The removal man has stolen all of my things .....

[Lisaxxx27]

I'm sat here and I can't believe what has happened.
Today is moving day and I've moved 10 mins away.
I've been moving small items round in the car.
My sofa/washer/fridge/cooker/table and chairs and bed was left to be moved by van.
I don't have a lot of spare cash and was quoted £150.
I put a post on Facebook selling page and a man quoted me £55.
He came today with a youngish lad and put them on the van,I gave him my new address and said I would be about 15 mins but my dad is there to let them in etc.
It's been 45 mins and he isn't here,I've walked around and beat him to it.
I'm starting to panic but have no way of getting in touch ...I've clicked his profile but it will let you click his name but then quickly goes off saying "user not found" or something along them lines.
I've been totally ripped off haven't I?
Or could he be lost?
My heart is literally going like the clappers
My dad has gone out to walk the way the van has came incase they are lost

In future - do not hand over cash until your stuff is safely delivered

I've never been asked to pay anything other than a £10/20 deposit upfront.

If you do have anything of value I would now be worrying about a future burglary, not necessarily from van man but of any dodgy contacts he may have.

I do have an overactive imagination.

I would also double heck you have everything. Why would he need to go to the tip with all your stuff in the back?

I thought the same as Jedimum. Seems very odd that he detoured to the dump and I wondered if he got your stuff priced up before deciding it wasn't worth his while nicking it. You've been very lucky OP but you could have lost everything (plus been £55 out of pocket) by not being sensible. Next time FFS at least check the guy out (192.com for example) so you know his full name, always have a contact phone number, and take the vehicle details (make, model, reg number). That way if he is dodgy at least you can give the police some information to help them catch him. And don't pay up front.

Really glad the man in the van turned up. OP's post brought back memories of a scene from a film called 'The Chain' about a moving day. Events included one set of 'removal men' doing a runner.

All's well that ends well, here you are -

Glad you've got your stuff now. But there's so many scammers these days. You can't trust anyone.

OP, I'm glad everything worked out.

Hopefully you will be laughing about this sooner rather than later. I understand it might still be a bit soon.

Phew

And the first post ever - domestic violence apart - where I agreed with the initial advice to call the police

PHew! And a reminder to you and anyone reading that we need names, reg at a bare minimum... better with a receipt or invoice too if poss. TBH that's the risk with doing things 'informally' (i.e. Cash in hand and tax avoidance), it can be a bargain that bites you on the arse.

But very glad it ended happily. Check anything that's valuable though, or at least stuff that looks valuable to the naked eye?

Maybe he saw this on MN and decided the vipers' west wasn't worth it

Op. Good luck in your new home x