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

[Kentnurse2015]

Are you near any of us that can help? I get this is probably a bad offer as I know it won't be me (kent!) but just a thought x

[ohreallyohreallyoh]

As others have said, name and shame on a local,Facebook site. Keep it factual. I hope all works out for you and tomorrow is as stress free as it can be.

[WombOfOnesOwn]

A couple of years ago, a similar kind of thing resulted in my DH and I having all our worldly possessions (save what we packed in our car) stolen by the movers. It was devastating!

[Jux]

Well, I hope you’re sleepng the sleep of the Just, now!

I think you really should name and shame. OK they’re a small local firm, but that can mean that they are far more susceptible to slurs on their reputation. It sounds to me that they double booked and were hoping to manage both jobs without either client noticing, but that clearly didn’t work.

Name and shame on FB and Twitter.

Hope the rest of your move goes well.

[FlouncyDoves]

Do you have an address for them, or know where they park their van etc? If so, take a cricket bat or similar and smash the fuck out it. Cathartic for you and it will put them out of business for a few days. Wear a balaclava though.

[HateSummer]

Don’t go and “smash the fuck” out of their property/cars. What a stupid piece of advice. I doubt a mother of a 6 week old and toddler wants to get a criminal conviction for vandalism.

Hope you get it sorted op. Name and shame them on fb and contact the local papers and let them know as a warning to other locals. Contact the police too.

[HousefulOfBoysNow]

If you paid by direct bank payment, there's very little chance the bank will be able to refund you op - don't bank on that.

Take them to small claims. That way you can add on the extra losses caused like the hotel and so on and claim for it all.

[glueandstick]

You’re very entitled to mentally smash everything up, but would probably suggest a cup of tea instead. Good luck tomorrow.

[Italiangreyhound]

Sorry, no advice but hope it will be plain sailing from now, so sorry this happened.

[SumThucker]

I'm agog at "take a bat and smash fuck out of their van", like a bleeding Eastenders episode

Hope you get it sorted OP.

[ohfortuna]

Horrific, I hope you can get some justice

[Rach5l]

That's awful but if you're not wanting to do anything about it because it's a small company what's your aibu?

[TooManyPaws]

Police, then local press, to name and shame. Our local weekly would love to have you front page with the children and I'm sure yours will be the same.

Best of luck for the next few days ❤️

[YouThought]

WTF indeed! That's terrible. Glad you have at least found another company to help you tomorrow.

[timeforachange77]

If you paid with a credit card, you can make a claim as credit card company are legally jointly and severally liable for any breach of contract under the consumer credit act. If you paid via a debit card you do not have the same protection but some banks do operate a "chargeback" policy even though they do not have to - definitely worth asking. Re the hotel you could potentially make a claim via small claims court for loss due to breach of contract but you would need to weigh that up against court fees and the hassle.

[MinervaSaidThat]

OP, you need to call them and be angry and assertive on the phone and demand your £200 back.

Don't write it off without trying to call them first.

[Bbbbbbb]

The stories on here of removals taking their belongings and never seeing them again. OMG!

[Blodplod]

How utterly horrible and stressful for you. Obviously your main concern is getting moved. Once you’re settled in your new home, and assuming you haven’t been reimbursed by bank, credit card etc please do go to small claims. I can’t stress how easy it is to do. Gather all evidence and apply online. It costs £35 for the sums you are talking about and you’ll get that back when you win. I did it and it was so easy, I won (easily) and ended up being paid more than I had claimed for as judge (magistrate? Not sure the exact role) ruled on extra compensation. I would be wary of naming and shaming and you have stated you’re not into FB etc. You can go about this quietly and with convinction and still sting them where it hurts.

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

Ok an update....

I had tried to call them yesterday of course - but my number was blocked. My husband tried to call them and they cottoned on it was him so blocked his number too. I emailed last night asking for my deposit back and threatened legal action. He responded straight away and apologised saying he had underestimated the job and staff who were supposed to be out helping had let him down. He will be returning the deposit. Such a cowardly thing to do though - and he could have at least bought our sofa back up the two flights of stairs!!

I’m tempted to name and shame on fb but not sure how? Would I write a status and tag them in it? You can’t actually post on their timeline? I’m honestly so rubbish with that stuff I just use fb to post pictures and keep up with friends/family who live far away.

On top of all this my oldest has woken up ill for the first time this morning! He’s thrown up 4 times already (just bile) and can’t eat anything. It’s not my week!

[dorislessingscat]

I'd get your deposit back first, plus out of pocket expenses, before you name and shame.

Was it at least a decent apology?

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

Yes I will definitely wait until we have the money back before doing anything further. The apology seemed genuine but of course he’s going to say sorry if he’s worried we’ll take legal action. The fact that he’s the type of person that could leave a family like that is inexcusable whether he was let down by staff or not. Like I said he could have come back to move the sofa or at the very least called to explain rather than block my number

[HateSummer]

Yes get the deposit back first and then name and Shame. You can just post on local fb pages for your town, your local newspaper page and on your own page warning people against them if you can’t post on their page. You can also leave reviews on Yellow pages and Thomson direct pages if they’re a proper company. Such a cowardly thing to do blocking numbers. Hope your son feels better soon.

[Nyx1]

OP I'm so sorry to hear this

I'm wondering how on earth they'd have managed if people were sitting with a van full of stuff outside your place though? You should be able to get much more out of them than a deposit, surely?

[RhiannonOHara]

I'd say get the deposit AND demand compensation from (the cost of your hotel, plus, if you're feeling particularly determined, compensation for inconvenience and distress).

Then name and shame. Are they on any websites that recommend local companies? Leave a damning review if so.

Get someone to show you how to review them on FB and Twitter.

[janetheimpaler]

Begin the small claims court procedure, it's very simply and cheap. They owe you more than the deposit , e.g. the lost payment for the hotel and any extra charges for the new removal company. If they return the deposit (and they may promise this and be slow to deliver), it will just be deducted from monies owing. You can't trust (or operate on) this person's word.