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?

Sorry but, this is down to your DH

I think that it is partly your DH's fault but considering that the closets had been emptied by you I can see why he didn't look in them. I think that the removal company are partially to blame for putting something in a place that had already been emptied by you. Perhaps it depends on what the contract says. Does it state that you have final responsibility for making sure that everything is removed from the house.

He assumed they were empty because they were empty. It's pretty reasonable not to expect the interlopers to come in and start filling up empty cupboards, especially when their remit is to remove not add to. They didn't do their job properly. It's defo a 50/50 split at worst. What do the t&c's say? That's gunna be the clincher.

So kind of even split regarding responsibility.

Yeah, dh should have checked in the closets. But we were both stressed, the dog shipper had just arrived and I was dealing with her and we were leaving for the airport ourselves an hour later.

But they are the ones who packed the box and put it in the closet (one that is built into the wall). Packed, labeled and sealed by them.

The company offering to ship it for $1100 is not them doing us any favors. That's what it costs normally.

And in the email from the manager he said the foreman did the walk through WITH dh which he didn't.

Don't have the context here but the foreman told us that if they hadn't finished by the time we needed to leave for the airport that they would finish up without us so clearly no need for us to have signed off on the house being cleared

Ofc it's not his fault!!! You emptied the cupboards, they had no remit or reason to open the cupboard and put things back in, they are trying it on - definitely fight back!

I can't see how it is entirely your DH's fault. If you had emptied the cupboard before they came, you would have expected it still to be empty. Won't the employer fight it out for you?

They probably are trying it on if they had said that they could finish up without you although I am sure they will deny they said that. It is probably one of those situations where they will only give in if they think they will lose future business so trying threatening them (nicely, of course) and you may get a "good will gesture".

So they've basically lost a box, then tried to charge you another grand to ship it even though you've already paid to ship that box? And it's your DH's fault because he didn't manage to find the lost box that they'd hidden?

They're having a laugh. A purpose of a 'walkthrough' isn't to turn the place upside down to locate shipments they've boxed up and then hidden.

I've done this kind of packing for an international move. Your DH is entirely at fault IMO.

Not only that but he must have signed to say that the pack was complete.

I did the final walk through (on my own) and checked every single cupboard and drawer, even ones I'd previously checked.

And yes, I did find a rail of clothes that had been missed (it happens it's a big house) and they boxed them up sharpish with apologies.

Yes it's stressful. Yes it's unfortunate. Yes it's your fault and you'll have to cough up for the air freight.

I'd open the box and decide if the contents are worth $1,100. It would probably be cheaper to dump it and buy the stuff once you've moved.

I suspect if it's not something you need urgently (and I know you don't know what is in the box) you could find someone to shop it for a lot less than that.

I think there is a bit of fault on both sides. Your husband should have done a thorough check, they shouldn't have put a packed box in a closet that had been cleared. I would expect a professional company to at least give you a discounted rate for shipping it in these circs.

That's Bs, they'll be going to a depot before they ship your stuff. Our numpty shippers packed a laptop that I was clearly using while they were there, I phoned them and somehow got it out of the container and specific box it was in very quickly.

...and was not charged, I did drive down to the depot myself to collect.

I would fight it with them, especially if they lied and said the foreman accompanied your Dh.

What MackerelOfFact said.

They should know how many boxes they packed and labelled and should have counted them onto the van.

Was the walk through to check they had packed everything or to check they'd removed everything?

Did they give you an inventory of numbered boxes? Did they sign it to say everything had been loaded onto the truck?

Last time we did an international move we had a list with every box listed - we we offloaded we had to sign to say we had received every box.

$1100 sounds like it could be an air shipment price?

I think it's their fault too. They put a box in a cupboard your DH knew was empty and closed the door (I assume).

Plus they lied about the foreman walking through, plus they said they'd finish up if you'd had to leave to go to the airport, meaning they accepted responsibility for clearing the house entirely.

Sitting on the fence slightly here, I think it's a fuck up for both your DH and the shipping company. As a PP said, I would actually check each and every cupboard if asked to do a walk through before signing off (as I would do with any contract). I'm not sure I'd trust anyone to be as thorough as me with my stuff. But, they have been paid to do the job for you which I would take to mean that they'd do it thoroughly. When we have moved internationally I have checked everything but moving internally I have given them the benefit of the doubt and assumed that they knew what they were doing, it shouldn't actually make a difference how far you're moving if you're paying them to take care of your stuff. So, I think that I would probably pursue this further, look at the contract again and ultimately, let them know that they were in charge of packing up your belongings and that their employees should be responsible for things that they have packed, labeled and then hidden (obviously not hidden intentionally but they did put the box in a closet). That's what they're paid for, yes? I would probably get on my high horse and it might all end in tears but at least I would have tried. From experience though, they would normally rectify the situation for the good of their reputation.

Either way it's a mess up. Open the box, see whats there, and either pay the money and then fight for it back, or do what we did with a lot of things and send it to the thrift/charity shop or buy another suitcase and pack to the max weight and pay the $40 or whatever it is from your country for an extra suitcase. Do it ahead of time as it's more at the airport.
International moves suck, I hope we never have to do it ever again. 5 times is enough for me.

It's a person sized box? Book it onto an airplane seat. Claim it's a cello.

I don't know if they lied that foreman accompanied or if the manager just assumed. They still haven't replied to our earlier mail.

I do feel that we have some responsibility in that dh should have checked. But I also feel that the company are the professionals and should have accompanied him and should also accept some of the responsibility given that they are the ones who packed and labelled the box and left it in the closet.

We can't check what's in there as we ourselves left for the airport an hour later.

Definitely will try to argue our point. We paid $11000 for this shipment which is no small sum! Plus $400 tip for the movers. So an additional $1100 seems unfair.

Result! We just had a (very curt) email from the manager asking how to arrange pick up of the box. No mention of any additional fee.

The dh did not know the cupboard was empty . If he'd taken the trouble to open the door; he'd have seen the "person sized box" lurking within.
Who actually put it there is pretty irrelevant when your dh was tasked with doing a walk through and certifying the place was empty.
Which he did; while inside a cupboard lurked a person sized box...
How on earth could they be held responsible?