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

[Corkscrewbetty]

Yep! Go full whack at them. Get them in any way you can. Phone the papers! Phone the hotel and ask if you can have credit for another night and you might be ablle to use it int he future. It's just one night and you'll cope! See it as an adventure now (I know that might not help!). You'll get through this. Don't cry or you'll waste enegy you need for tomorrow. Phone the local paper. You have a new baby and they've really left you in a mess!

[RhiannonOHara]

Oh yes, I forgot about extra charges for the new removal company.

Don't let them get away with this, OP.

[ohfortuna]

I would just keep a detailed record of everything that happened for now and just humour him and not say much
When everything is sorted out and you've got yourself together then look to legal action naming and shaming etc

[opinionatedfreak]

Keep e.mail with apology.

Organise new removal.

Keep all receipts.

Once safely settled into new house take small claims court action to reclaim deposit (if not paid back) and new out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of them breaking contract with you.

Small claims costs are cheap. You might not get your money back. Publicise this on your Facebook and ask local friends to share. This is a public service other families who are contemplating using this firm need to know about this flakiness. Where are you moving from and to? I have had good experiences with Britannia (from Leith), Broughton and The flat removal company (Glasgow based).

Friend have used Clockwork and been happy too.

I have moved Scotland to London and back more times than I care to think about.

[MakeMisogynyAHateCrime]

What bastards.

When you have new removers leave a review on their Facebook page too along the lines of

"The lovely people at @newremoval people moved us all the way from abc to xyz. We can't thank them enough for stepping in at the last minute and really helping making our move much, much easier when @shittyremovalscompany took our money, moved our sofa down the stairs and promptly fed us a pack of lies, walked out of our flat and never came back. They left us with a 6 week old baby and a toddler, none of our stuff moved and a hotel room on the M6 unused and unrefundable.

Thanks again so much to @newremoval for being honest, hard working and decent people. We recommend them to anyone moving in the abc area."

That will really, really sting those shit bags.

[hollowtree]

Small claims court definitely. So sorry OP you must be exhausted and furious, I hope it all gets sorted soon

[Namechangetempissue]

I would be bloody furious and asking for the hotel money back as well as the deposit. What a dick to just block your numbers and not respond. I would leave a non sweary review on FB stating the facts alone and not resorting to name calling etc. Hope the move is progressing well

[TitaniasCloset]

You must be so stressed out now op, I hope the rest of your move goes smoothly

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

It just gets worse guys! The new removal people have said they won’t be able to fit all of our stuff in their van! They can possibly come back tomorrow but we need to be out by then. We’re not doing very well are we? Lucky kids are happy - oldest still not himself but he’s holding down food now

[moreismore]

Oh god! This surely has to be 12 months worth of bad luck minimum?! Can you hire a van for the rest and drive yourselves?

[MrsMoastyToasty]

Is there any chance you can put most of your stuff in a self storage unit and move down to England with the absolute minimum of stuff in a self drive van? It would mean going back to Scotland to collect the rest of your stuff at a later date.
Does your house insurance providers legal assistance?

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

The problem is we can’t get a van at this short notice. And the guys are actually taking it to storage but they won’t be able to take it all tonight because they can’t fit it and it’s be too late to come back. They’re going to see if they can get someone out tomorrow now and the solicitor is just checking with the buyers if they can get us a bit more time. We’re at their mercy. If I wasn’t breastfeeding I would have tanked a bottle of wine right now

[Protectingmydaughterfromfilth]

Gawddddd I wish I could help somehow. Nowhere near you though. Really hoping you get sorted xx

[RhiannonOHara]

Oh, OP. If only I were in Scotland or knew any van hire places near you.

Let's see if the solicitor/buyers come through.

Possibly not at the forefront of your mind right now, but I'd suggest keeping notes of ALL the shite you're going through and having to sort out as a consequence of the original firm letting you down. It can all add to your claim later, in terms of weight as well as financially (are you paying your solicitor to talk to the buyers, for example?).

Very best of luck.

[Tugtupite]

What a nightmare, I hope you get things sorted. Removal companies chill my blood. I move a lot and have yet to find a professional one.

[chickenowner]

Oh what a complete and utter nightmare.

Sorry I have no useful advice, but just hope that you get everything sorted out, and that your original moving company are made to pay for it all!

[OverlyYappy]

What a complete nightmare I hope you can get a van asap

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

The buyers have said we can stay until 12 noon tomorrow. The company said they will come out tomorrow morning but won’t guarantee a time. I’m just so nervous now this needs to happen but I’m not confident it will go to plan....just off to a hotel now. Thanks for the replies everyone

[chickenowner]

Good luck!!

[Jux]

Can you mobilise a lot of friends with cars and stuff them full, which they can then take to storage until you're sorted?

I'm so sorry you've encountered this massive problem. Moving house is honestly not usually as stressful as this, so don't let it stop you doing it in the future. Sometimes the very idea of moving can put a big block on it, but don't let your world become smaller because this irresponsible and dishonest man has let you down.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Good luck tomorrow. I wouldn’t believe the apology. Blocking your numbers and doing nothing to help are not the actions of someone who’s sorry.

[MakeMisogynyAHateCrime]

Oh OP how stressful for this to be continuing.

[Pissedoffisanunderstatement]

My son has just been spectacularly sick all over our hotel bed and room - everything’s covered including 6week old daughter. I really hope this post is making someone feel better about their bad day

To the person suggesting friends and family Storing our stuff - this is the last resort option. Hoping we don’t have to go there but we will if we need to. We’ve had friends/family offer to drive up from England too.

Just got an email from arsehole delivery guy. He said sorry he’s not had a chance to transfer the deposit yet but they’ve been on a job all day and still aren’t back - didn’t even get lunch bless them. Pretty interesting he has a big job when he was booked to drive our stuff to England today.....

[TheSassyAssassin]

Oh OP. Really hoping you have the best Christmas ever in your new home down here when you finally make it. Hope DS gets better quickly and no-one else gets it Fingers crossed for tomorrow

[FlouncyDoves]

It’s good that he’s putting that down in writing. Bloody idiot.

Use all this as ammunition when you take him to the small claims court (which I would do over and above just accepting the deposit back).

Then, when all’s quiet and calmed down, go and smash his van up like I said earlier.