Choosing the right removal firm can make a huge difference to your next big move. Taking the stress out of your removals and giving you the best experience possible.
But finding the right removal firm can sometimes be difficult, especially if you haven’t used one for a while, or ever before. That’s why looking for members of the British Association of Removers can help you find a first-rate removal. It’s a professional body that regulates removals and we’re proud to be a member of it.
The BAR has been around for over a century, and regulates over 400 removal businesses across the UK. As well as providing professional advice for removers, it also makes sure all member-firms provide the absolute highest standards of service in the removal industry.
The BAR Code of Conduct
It’s not easy to become a member of the BAR, that’s why it’s reserved for only the best. If strict criteria and rules aren’t followed, sub-standard removers are kicked out. The BAR Code of Conduct regulates everything from premises, staff training, vehicle standards, insurance and contracts to complaints and quotes.
BAR members must provide free quotes that are completely clear, and must continue to follow strict guidelines on their conduct. With these rules, BAR helps the best removals firms carry out over 280,000 successful removal jobs every year.
Disputes
While issues are rare with regulated BAR removal firms, unfortunately they do happen from time to time. To help with this, the BAR offers a dispute resolution scheme that is independently operated and will normally help both parties come to a satisfactory agreement.
Deposits
When your removal firm is regulated by the BAR, your money and deposits for their services will be protected by an Advanced Payment Guarantee, unlike many other removal firms. It’s generally quite normal for part or all of the cost of a removal to be paid up front, or before any work has taken place, so this guarantee will give you extra peace of mind.
If the removal firm you choose stops trading before your removal has gone ahead, another BAR member can step in to complete the work or you’ll be entitled to all your money back. While situations like this are rare, it’s still useful to know.
Specialist removals
While most removals are fairly standard procedures, sometimes you might need services that aren’t as straightforward. BAR helps by also regulating specialist removers, for example: firms helping with removals outside of mainland Europe. BAR will help make sure your items are packed and safely delivered overseas by air or sea. There are over 50 overseas removal firms that are regulated by BAR and continue to offer a high standard of overseas removals. Aside from overseas removals, other speciality removal firms are regulated, including commercial removal firms and more.
Finding BAR members
It’s really easy to find a regulated BAR removal firm by visiting their website or contacting them by phone. When you check an individual removal firm’s website, you should look to see if they have BAR accreditation, or ask them directly. Always make sure your removal firm is a member of BAR to be sure of a high-standard of services and full compliance with the BAR code of conduct.
Hopefully, you’ve now seen how important BAR membership is when looking for a removal firm. Don’t take the risk of employing a non-BAR removal firm when there should be plenty of regulated firms in your area that offer the full peace-of-mind BAR membership brings.
May 5, 2021