Dear Jacqueline and Nick,
I would just like to warn anyone who is considering moving out of Russia to monitor the move very strictly. My wife and I decided to use Nick's beloved TEAM Allied (as Allied Pickfords is known outside the UK) and Allied's staff were at first very polite and courteous. We had some confidence in using a reputable company until we received the bill. We had requested two quotes for different volumes and opted for the lower volume quote. In correspondence with this, we chose to leave many belongings behind, including all of our furniture. However, when Allied had already carted all of our belongings off to their warehouse, it presented us with an invoice which was more in line with the higher volume quote we had received for moving the furniture as well. TEAM Allied said that it would not ship anything until we paid the full amount, leaving us in a difficult situation, because we departing for the UK the following morning. When I complained, Allied's Moscow office was very rude and unhelpful, including the previously charming Barbara Spier. We reluctantly paid the full amount and were dismayed to find many of the boxes around 25%-40% empty when we opened them up in the UK. I photographed every box as it was opened and showed the empty boxes to Allied's UK delivery men, who were somewhat surprised. I still have all of the pictorial evidence. I cannot help but think that removal companies exploit their position in places such as Russia. Many removals are not paid for by the individuals involved in the move, but by their employers. When the volumes (and invoices) are exaggerated, the individuals are indifferent about contesting the amounts, because they are not paying themselves. Furthermore, the employers do not question anything as long as the payments are in line with their budgets. I do not know whether Allied was trying to exploit my situation, but do know that I had to pay out of my own pocket for a large amount of empty space. To be fair, TEAM Allied's head office in the Netherlands went part of the way towards refunding some (and only some) of my money, but I can still feel a bitter taste in my mouth. Yours, Tim Spence. Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:23:26 +0000 From: [email protected] Subject: Re: Expat List movers/packers To: [email protected] CC: [email protected] Jacqueline, It depends on what you call cheap but as I posted recently on here, I've used Allied Pickfords a few times when I moved. I thought their prices were cheap and their work was superb. I wouldn't consider moving without using them. It makes it so much easier to do. I've copied Barbara Spier from Pickfords who should be able to help you. Rgds, Nick From: jacqueline gaskell <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 12 November, 2009 22:09:28 Subject: Expat List movers/packers Does anyone know of a good reliable cheap and efficient packer and mover that could help us move 5 miles further west from the north west of moscow? Many thanks!
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