items that are irreplaceable. Even though we've used some of the major removal companies (White & Co, Bishop's Move) I always insist on packing my most precious items myself, not even trusting DH who since his career change does expert packaging in his new role as an online retailer

When we did our first long-distance move of 150 miles (from Hampshire to Essex) we used Bishop's Move and something did go missing then, but as it was only a sewing machine foot, and as the move was spread over five days and three huge lorries, we just assumed it had somehow fallen out of one of our well-sealed boxes. We didn't bother to report it as even though we'd taken their expensive insurance we didn't spot that it was missing till a couple of months later as we were doing a full-on renovation project.

I couldn't even begin to say if we *lost* anything durning our most recent move - 29 months down the line we still have about a third of our boxes to unpack as a result of ongoing building work - but as we moved ourselves that time I severely doubt it, lol!

I do hope you get to the bottom of this and hope it doesn't spoil the enjoyment of your new home......

moneyistooshorttomention

Thanks for best wishes. I think I'll like it here.

It was also a well-known long-established firm I used too, hence surprised at this happening.

It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth that this has happened to me, and I am just trying to regard it as a salutary reminder of one of the reasons I left my last area (as I couldn't stand feeling I had to be "on guard" on my possessions all the time). The locals here are killing themselves laughing at the way I instantly leap to and lock outside doors the second anyone comes through them...as that's how it had to be back there.

hazyjo

I was a bookcase missing when I arrived at my new house! No idea where it went - took me a few weeks to realise as the bookcases weren't in their final places for a while. Have a feeling it got left at the house or someone nicked it off the van. Didn't for one moment think the removal men had half inched it.

You may find it either got stolen from the van as they were packing it, or it may be at your old house. Ring them if they kept your number. If not, ask via the EAs - or send a letter!

Please don't presume it was the removal men. They do this job day in, day out. One thing missing and that's their reputation down the pan, and them out of a job. It is worth asking, and seeing how long each employee has been with the company, but please don't go in all guns blazing/accusing them of stealing your stuff.

Good luck.

Jx

Gers

I've just ordered a packing and removal service from a well-known national company and I have no doubts about their honesty. As the previous person posted the theft of even a small item is not worth the loss of reputation to the company.

Mind you - nothing much of monetary value in this place!

ItsyBitsySpider

Gers wrote: »

I've just ordered a packing and removal service from a well-known national company and I have no doubts about their honesty. As the previous person posted the theft of even a small item is not worth the loss of reputation to the company.

Mind you - nothing much of monetary value in this place!

CEO of the well known national company won't steal such things, it will be the guy working on the minimum wage who would do that and won't care how the reputation of the company gets affected.

This happened to me when we used such a well reputed national company for packaging and removal of our stuff and an expensive suit of mine went missing. I only realised it was missing after a while when I needed this for an interview but then it was too late to prove anything.

Lesson learnt: Pack all your stuff yourself and travel with them, make sure one of the members of the family is standing by when they are unloading the stuff.

moneyistooshorttomention

I've phrased it tactfully and not used the word "theft".

Re whether the things could have been left at my last home, I went round that house about 3 times checking absolutely everywhere in it to ensure nothing had been inadvertently left. I found a couple of small items that had been and brought them with me, but it didn't include those things and I know to the inch exactly where they were in that house.

It would be a very stupid thing for them to do to steal them, but some people aren't very "bright" on the one hand and others are a bit self-destructive on the other hand. I can certainly think of people who are both a bit "dim" and rather self-destructive. Just because I'd have the sense and self-protectiveness not to do anything like that doesn't mean that everyone else would be the same I'm afraid.

lincroft1710

10 years ago when my father moved a rather nondescript headboard for a single bed went missing. Despite getting Interpol involved, it was never found.

clark24

I did have concerns on my last moving day when I glanced out the window and saw one of the removal men merrily zooming off into the distance on my mountain bike, but it turned out he just wanted to have a go on it.... lucky for him I'd recently fixed the brakes (it was a very steep hill!) lol

Lord_Baltimore

lincroft1710 wrote: »

10 years ago when my father moved a rather nondescript headboard for a single bed went missing. Despite getting Interpol involved, it was never found.

Something similar happend to us. Our TV went missing during our move and we didn't notice until the new 'Strictly' started.

There's nothing else on TV these days so we completely overlooked the 42" space in our lounge corner.

Soleil_lune

I have never had this happen, and what's more, anything valuable or irreplaceable would be taken by us in the car. Just general household stuff would go with the removal men. I find it highly unlikely that removal men would steal stuff. Least of all remote controls!! Are you sure you haven't just mislaid it?

Many years ago, (1990s,) I remember this guy who had a decorating firm doing our house while we were on hols, and when we came back, an expensive collectible seemed to be 'missing' from our bedroom. We searched everywhere, and I really wanted to go to the owner and say I think one of his workmen has taken it. I didn't right away...

When I was hoovering (about 2 weeks after) I moved our double bed and found it had dropped between the divan drawers and was really hidden away!

So they hadn't taken it at all.

I felt awful. And really glad I had not said anything.