Handy Moves

Horrendous experience, aggressive and rude cowboys! 
We booked them for our move in good faith. As expected they were very polite and professional when dealing with us before the move. That all changed on the day of the move as one of the removal men damaged one of our valuable paining (put a hole in it). We were very upset and called to notify their office. We were told the manager was out but would call us back. After several hours there was no call back and when I called again I asked for the managers mobile, I was told the manager does not have a mobile phone! After I said that I can't believe a company manager doesn't have a mobile phone, the person I spoke to (David..he refused to give me his surname) became very aggressive and threatened to pull the men off the job knowing this would leave us in an impossible position. 

Later in the day a replacement removal man turned up and he quickly got involved in an argument with another of the removal men. This escalated into a stand up row which lasted around 45 minutes as they fronted up to each other and all but came to blows, on the street, in front of our neighbours. I personally had to step between then several times to stop then from fighting. I complained about this afterwards and was offered £70 off my bill. 

We were then presented with an invoice that was £500 more than their original quote which we had to pay (because it was a bigger job than they anticipated). 

We have also had no compensation for our damaged painting or had it repaired. We were forced to pay the £150 excess of Handy Moves insurance policy (JOKE) and they refused to give us the details of who they'd use to repair it. Just that they pick it up and give it back at an unspecified time. They were completely unwilling to use the qualified art repair specialist we found (we hadn't even given them a quote) and they were aggressive when we explained we were not happy with their suggestion of not knowing who would be undertaking the repair work. We were simply told that it would be the only option we'd be offered and if we didn't like it, we could stick it where the sun don't shine! 

This situation still hasn't been resolved and we'll are taking legal advise. .

Service cost: £1700

Well, I booked Handy Moves in a bit of a hurry and I though it might not be the best fit to my needs. However, when they called me to tell me they will be a bit late, I was a bit annoyed but then I was relieved as they had the decency to call. The small delay wasn't a big deal as the two men who arrived were extremelly skillful and very handy in deed, you wouldn't belive it, would you? I am happy with the given service both via phone and on the ground as well. So I am thinking of using this company once again if needed.

Service cost: £400

 I am extremely disappointed in the service that I have received.  The boxes were delivered 3 hours late on Saturday morning which made us late for an appointment despite us ringing every half hour to check on status. When the boxes did arrive, it was clear that the delivery company did not realise that they were late as they had been told that the appointment was at 12pm not 9am as we had booked it for.
The removal van was booked for 3pm on Tuesday and did not arrive until 5.30pm which meant that we worked until midnight to get it done.  The team did the best they could but ran out of time so couldn't arrange everything to fit in storage so we had to take some of it back to the flat. The person who took payment was extremely rude when asked about the delay and not apologetic at all stating that the booking time is just a guideline and that the delay was caused by traffic.  
This was very upsetting when clearly the moving team had not been told of the move until after the original booking time 3pm.  It was just lucky that I had booked storage with 24 hour access otherwise we wouldn't have been able to move.  Very poor performance and I won't be using Handy Moves again and will certainly inform my friends and colleagues of my experience.

Service cost: £350

I was surprised to read so many negative reviews. I have now used Handy Moves 3 times; twice for home moves, and just today for a few pieces of furniture. The first time I used them in 2010, I'll admit they ran a few hours late because of difficulties with an earlier job, but they gave me a discount and I was happy with that.  I always get 2 men with the van, and I have always found them to be fast and efficient. I always pack my own things so I know the important things are protected and I can find everything I need, so I can't comment on their packing abilities. But moving? I am very happy with their service and will happily use them again. My belongings are always secured well in the van and arrive in the same condition as they left. Today they had to move a 3 seater sofa which looked like it wasn't going to get into the flat, but they kept going without complaint and did an amazing job getting it in. Overall, would recommend!

Service cost: £120

Three weeks ago I hired Handy Moves to transport my office goods from my office in South London to my office in East London. Well, I was more than impressed with their overall moving service. At one point, whilst they were loading my office equipment on to the lorry, they had to stop and dismantle some of my larger items, but they did it promptly and all was packed and ready to go before I knew it. A very thorough and quick service. The drivers, I noticed, drove carefully and arrived at my new office when they’d expected to. I offered them a drink of tea or coffee but they all declined and started unloading. Again, I offered to help and they turned down by help. Working quickly and thoroughly, the team of movers carried my office things into my new office and after all the boxes had been unloaded, began reassembling some of my office furniture. I checked over all of my things for any damages, but there were none. Everything was in the exact same condition I had left it in. I was so pleased with their service. I loved the guys that helped me – they were fantastic in every sense. Can’t recommend them enough.

Service cost: £850

Please find verbatim an email I just sent to senior manager Maria. I wish I had read the reviews on this website prior to using this company.

Dear Maria, I'm sorry you're opening what is sure to be a frightful email on your return, but I must share with you the experience I just had with moving with Handymoves. I first was contacted Mark, who returned an estimate to me within a reasonable timeframe. On the 29th of December, I replied to confirm I would like to go ahead with the move, and received no reply. I called the office on the 31st to state, again, I would like to book the move. Since then, I have made and received 9 phone calls in 3 days and sent and received roughly 10 emails. Why does it take almost 20 separate communications to confirm my payment details and the details of a move from one point to another of roughly 25 boxes, three suitcases, and no furniture? To compound on this excessive communication, out of the 19 communications, I have spoken or emailed with the following people: Mark Jennifer Diana Brian Eric Another employee I didn't get the name of on the phone A final employee to take confirm my details post move on the driver's phone Vladimir (I believe his name was) the driver And now yourself. That is 9 people over the course of 19 communications in mostly what has been 48 hours. There needs to be one person to deal with one moving case, and perhaps Eric (or a finance employee) in finance and the driver. In addition, and most importantly, I spoke to both Jennifer and the Unidentified male on the phone (Mark?) and mentioned three separate  times the van needed to be less than 2.2 meters to fit under a barrier and into the delivery location's parking lot. Why was I reassured on each occasion that the smallest van was being sent and it 'would be fine' when clearly the van was taller than 2.2 meters? The van did not fit, but I was lucky enough to have Vladimir who agreed to park in the street and lug my things through the parking lot (we couldn't enter due to the height restriction) through a hail storm inside with me. Finally, Vladimir arrived at my house at 10.33 (I remember looking at my watch) when he was due to arrive at 11am. Good thing I had moved all my things downstairs the night previous. I have now been charged for this time as well. Vladimir called the office to have me speak to a lady to confirm the time it took (just under 2.25 hours). I'm satisfied it did take longer than the quote and was happy to pay for this additional time. However, I stated to the woman (who I wish I had taken the name of, though perhaps you have a record) the van was too large,her rather despondent and thoroughly unpleasant attitude in her reply was 'sorry' and that your company had completed the move and therefor did as promised and I'd have to pay the full amount. I suspect that the reason there was no note taken/on record of my request of a 2.2 meter van or less is because neither of your employees were confident it would fit. Indeed, even Brian said he was 'looking at the heights online'.. When I asked to speak to her superior, Brian Norton, his argument was much the same that he had fulfilled the requirement of competing a move and it was 'not your company's fault', I had gone over the quoted time, and therefore I must pay the full 150 pounds. Equally he claimed a Luton van started (?!) at 2.09 meters and should have fit. The van very clearly did not fit beneath the barrier, and was taller than this height, which I'm sure the now rather damp Vladimir can confirm. Surely it is not my responsibility to confirm the height of your Luton vans/smallest vans, and/or fleet when I state I need a van less than 2.2 meters and am reassured it will fit, not once, but 3 times? I would have been satisfied if someone had said sorry and admitted error and given me a small discount. Instead I spent 13.09 minutes on the phone arguing vociferously with an equally agitated Brian, a train journey back writing you and 20 pounds off my bill. Just as I thought this 20 pound discount was settled with Brian and I was satisfied with being dissatisfied, and that I was going to be charged and it was finished, I receive an invoice from someone named Eric on top of another phone call from him asking me to return the call to confirm the cost/invoice! With the exception of the final woman called by Vladimir as well as that I believe Brian's customer service could be vastly improved, the other people I spoke to were rather pleasant, especially Jennifer. However, as you can see, I'm deeply dissatisfied overall with the customer service. I would like to speak to you on your return next week and I expect to be charged the 108.00 I was initially quoted as a gesture of goodwill towards my inconvenience (and Vladimir's).

Kind regards, Laura.

Service cost: £128

I hired Handy Moves recently for my first big move out of my parents’ home and into a flat in Battersea which was turning into a very stressful experience but they were prompt, extremely helpful and actually made the whole thing a lot easier. My house that I was moving from has a winding staircase which I thought was going to mean I’d have to leave some of my bedroom furniture at home but the movers just disassembled my bed and a wardrobe in order to get them downstairs and into the van. They did this quickly and without any hassle and reassembled them perfectly when we got to my new flat which was something I was hugely grateful for especially as I would have been doing it on my own! The movers were helpful, efficient and so friendly that it really made the move a lot easier.

Service cost: £650

I requested 3 man and got 2 capable and wanting to work hence the removal took much longer and costed much more than expected and originally quoted. I was very apset and complained about it but there was nothing to do. Handy Moves seems to be a part of a larger company, or at least that is what they write on the invoice and I had a feeling that the customer satisfaction was completely irrelevant for them. Don't expect anything from client services once you pay. They have their rules to which they stick and there is no way you can possibly win the argument even if you are right, they will find the way around it. Shame. .

Service cost: £900

Do not use this company! Totally unreliable and unprofessional. Handy Moves were 5 hours late for our move (which was booked for first thing in the morning) and despite it causing absolute chaos with the new buyers moving in was met with a wall of 'not our problem'.  They do not operate a compensation policy so even if, due to their errors, you incur costs they will claim it is not their issue - very unsatisfactory. On what is already a very stressful day I would urge you to use a company you can rely on.   .

Service cost: £300

Do not use Handy Moves!  They were 4 hours late arriving and I had to repeatedly phone the company to ask for updates as to the whereabouts of the van despite being told we would be kept informed.   
When I complained about the service, the attitude of the customer service was appalling.  I was told I should have cancelled the van if I wasn't happy (how I could do that when the move had to be done that day I don't know).  I was then told the remainder of the balance owing on the job had already been charged to my card despite me specifically not agreeing to this and being clearly told when I booked that the balance was payable when unloading is complete and the customer is happy - which I'm not.  
I was offered a 10% discount but made to feel I was lucky to receive that.  I was also told that I was obviously a person who was "not happy about a lot of things in life"..so rude, especially as actually I would never normally complain!   The one star is for the men who did the actual removal who were great and worked very hard.  It's a shame the rest of the company do not treat their customers with the same respect.  
You have been warned!

Service cost: £400

Initially very helpful, friendly and thorough, however, I did find the initial price of £850 rose up to £1500, then £1600, then £1800 and finally £2000 despite them having come around to view my property and belongings which was quite annoying. The move was a hard one because we had to get from London to Edinburgh so it was arranged over two days with the majority of the packing to occur on the first day and then the 8 hour drive on the second.They did turn up on time and worked hard however did not seem to do as much on the first day as I thought necessary, so on the second day they were running late and I think because of this things were thrown into the storage facility we were using without much care. When we unpacked the storage a month after we found large amounts of damage to nearly every piece of furniture - scratches, cracks, chips etc Boxes containing more fragile things had been placed at the bottom of 10 box high piles.They had taken care with bits we had specifically pointed out, or had bubble wrapped ourselves but other things (we had a packing service too) had been chucked into boxes resulting in damage where a little big of bubble wrap or care would have prevented it. All in all, the amount of damage caused is probably going to cost us upwards of £1000 - from things such as replacing drawers which are so scratched up, to broken  boxes and items to things like cooking equipment which was so badly packed it is ruined.If you think of using these movers then they are thorough, work hard and do get the job done and are generally professional and helpful, however I would recommend packing everything yourself and make sure you point out every single item that needs care to be taken with it otherwise they won't and it may ending up costing you quite a lot of money. Also don't rely on the invoice they send to be the final price as it seems to sneak up with every email you get from them.

Service cost: £2000

We moved on Sunday 23 December using Handy Moves.  The van arrived within 5 minutes of the agreed start time, and we couldn't have been more impressed with the service provided.  The 2 men were extremely careful with the furniture, walls & carpet.  The move required 2 van loads, and they worked very hard for 6 hours straight without taking a break.  Whilst we had been quoted for 2 van loads, the move was relatively close, and so we were only charged for the time spent (i.e. a £100 discount).  All in all, an exceptional service that made moving day a pleasant relief.

Service cost: £325

I hired Handy Moves this past weekend to help me move from my parents’ house to a new flat within London. It was time for me to get a job and live alone. I had heard a lot of positive comments about this moving company. Besides, I thought that it would be wiser to choose a company with many years of experience instead of a new one. I contacted Handy Moves and coordinated everything over the phone. They provided me with all the information I needed to know and gave me a very reasonable quote as well as advice on what to do before and after moving. Maria from their customer support called me on the morning of my moving date and informed me that the crew of movers would arrive early. The movers who showed up were kind and highly skilled. I was impressed by the speed in which they got everything done. Getting into my new flat was a bit difficult, because it was on the 3rd floor without an elevator. The movers were extremely fast in unloading the van and placing the boxes wherever I wanted them. Everything was done and there weren’t any extra charges. When I started unpacking I noticed that they had done everything so fast that some of my most expensive clothes were a bit crumpled. I was angry and thought of calling their office, but after all they did move everything well and there were no items broken or even scratched.

Service cost: £1000

 
Thanks a lot to all of you at Handy Moves!! You helped my move to my new apartment pass by easily and without any worries. I work long hours and thanks to this team I managed to carry on as usual with my work and the fact that I was in the middle of a move didn’t cause me any problems. This company do listen to their clients and the team are really easy to talk to. I must admit that I am impressed guys! Thanks for the priceless assistance and support and I would happily pass your name and number on to any other people I know who are looking for a great company to relocate with.
 .

Service cost: £500

Handy moves reomoval men came a little late, although I did receive a phone call from their office to inform me of their lateness. As soon as they left I noticed that they had helped themselves to 2 bottles of 2 litres of water from my groceries without my permission, I immediately called their offices and the man I spoke with said to me there was nothing he could do about it as he asked the two men who did the removal job and they denied it and that I should call the police. I am very dissapointed with this company if the staff they employ are this dishonest. Not knowing that the two men had stolen from me I actually forfeited my £1.00 change when I paid them and they claimed they had no change. I also gave them a large roll of bubble wrap and masking tape for thier future removal job. I will not recommend this company to anyone I know because of thier staffs dishonesty. .

Service cost: £189

If you're looking for a reliable, efficient moving service I can truly recommend Handy Moves.We hunted for ages chatting to different companies and finding out what different services they offered before we settled on them and we're so glad we did. We were struck by how friendly they were and we felt reassured that they'd do a professional job and they really did. We have two children and an enormous play set with a slide and swings in the garden. We'd attempted to take it apart ourselves but we gave up because we don't really know what we're doing! Luckily the movers swooped in, took over and took it all apart swiftly and easily in order to get it through the house and into the van. We appreciated that everything was done quickly and with minimal fuss, as we were completely occupied trying to sort the kids out. Great service.

Service cost: £250

Hiring Handy Moves was an excellent decision for our move down to London from Birmingham. We were both moving for work so we were not only dealing with the stress of moving house but also with the stress of new jobs so it was all completely up in the air! However, the movers seemed to be the one thing throughout the moving process that seemed to work. They turned up on time, loaded all the boxes without any hassle and everything arrived at our new property like clockwork and in excellent condition. They paid extra special attention to our fragile boxes which contained our precious collection of china plates and they knew we were worried so they made sure we were completely reassured. The movers made a potential stressful situation much easier on us all and we're very grateful, we would certainly recommend them and their service to anyone.

Service cost: £760

Used this company to help me move. They were friendly and prompt. Proplem being on completion of job I began to notice items had been scratched or damaged or even missing.  A detatchable part of my washing was detatched and never seen again. I witnessed this happening but the handy moves team denied it. Chairs were scuffed. A brand new large broom was lost in the move. Perhaps a useful item to remain in their van? Spoke to their customer care who did not seem to be interested or admit responsibility. Will not use this company again or recomend them.

Service cost: £590

We hired Handy Moves when we were moving out of our family home which we'd been in for 15 years and moving into a new home 50 miles away in Coventry. As you can imagine, after 15 years we have accumulated a lot of stuff that just seemed to materialise absolutely everywhere, so packing ended up being a complete nightmare which we thought would never end. Thankfully after the packing nightmare, the movers we hired were great and had no problem moving all the boxes, even the ridiculously heavy ones and the ones that would barely close! Not only did they move them without any hassle, but they loaded them all in one van, something which we thought would be impossible, and they everything ended up arriving in one piece! We thought it was a miracle and were completely impressed with the service, we'd definitely use it again.

Service cost: £920

Ordered three men for my move, only two showed up. Handy moves not only didn't give a [EDIT] about my belongings but also the welfare of their staff.

The move took twice as long as it should have and the office staff are impolite, rude, and unhelpful.

The time they wasted with me and the movers cost me money, and absolutely no deductions where applied to my move for the added time which was due to them not sending a third man.

My move was stressful and unpleasant and I have used numerous other companies who are much more appreciative and polite. DO NOT USE THEM, THEY ARE AWFUL.

Service cost: £280

I wanted a professional office removals company to assist in my new relocation. A colleague had given me a name of a local firm who had some special offers on for commercial moves. I called Hackney Removals and arranged a meeting. They sent a staff member to measure up and review the situation. A plan was scheduled, to start the packing whilst we were still working and then the final loading was going to be carried out of office hours, so it caused the least disturbances to my business. The entire event really well, great care and attention was paid to my equipment and nothing was damaged. This company was fantastic and did a first class job.

Service cost: £530

They cancelled our booking at the time they were supposed to arrive as their removals team had 'called in sick'. Do not be fooled by slightly cheaper prices and some higher starred ratings (I was), pay a bit more and get a quality removals company.We had no warning that they would cancel. We even double checked the details with their office twice the day before. Moving house is stressful enough without having the removals company cancel when they are due to arrive. Furthermore, their customer service is appalling, booking was very easy but after that we found it difficult to confirm details etc. They should get 0 stars but it's not possible to give that.

Service cost: £249

My company had outgrown our little office, so it was time to move on to bigger premises. For this I would have to employ a reputable company who has a good insurance against losses and damage to goods in transit. I soon found Handy Moves who offered just what I needed. I was surprised at their competitive rates for office removal jobs. On the day they just took control and handled everything from packaging to lifting the heavy items. They worked quietly and they were fully aware of what I expected from them and I was not disappointed in any way.

Service cost: £730

I have already thanked Handy Moves a number of times, but I still want to thank you again very much! The boys were really fantastic and helped me with my move. I have experienced this day as enjoyable, because you were on time. We therefore had a good time for some coffee together, and your guys asked me what my needs might be. I found this very professional of you. Then, you got to work. I saw that you were very fun to have for a move, so I knew that my household was in good hands. My rubble pile of furniture has become a beautiful home arrangement!

Service cost: £623