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British Association of Removers

Moving house can be very stressful, which is why it is so important to choose a reputable removal company. Find out how the British Association of Removers could make all the difference to your house move.

What is the British Association of Removers?

The British Association of Removers (BAR) is an official UK Trade Association that has been the predominant voice of the UK’s professional moving industry for over 100 years. Founded in 1900, the aim of BAR has always been to raise standards within the sector by providing clear and consistent advice and information to its members.

BAR is committed to developing and maintaining consistent standards of excellence throughout the industry. This benefits its members and, more importantly, the general public.

Why use Movers that are in the British Association of Removers?

Of course, you will find many trustworthy and reputable removal firms that aren’t members of the British Association of Removers. However, there are many reasons why choosing a firm that is fully accredited with BAR is always a wise decision. A firm that is a member of BAR will have to adhere to the BAR Code of Practice, which is known for its rigour and stringency.

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British Association of Removers Guidelines

The BAR Code of Practice sets out strict guidelines:

  • Members’ advertisements must be open, honest and easy to understand
  • Members must provide customers with transparent prices and a timeline for the planned move
  • Insurance must be offered as a standard
  • Professional staff must provide a good level of service at each stage of the proceedings
  • Liability must be clearly explained to the client
  • Vehicles, staff and warehouses must meet certain levels of the expected standard

The BAR Overseas Group

If you are planning to move overseas, you should definitely make it a priority to check your removal company has signed up to the BAR Overseas group. This is because non-overseas group members only offer consumer protections, such as advance payment guarantees for UK moves. However, BAR Overseas member customers are fully protected for international moves.

Training Scheme

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) regularly checks all BAR members to make sure the code is being properly applied. BAR also sets an approved training scheme so all employees can be expertly trained.

Awards for Best Practices

To promote and reward standards of excellence, BAR also offers several prestigious incentive schemes and awards to its members that are hotly contested every year. The BAR Commercial Mover of the Year award, for example, and the BAR Domestic Mover of the Year award both seek to celebrate firms that have demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership and best practices within each respective sector.

How the British Association of Removers can help you maintain your consumer rights

Nobody likes to think about it but we’ve all heard horror stories of things going drastically wrong on moving day, such as valuable goods being damaged or lost in transit, or removers failing to turn up. The BAR Code of Practice safeguards consumers if things do go wrong.

Payment Guarantee & Refunding

Choosing a firm that has signed up to the British Association of Removers means that if the move is cancelled ten days ahead of the planned moving date, you will be fully refunded. Moreover, if the move is cancelled with less than 10 days’ notice, you will receive 150 per cent of the fees.

If your removal firm has gone bankrupt or simply cannot afford to reimburse you in a timely manner, an Advance Payment Guarantee ensures that you will either get your money back or the services of another removal firm also registered with BAR.

Moving Issues

If you are unhappy with the level of service on the moving day itself, you can complain to BAR who will help you to resolve any issues. If the issues are such that BAR cannot resolve them to your satisfaction, you also have the option of referring the matter to a wholly independent scheme, known as the Alternative Dispute Resolution.

It’s clear to see that for your peace of mind alone it always makes sense to choose a removal firm that is a member of the British Association of Removers.

Why is it important to use reliable and expert removal companies?

Moving is a very expensive business and when you spend a lot of money on something, it can be very upsetting when the reality fails to live up to your expectations. This is the primary reason why it is so important to use a firm that is registered with the British Association of Removers.

Stress-Free When Choosing the Right Moving Company

It can also be confusing trying to decide on which removal firm to use. There are so many from which to choose, and many will have excellent reviews. Looking for the badge that states they are a member of BAR is a quick and effective way of narrowing the field to a company that meets all of your requirements.

It’s a great way of avoiding potential traps that could lead to a negative moving day experience – moving house is stressful enough without having to worry about the actual removal service itself.

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How to check that a removal firm is a full member of the British Association of Removers

Removal companies that are members of BAR will display the badge on their website. However, it is a good idea to also check on the British Association of Removers website as if the company is no longer an approved member, you won’t be covered by the promised guarantees. You can also contact them by telephone.

Making the right choice for your house move

We understand that it can be very hard to choose as there are so many ‘man with a van’ companies, all offering very similar-sounding services and prices. It can feel like an almost impossible task to decide which one is right for you. Fortunately, there is a way that take the risk out of the decision-making process. Simply send us a request for a quote and you’ll quickly be able to view and compare the prices and services of 6 reputable removal companies. You’ll be able to see at a glance, which company meets your requirements. Fill in our form, which is absolutely free and without obligation, and find your removal company today!

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