[RESOLVED] Removal man lost an item- what are my rights?

vitamin_joe

I moved house yesterday, and hired a 'man with a van' team to help. They left an item in the corridor of the block of flats and left the premises. The item went missing. The item would cost about £90 to replace, but more importantly to me, it is of great sentimental value.

The removal man is saying that, since it happened within the building, it is an issue for the CCTV cameras, and he is not liable. (He has, or at least claims to have insurance) My argument is that since he has been charged with moving my things, and has acted negligently, he is liable for the loss. Either way, I think it will be very difficult to get any compensation from him; he doesn't seem to care at all. I feel upset by the loss of an important personal item, and I don't feel I can just forget about it and write off the loss. What are my rights?
Thankyou.

AdrianC

Ask for his insurance details, claim from them.

kinger101

I agree with you assertion has was negligent. Anyone paid to move something from A to B should perform their duties with a reasonable level of care and attention. He probably doesn't want to claim on his insurance because of an excess, or it may drive up his premiums.

Little you can do, other than perhaps a letter before action. Personally, I'm not sure it's worth the bother. Perhaps leave a note in the corridor say you've "misplaced" a item of sentimental value, and hint at a reward.

vitamin_joe

Thanks for your replies. I put up a sign in the hall this morning (as was suggested here!) with a reward-£50 - and in the last ten minutes someone returned the item. I'm just glad it's back- I think it would be a losing battle trying to get the fifty back off the removal man, so I'm just going to chalk it up to experience.

Miss_Samantha

vitamin_joe wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. I put up a sign in the hall this morning (as was suggested here!) with a reward-£50 - and in the last ten minutes someone returned the item.

And of course you didn't give them the money but told them that their reward is that you won't involve the police...

Edit:

vitamin_joe wrote: »

I think it would be a losing battle trying to get the fifty back off the removal man, so I'm just going to chalk it up to experience.

Oh wait, you did give them £50 to give you your own stuff back...

AdrianC

vitamin_joe wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. I put up a sign in the hall this morning (as was suggested here!) with a reward-£50 - and in the last ten minutes someone returned the item. I'm just glad it's back- I think it would be a losing battle trying to get the fifty back off the removal man, so I'm just going to chalk it up to experience.

So, in short, one of your ex-neighbours nicked it.

Well done on getting it back. And well done on the realism over the reward.

[Deleted User]

Of course the person who took it could be a complete tea leaf.., but it could also be someone who saw it lying there and thought..., ooh I've always wanted x.., and someone doesn't want it. Blah blah. Not something I'd do but people do do things like this.

I am very glad you got it back, and know the money isn't as important as the personal value to you.

moneyistooshorttomention

Isn't it worth continuing to chase the removal firm - but now in order to get them to reimburse the £50 you gave the thief? As it was their fault the thief had the chance to commit that theft.

Errrrm....hang on in there a minute too - how did you manage to get the £50 to the thief without you finding out who they are? Surely they would have had to "show their face" to get that money out of you - and you now know who they are and can take appropriate action against them?

frugalsmurf

What explanation did they give for having your property?

I'm shocked you gave £50 to a thief, but maybe I've misunderstood that?
Although it was a solution, and it worked, so all ends well.

Hoploz

Could have started with a sign NOT offering payment, before later adding it if you got desperate?

(MSE?)

PasturesNew

If you saw somebody moving out and then saw a box in the corridor, it's possible it looked like "abandoned rubbish" rather than "overlooked nice item" and somebody could've thought "I'll have that" thinking it was the outgoing person too lazy to walk it to the bin/tip.

Once they've gone, van gone, you've seen them drive away .... it's possible you just thought "lazy s0ds didn't even take that to the tip".

So, whether they were a tea-leaf or made a genuine mistake will depend on how the box looked and how the items looked.