Have you ever been conned by a rogue trader, this blog and its series will be aimed primarily athe house removal industry and the Transport and haulage industry.  If you have a story that you want to contribute, have you had a nightmare house removal, relocated and been let down, wound up or generally ripped of by the removals company, let me know your views and opinions.

Thread started by The Box Warehouse, the house removal boxes & Packaging supplier

Beware Ripoff removal Firms

Before you decide which removal company to use for your house, home or flat removal service think hard, check the company out, are they reputable?Just because you think they are cheap? there is a reason why they can afford to offer the lowest price and its often not until you actually use their services for moving your furniture and personal belongings that you find out the truth.  I had personal dealings with someone call Colin Paddington, from Whitchurch, now here is a rogue trader and since putting a website up to warn people (taking his then business name the ‘VosperGroup.com – the website has recently been removed by the internet hosting company).

I placed my telephone number and email address on the site and had a string of people contacting me form his exwife, current (now ex wife) his ex-friend Jason Vosper (see the link yet?). Even the police and BBC watchdog producers who were aware of this conman called me for and to give me more information, not to mention a number of very unsatisfied customers of Mr Paddington had conned, including a couple of unfriendly debt collectors who were looking for him.  From all these people I realised just how easy it was to get conned by a plausible rogue trader in the House removal business.

Here are a few of the tricks that you should be aware of when checking the credibility of a removal company and what to watchout for – Be aware of the dangers and stay one step ahead of the crook!

Remember even the most reputable companies can get caught up by the crooks:

• On moving day you will have paid in full, check with the driver that this is correct?  One trick of the rogue trader removals company is to visit you go through the sale making notes on how large a vehicle is required, the distance to travel, how much furniture there is and how many cardboard removal boxes are required. The salesman will then take either a deposit or the full amount depending on how soon you are moving, but by the day of the move you will have paid in full, before the vehicle turns up?  This is quite normal but the rogue trader removal company will then call another removals firm that they found on the internet and tell them they are too busy and cant do the house removal on that day, they have taken a £100 deposit but they would collect the remaining £500-700 etc once they are at the new property (payment will be cash, no invoice?).  The nconman will say he will keep the deposit so he doesnt loose out but realy he will have taken payment in full!  On moving day the new removal company turn up load all of your belongings into their vehicle and then either as they are leaving or when they arrive at the new home they ask for payment.  Now you have already paid several hundered pounds to move your belongings ‘in good faith’, but the removal company have also packed up your belongings and loaded them onto the lorry?  You have a problem, either pay again or the removal company wont give you your property back until you pay them, obviously you have no choice but to pay again, you have been warned.
• Watch how the removal company loads the vehicle?  The conman may take your money, he may then turn up and genuinely pack all your furniture and personal belongings into a large van or Removals Lorry, but watch how they pack your belongings and what order they put them on the Lorry?  A popular trick with the rogue removal company is to pack your goods keeping a close eye on goods of value which probably wont be missed with all the stressess of moving day until several days later when the conman has gone.  What Rogue removal company will do is load ‘the goods he wants’ last, why thats simple? As you drive off, so does he but but somehow you get separated, you try to call him but his mobile is switched off or he is just not answering.  Unbenoounced to you he has taken you belongings to his personal storage place, from a garage to a storage company to his own warehouse, where he unloads what he want (a tv, ipod, microwave, paintings or even expensive furniture which you may not miss), he then continues on his way, turning his phone on saying he went for a bite to eat or some excuse.  You all unload and setup your home but dont notice anything missing, maybe for days or even weeks, but by then you cant prove anything and you dont have a legal leg to stand on even trading standards cant help? So be careful, be vigilant and keep your eyes open.