to think the moving company should pay

[pilpiloni]

We have just relocated between countries. We had the shippers do all the packing and paid a lot of money for it. So they pack and box everything. Second day, just before we have to leave for our flights, they finish.

Foreman tells dh to do a walk through but doesn't accompany him. Dh knows closets have all been cleared of stuff and doesn't check in closets.

An hour after they go, just as we are leaving, we see a big box in the downstairs closet. We call the movers to let them know.

Now we have an email saying too bad, so sad, you did the walk through and said all ok. If you want to ship it, $1100.

We paid this company a lot of money as the professionals. I feel they need to step up the plate and come and get the box. Yes, dh should have opened closet but he didn't think they'd put a big box in the closet and knew there was nothing of ours in those closets. And the foreman should have walked through with him as they are the professionals and it's their job.

What do you think mn? Aibu to think the moving company should take responsibility for this or is it actually our fault and we should suck it up?

Can you take it on the plane as excess luggage more cheaply?

Ultimately it's probably your fault but the company should have done a better job as well. They are being silly because now you won't ever recommend them to family and friends.

Sorry but I think your dh should have done the walk through properly. The company are being a bit unreasonable to not be a bit more helpful, especially as it was only an hour later that you let them know but without knowing the ins and outs of shipping I'm not sure about the charge or how reasonably they could have come back for it. You could probably send it yourself for less money though depending on the size of the box.

To be honest you're being U with your comments about the foreman. Yes he should have checked and possibly had aleady, but the point of asking the client to do a walk through is to catch things like this that may have been missed. It's probably unaccompanied so he company can't be accused of distracting during the process and the client cant say "well the foreman was with me and he didn't see it either." Your dh really should have done the check properly and think he needs to take responsibility for this.

Your DH should have checked properly at the time as requested. What's to stop you adding stuff afterwards otherwise.

Ah shit. So looks like it's dh's fault? The thing is they boxed it up (and it's a BIG box, person height) and put it in the closet. Dh didn't think there was anything in the closets because we'd removed everything before packing. So they packed up the box and then put it into a closet dh had cleared.

Personally I think the sign of a good company is how they react when things go wrong like this. Will they quibble over who was responsible or seek to make it right?

And, yes, I have mentioned to them the importance of good reviews. I work for a company where people relocate all the time. Company gives a lump sum and staff do their own relocations however they wish. I got this company for a recommendation on the company's intranet forum so I did point out that id also like to give them a glowing review there too.

Pretty woman

The box is packed and labelled by them. It's obviously the packers who did it.

YABU. They don't know you haven't just packed that box and are trying it in. dH shoukd have checked properly rather than "knowing that the closets had been cleared"

What is it anyway? If it's just random clothes or junk you'll not miss it. I'd chuck it. So much stuff you take on house moves can easily be skipped without noticing in my experience.

I'm not even sure what's in it! They packed it. Probably all our winter gear. But it's a big person height box.

We were more ruthless about decluttering because it's an international move.

Crossed post. It's a big box labelled by them, that changes it a bit and that you'd pre cleared the closets. He still should have checked but keep on at them and they may cut the price.

And the foreman was more than capable of signing off himself. When we were stressing that they wouldn't finish before we had to leave he told me they could continue packing after we had gone and lock up.

This is a professional shipping company which is why I guess I expected a bit more willingness to take some responsibility

Thing is they have offered to ship it, just at a fee you don't like. They could just go 'tough, after the deadline, your problem'

Stuff will get moved about because as you say the boxes are big and they will probably need to be packed on the truck in a certain order due to size/weight. If this one was in the way in a hallway etc there is every chance it would have been moved out of the way into a cupboard etc. Your DH was asked to do a walk through and didn't. He needs to take a bit of responsibility. Depending on what is in the box, if it's just one box you can probably get it on a pallet yourself for less money if you are there to sort it.

Dh should have checked. If it was me id have opened ever cupboard etc. Thats wht the company asked of your dh. Id open the box, find out whats in there. Is it worth shipping if not dump it! Weve had to do that when moving house and no room in cars. Tough decisions. Yabu re company at fault.

I think it's their fault. I can understand why your husband didn't check into what he he knew to be an empty wardrobe. It's either 50/50 blame or 100% to them. At the least they should halve their fee.

What's the justification for the $1100? Is part of this the cost of coming back for the box? If so, can you offer to drop it off at their depot?

I disagree, it's the responsibility of the company to do the final check as they are the professional firm. It seems unprofessional to rely on the homeowner for this. Surely some-one in the firm had a record so if 20 boxes are packed by them the foreman makes sure 20 boxes are loaded onto the van. Anyway check in their T&C's about who is responsible for this oversight and maybe contact the manager or higher within the company

I don't think it's the op's dh's fault. He was asked to do a "walkthrough". I don't think that reasonably includes going into a closet (cupboard or wc). If stuff was put into a closet the door shouldn't have been closed.

What does the small print say? I'd be minded to pay the $1100 and claim it later.

Having said that we did a £3k move last year and I had to scoop up the hoover and contents of a built in cupboard and a huge skid

I'm a paranoid human, so I would have opened all the doors etc. afterwards just to be on the safe side.
But it was a reasonable assumption of your DH's that, as you had cleared the closets, there would be nothing in them - so in reality, he isn't entirely at fault for not opening them.
The packing company are at fault for placing a box IN the closet - who does that?! - and I think they're being a bit chancey trying to charge you that much to now ship it.

As the fault could be said to be on both sides, you might have to agree to pay half the extra cost - but I don't think you should be paying the full amount.

I'm really sorry but your DH was asked to do a walk-through to satisfy himself that it was all in order. He didn't do it thoroughly. It's his fault, IMO.

Whenever we move house. We do a walk through. Both of us and check everything even though we know it's empty. That's the whole point

What does your. DH think?

First rule of life: assumption is the mother of all fuck ups.

Your dh assumed the cupboards were empty rather than checking them. I would say the blame lies with him.

Open the box I need to know what's in there.

I've moved lots and always double checked cupboards, drawers etc but that's just me so I thinking how can a huge box go unnoticed.

But then I can't see the logic why packers would put it box in cupboard unless it's a free standing one and they thought that was going also.

I think they should of offered to come collect being as it was packed by them. You haven't used any boxes by them for stuff that you didn't want removing?