Wtf just happened??

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

Moving from Scotland to England today (7 hour drive). Have spent the last week packing up the flat, finalising the sale, cleaning for the new owners etc. We hired a removal company who came over to do a survey on how much stuff we had - seemed really nice and professional. We were happy with their quote and they came round once more to deliver boxes for us to use.

So today is move day. They were 2 hours late to start with which completely messed up our plans but we let that go as at this point we really needed to get on with things (we have an 18 month and 6 week old to deal with too so you can imagine the stress). Anyway they came in, took our sofa to the van and then called us (from the van) saying because they were so late they were going to pick up two colleagues who they had arranged to help out to make things quicker. I was hesitant but he said it would take 15 minutes max. Anyway they never came back and the sofa had been dumped by the front door.

So I’m now sat here on the floor in a flat completed packed away in boxes with two babies wondering what the hell to do next? We managed to get another removal company to agree to pick our stuff up tomorrow although can’t deliver until next week but we’ll take that as the flat is no longer ours after tomorrow. This means we have to stay here tonight with no beds for any of us as we’ve taken them all apart. We had a hotel booked halfway down the m6 which we won’t be using so we lose out on that and have also paid the removal guy £200 deposit.

I guess what I want to know is ways in this sotuation? I know it’s not aibu but I’m desperate here! Can we take action against them? Can we get our £200 back? Money reimbursed for the hotel? I’m so angry that someone could do this - if they came and thought the job was too big they could have at least told us. Would be really grateful for some helpful advice right now

[Kickassname]

Are you anywhere near a premier inn or travelodge op?

[MarshaBradyo]

Wth! That is terrible. Name and shame

[Ikanon]

Is there a local equivalent you could swap your booking to from the M6 hotel?

[Kentnurse2015]

Do speak to the hotel where you have your booking. I bet they will try and help if possible. Is there a hotel near you? Book in for the night and dea with this tomorrow. You will be too tired and emotional to do anything now

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

Thanks for the sympathy guys!

M6 hotel are unfortunately not allowing us to amend/cancel booking. It’s a large chain and I (stupidly) booked a rare thats non changeable - lesson learned for next time I guess.

So gutted that we booked with this company now - it’s a really small company so I’m not sure naming and shaming will work and wouldn’t know where to start - I’m not great with social media. I have called my bank though who are going to investigate and hopefully reverse the £200 payment.

Currently making a make shift bed for the 18 month old. People are crap sometimes

[GlitteryFluff]

That's so awful, how stressful for you.
Hope you manage to get money back somehow.

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

And no we’re not near a premier inn or travel lodge unfortunately

[MikeUniformMike]

I hope you get it sorted.
Scumbags.

[endofthelinefinally]

Do you have travel insurance with your bank or building society?
We do with ours. It comes as standard with the account.
Worth checking as you might be able to get a refund on the hotel booking.
Ditto with legal advice with your home insurance.
So sorry this happened to you.
Little ones will be fine sleeping on a duvet on the floor. (Personal experience).

[CassandraCross]

I hope you get your £200 back from the Bank and sorry about the M6 hotel.

The things people will do to others never ceases to amaze me.

[lalalalyra]

Tweet the hotel company and ask them to email you confirmation that they can't/won't change your booking so you can add it to a small claims claim against the removal company who've left you in this position. It'll either help you with the small claims case against them, or it might prick the conscience of the company.

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

Contact them and tell them you will take them to small claims court if they don’t pay up the £200 plus the money for the hotel. You’ll have to pay a small fee to start the claim but as it’s so low I seem to remember that if you lose you won’t have to pay any fees they incur if they decide to hire a solicitor

[RosyWelshcakes]

OP, Ive no idea what you can actually do to redress the issue with the removal company but I just wanted to acknowledge your post and to say it all sounds horrific and Im thinking of you.

[Rachie1986]

That's awful! No advice but hope you get it sorted.

[Cupoteap]

[ToadOfSadness]

Not sure if this would help due to your location but there is a Federation of Removers (British). Although if they didn't join it probably no help at all but for future reference,

bar.co.uk/

[Ski37]

I'm sorry for your problem OP- moving is stressful at the best of times, even if it all goes smoothly.
I always feel uneasy about making a fuss but agree with small claims court. Also, if they are a small company, naming and shaming may have some influence as they may rely heavily on local advertising/ word of mouth for future business!
Hope things get sorted soon.

[MarmaladeAtkinsX]

There’s a guild of removers www.ngrs.co.uk who are brilliant when removals go rogue - speak to them, they’ll be able to advise about compensation etc.

Are there any friends you can stay with? If my friends were in a similar position I’d happily take the sofa so you’d at least have a bed and facilities - this is what friends are for, don’t be embarrassed to ask for help!

[Sara107]

I agree with the poster who suggested the police - it is fraud, they took your deposit and clearly had no intention of actually doing the removal. Also trading standards (I think this might have become something else), Facebook name and shame etc. Charlatans like that need to be exposed to try and protect others from them. Have you any family or friends locally who can rally round with the loan of some bedding for you?

[Basseting]

I don't know where you are in Scotland but where I live word of mouth is a powerful thing. I would spread the word far and wide re what they have done to you (when you are settled and have the energy).
It's really shabby of them, and then some.

[NewMinouMinou]

Lalalalyra makes a good point about the email from the hotel.
Sorry to hear this, OP. What a set of bastards. Hope you get sorted and that you enjoy your first Christmas in your new home.

[eddielizzard]

add up all your costs and then tell the company you want costs plus your deposit back at the very minimum. they have treated you appallingly.

it feels absolutely awful now, but this is a story you'll be telling to your grandkids.

[NeganLovesLucille]

Something similar happened to me. I had a toddler and was extremely pregnant. The removal men turned up on moving day and decided that we had too much stuff! They drove off and left me sitting on a rolled up carpet crying. Bastards. At least we hadn't paid them any money.

Sympathy OP, but not really any suggestion other than small claims which PPs have said.

[Supermagicsmile]

That's really crap for you. Hope you get your money back.

[TheSassyAssassin]

What utter twunts! Hope you are soon settled in your new home OP & agree with small claims court