I recently moved to Berlin from Australia to marry my Husband. It was a huge move that I have had to give up nearly everything for.
I decided to bring with me 3 cubic metres of belongings that mattered to me to begin my new life, obviously I applied for many quotes, received but a few back, and then chose the one that appealed the most on the basis of price, but also on customer service. I chose to go with Australasian relocations as they were a good 600$ cheaper than the next quote, and I had a very lovely, efficient and responsive girl named Lyndall who helped and advised me throughout the process.
My goods finally left my care on the 8th March 2007. 1 week before I did, with an expected delivery date between 8-10 weeks.
This would have given me still time to receive my goods before we were married on the 31st May.
Obviously this is based on all things going well and I did mentally allow for an extra week or so just to avoid disappointment.
It is now the 26th July and my goods are still not here. The wedding has come and gone and my Husband had to borrow a suit from a friend as the one he was meant to wear was in the load.
So, I start calling the company in the UK (the receiving arm of my load to Berlin) European Vanlines. In all honesty they were not the most forthcoming in keeping me informed at all, but i managed to get enough updates from them to keep track. It turns out however, that the Australasian relocations company had not paid there bill to European Vanlines since june last year, and despite many invoices and communications, failed to come through on even the smallest load. This unfortunately prompted the European Vanlines to freeze all loads via that company in a bid to force them to pay, yes, my stuff was held in that freeze. So, I begin a wave of calls to both sides to try to get an end to this .. within a week I am told that the matter has been resolved and my goods are now to be released and sent on .. Finally! this was just a month ago. I was told 2 weeks for the next delivery. I waited patiently again for 3 more weeks and then decide to chase again,, to be told that the au company had only paid a very small amount up to September last year, and that again the goods were not going to be released until payment was made by the Au company!!!
Oh yes it is true!!! .. in this it is hard to say who is being the bad guy here .. and frankly I am happy to be unhappy with both of them, but as they hold the things most special to me in their hands .. I must work with at least one side to get out of a situation I really ought to have nothing to with.
So, I look for the one that can actually help. Eu vanlines take my calls and explain everything to me in detail. They also advise me of avenues I can take to resolve it of my own or that I can continue to badger the AU side to pay thier bloody bills and potentially even consider the peoples lives they are dealing with over there own profits.
This I dedicated several nights and mornings too .. and I believe I have spoken to every girl in the office and gotten nowhere.
Louise, Jamie-Lee, Joanne, I kow the ones that are hard to get past and the ones that are pretty easy.. I know which ones know my name and how many questions they will ask to try to get me off the phone.
I also know that each one, once I have persevered in my request to speak to a manager, will put me on hold for 30mins at a time and then wait til close of trading as an excuse to hang up on me!!
Oh yes, they are good!!! Imagine wiating on the phone with no service until they are very sorry, but must turn the phones off now as they are closing !!!
I have sent many emails to both the managers, and recieved one back, after the first supposed resolve
Ms Tobin,
I am sorry for the slight delay in responding to you but I can assure you that the reason was simply that we were working hard to resolve this situation.
I can now advise you that your shipment to Berlin is no longer affe
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