What Claim Should I Make Against A Removal Company Who Failed To Turn Up On Moving Day.

[kelfoan]

My parents were due to move house 24/06. The removal company had been booked a month earlier and paid in full 7 days before moving date. however on the day before the move was due to take place,at 14.30 i received a call from the company saying they could not do the move the next day as one of the team were off sick. I explained that it was too short notice to cancel and insisted that the move went ahead (it had previously been agreed that the move would be done by 4 crew so i asked if it could still go ahead with 3 crew) The reply I got was " I hope so". I took this to mean that they would honour the booking for the next day and move with 3 crew. However, saturday morning the removal firm did not show up. My parents are both in their 80's and have dementia. This caused a great deal of upheaval and problems as we had arranged for carers to look after them during the move. Both myself and sister were also present to oversee the move . In the end we had to leave my parents at their house until they could be moved. (I had tried contacting the removal firm on the saturday but got no reply) I eventually managed to speak to them on the Monday. ~They apologised and eventually moved my parents the next day. However this meant that both myself and my sister had to take time off work to look after my parents on moving day. My question is, should I be entitled to refund (as the companys T's and C's state that if we were to cancel within 24 hrs of the moving date then we would be liable for full payment. So surely this must work both ways) and also compensation as myself and sister lost holiday time having to take the day off. there is also the issue of the stress and anxiety my parents have suffered. Is there any specific consumer law I should quote when I write to the removal company with my complaint/claim. Thanks

[andy-hughes]

You will need to check your written contract to see if there are any clauses that endemnfy them in the event of a no show.

If your arrangement is purely verbal, then I'm afraid there is nothing you can do.

Good luck.