Insider Tips To Spot Common London Removal Scams
While the majority of removal companies operate ethically, it's important to be aware of common tricks or misleading terms that some less reputable companies might employ. Here are some insider words of warning and examples of common scams, showing what to look out for and avoid when moving in London:
- Scam: Bait And Switch
- How It Works: Some companies may provide exceptionally low quotes to attract customers but then increase the price substantially during or after the move with hidden charges for extra boxes or walking up stairs, refusing to complete the move unless you pay extra.
- Prevention: Be wary of quotes significantly lower than average. Obtain quotes from multiple reputable companies for comparison, and be wary of companies who don't display quotes clearly online. Check negative reviews for common themes or complaints. Choose a company like Relōku who are public and transparent with their fully inclusive prices.
Scam: Verbal Agreement Only
- How It Works: A removal company that refuses to provide a written agreement may not be transparent about their terms and could engage in unethical practices. While not having a contract doesn't inherently mean a scam is taking place, it does create an environment where misunderstandings, disputes, and potential fraudulent activities are harder to defend against. It's advisable to get clearly outlined terms, expectations, and responsibilities to proetect all parties involved.
- Prevention: Always insist on a written agreement that clearly outlines services, costs, and any conditions.
Scam: Unlicensed or Uninsured Companies
- How It Works: Operating without the necessary licenses or insurance can leave you without recourse for damages or loss.
- Prevention: Verify the company's credentials before hiring them. Reputable moving firms will be registered at Companies House with the correct SIC codes, and will be able to show you insurance documents and provide details about their removal teams.
Scam: Refusal to Insure Valuables
- How It Works: Some companies may refuse to provide insurance coverage for more valuable items, offer inadequate coverage, or refuse a claim on technicalities.
- Prevention: Clarify the insurance policy and ensure it adequately covers your belongings. Consider additional insurance for high-value items. Check the terms under which you would NOT be covered.
Scam: Change of Terms Last Minute
- How It Works: Some companies may change the terms of the agreement at the last minute, such as the delivery date or pricing structure and refuse to cancel without charging.
- Prevention: Confirm all details in writing beforehand and have a clear understanding of the terms before signing any agreement. Check booking cancellation or amendment terms, and don't hire any company which is unfair with these.
Scam: Failure to Disclose Subcontracting
- How It Works: Some companies may subcontract your move without informing you, leading to potential issues with accountability and professionalism - and when a problem arises you may be told to deal directly with the subcontractor, without any help from the company you booked from.
- Prevention: Ask the company directly if they subcontract any part of the move, and if the subcontractors are vetted, checked and insured, check if the booking agent is insured on your behalf or will at least help you in the event of an incident. Go with a company who only uses their own teams, ideally in branded vans.
Scam: Deposit Loss
- How It Works: A deposit (sometimes the full cost of the job) is taken immediately when booking, and refused to be refunded in the event of any change, amendment or cancellation.
- Prevention: Read the cancellation terms carefully, and avoid fully payment in advance whenever possible. Ideally use a company like Relōku who only require card details to book, but don't take payment until after the job is completed.
Scam: Holding Items Hostage
- How It Works: Some companies might withhold your belongings until you pay unexpected fees (usually in cash) that were not part of the initial agreement.
- Prevention: Clearly understand the payment terms upfront and avoid companies that demand additional payments after the move has started.
Scam: Incentivised Reviews
- How It Works: Users or ‘review farms’ paid to bombard review sites with positive reviews to bury negative ones - or writing negative reviews for competitors.
- Prevention: Check the reviwer has a full name and profile picture, and some other reviews they have written. Watch out for generic phrases, advertising slogans from the website, or short reviews which don't say anything specific to the service.
Insider Tips To Mitigate Risk For Your London Removal
Avoid paying in advance: Many London removal companies require instant payment, in full, when booking. Try to avoid this - if you need to change anything on your removal booking (such as date, time, or cancel) it's often very difficult to get a refund or there are often unfair charges and fees for amendments. Further, many companies receive bad reviews for drivers not even arriving for the booking, but the customer not being able to get their money back. Look for a company like Relōku who only charge AFTER the job is complete.
Avoid moving without insurance: Moving without insurance can be a huge gamble, as you may lose or damage your items during the move, and have no compensation or recourse. You may also be liable for any injuries or damages caused by your move, such as to the property, the vehicle, or the driver. You can avoid moving without insurance by choosing a moving service that provides adequate and comprehensive insurance cover for your items, your vehicle, and your driver, and checking the terms and conditions of the insurance policy carefully. You can also take photos and videos of your items before and after the move, and keep the receipts and invoices of your move as proof.
Avoid moving with unlicensed, unprofessional or outsourced moving services: While cheap prices are always attractive at first, this can be a nightmare as you may encounter poor quality, unreliable, or fraudulent moving services that can damage or steal your items, overcharge or underdeliver, or disappear or cancel without notice. If you're only moving a sofa or fridge then maybe the risk is worthwhile, but if its you life's possessions then use a moving service that is licensed, registered, and accredited by the relevant authorities and organisations, and exclusively uses it own full time teams. If you do use an outsourcing / gig-worker website, be sure they tell you they are subcontracting, and that you are fully protected by the booking agent in the event of subcontractor issues. You can also check the reviews and ratings of the moving services online, and contact them directly to verify their identity and credentials.
Avoid moving without a written confirmation or a receipt: Moving without a contract or a receipt can be a mistake, as you may have no written agreement or evidence of the terms and conditions of your move, such as the price, the service, the date, and the time. You may also have no proof of payment or delivery, and no way to claim or complain if anything goes wrong. You can avoid moving without a contract or a receipt by choosing a moving service that provides you with a written contract, confirmation and a receipt, and reading them carefully. Relōku automatically send emails and SMS confirmations of all interactions for you records.
Check the small print: Find a company with clear, concise terms and conditions - not pages of legal phrases and obscure language which might be designed to confuse you or cause you to give up reading them. Ask for a summary document or abridged version if you are unsure, and query anything you feel is not clear.
Read the reviews: Not just the ones on the website which can be edited to only show good ones - but also on review sites filter them to show the bad reviews because they can be incentivised toward being positive. The negative reviews will give you a clear picture of common issues with the removal service, and the amount of them will let you know how often they occur. Also search on social media and less known review sites, as they are likely to give a more honest, uncompromised impression of the movers.
Prioritise personal recommendations: There is no higher form of trust than recommendations from unbiased sources. Ask contacts on social media, post on trusted forums, speak to your friends. If the same company comes up a few times, that's a very good sign. But always do your research, ask questions, and read the small print!
To protect yourself from potential scams, always research and choose a reputable removal company, read reviews, and carefully review all terms and conditions before signing any contracts. And remember - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is…!
