How to Move a Flat – Several Advices
17.02.2001
To offer the low prices for the services to get the order from the client is the most popular scheme of work in moving companies. After that, during the whole period from receiving the order and until the date of moving, the swindler continues offering their services for the same date. If he is lucky to get another order for that day that will give him higher income, this charlatan will phone the first client to say that he cannot fulfill his obligations because his worker has broken his back/leg or because his truck was driven away, etc. or he won't simply come to the first client without any notification.
Tip: you should include into the contract the clause about the compensation of 1000 new shekels that the carrier will pay you if he does not perform the transportation on time, no matter what the reason is.
Stealing
A year or two ago there was a band that worked under cover of a moving agency. They stole the whole contents of eight flats. Robbery of such range occurs not so often, of course. However, thefts are rather frequent. If you take into account that moving companies usually have many temporary seasonal workers, you will understand that it is not easy to prevent stealing small things.
Tip: to avoid stealing, take the most valuable things into your private car.
Extortion
If the manager of the moving agency offers you a very low price, it must put on your guard. It means that in the future – while carrying the furniture and all the belongings- he will start to extort different sums from you. Here is the approximate scenario: first, the manager comes to agreement with you in the question of the low cost of their services not including the work itself, of course. On the date of moving, while carrying the things, he stops in the middle of the flat flooded with bags, boxes, sacks and dismantled furniture and says: «You haven’t said that you live in the third floor and that you…. You will have to pay 500 shekels more for this and for that…. It is not worth-while…» If you find yourself in such a situation, be resolute and tell the carriers to return all your belongings, to assemble your furniture and to leave your flat. This tactic usually helps to wean these people away from extortion.
Tip: we advise to sign the contract after the carrier examines the flat and checks the conditions of work.
Insurance
There are agencies that do not insure the contents of the truck for the period of moving to save some money. The problem is that the insurance company will not compensate the losses, if your property is damaged in the traffic accident. The carrier, in his turn, will not stand the damages from his pocket, especially if many expensive things are damaged. You will have to sue against the carrying company to get compensation for waste of time and moral damage. It may take you several years and does not guarantee the result.
Tip: ask the manager to show you the insurance policy of your property. Make sure that it is the insurance of the content of the truck and not the insurance of the truck itself.
The workers are tired
The carriers, who have already moved the content of several flats, are extremely tired and their attitude to your furniture will be indifferent and will possibly cause damage.
Tip: ask the agency to move you in the morning.
Written contract
The swindler prefers not to make a written contract with the client. Verbal contract leaves for the trickster the possibility for further extortions.
Tip: the written contract for moving services helps the client to avoid extortion in the future. The contract must contain a very detailed list of furniture and belongings that are to be moved. Indicate the exact date and time of moving, the final cost (including the cost of packing services, dismantling and assembling the furniture – if you need these services) and precise sum of compensation if the carrier does not fulfill his obligations. You need not to give tip to the workers but you must prepare cold drinks and, maybe, snacks for them.
An exaggerated price offer
This system is the opposite of the low price offer. During the busy season, the carries try to take advantage of their clients' situation. The charlatan offers the blown up prices to the clients who are restricted in time and are searching for the carrier for a definite date. They hope that people under pressure will conclude a deal with them without any objection.
Tip: even if you are under pressure, check several agencies and compare the prices. The difference in the cost rate between the companies may come to hundreds of shekels. The carrier makes you the price offer only after he examines the contents of your flat and the ways of approach. The price offer is free of charge. Most carries fix the cost of their service by phone, because they want to save time. It will make you problems in the future, therefore, you should insist on examining your flat. You may ignore this part if only several standard things (washing machine 5kg) are to be moved and the approach to the entrance of the building is not jammed. You may also save your and the carrier's time if you fill a detailed form and send it to the agency on fax or e-mail.
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