But with moving companies feeling the pinch more than most as the recession deepens, home owners would be wise to take care when choosing their contractor. Competition is fierce and, according to the British Association of Removers (BAR), not all moving companies are the same.
The BAR has some 550 members throughout the UK. All BAR companies operate to a strict Code of Practice that is approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Of course, providing a top quality service has a price, but it’s a small one and well worth paying.
Non-BAR companies, however, are not required to operate to OFT approved standards so, as competition hots up, they can simply dumb down the service to get the work at any cost. Untrained labour, badly serviced vehicles, cheap materials and schedules that are too tight can all reduce the price, but at what cost? The result: a potentially disastrous move. Just what you want after Christmas!
“Business is very tight right now,” explained Paul Swindon, Marketing Manager for the BAR. “Our members have cut their prices as far as they can to make sure they have the best chance of securing new work.” The implication is that any moving company that is undercutting BAR members in this current economic environment must be cutting back on something important. As the recession deepens this will become even more apparent and people who are moving home should be vigilant to ensure their chosen moving company provides an excellent level of service as well as an attractive price. The best way to achieve this is by choosing a BAR member.
