British Association Of Removers

Reviews about British Association Of Removers

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  Jonathan Hood Review added: 2018.11.06

  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  This is the headquarters of the national trade association of the UK professional moving industry. It is well run by an excellent team of delightful people and a pleasure to visit
  
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  Kaveh Khakipour Review added: 2018.05.19

  ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
  British Association of Removers; run by a group of members ,mainly larger removal companies, who decide who to join BAR and whose application to be refused. This group (BAR Committee) has the power to refuse an application without issuing any reason to the applicant.
  
  BAR new application fees are £500+VAT which is separate from £950+VAT joining fees. BAR frequently send emails to the removal companies across the UK to encourage them to apply for BAR membership, although in most cases BAR committee refuses the applicants and in all cases they refuse to discuss the reasons for the refusal. This is just a scam for money making, considering the application fees are more than 50% of the annual membership fees!
  
  Since BAR refuses the application without clarifying the reasons for refusal I believe BAR has no intention of raising standards in the removal industry as the companies will never find out the areas they could improve.
  
  After speaking to an ex committee chair man, I found out that BAR can also refuse applications and stop new companies joining BAR based on Commercial grounds, i.e if there are already enough BAR members in the area and the new applicant can be a threat to existing members. This is more of an issue in the Greater London, where big removal companies (members of committee) are located.
  
  BAR inspection: our experience from the inspection was totally different from what we expected, significantly shorter, briefer, and give me the impression they are only here today to collect the £500+VAT application fees. The inspector didn't get off his chair to inspect the vehicles or premises. He had a look at our health and safety policy. He was happy with the paperwork and requested me to fax over the insurance certificates as we didn't have them in file. My impression from his attitude; He knew this is just a visit to collect the £500+VAT and the committee will refuse the application ANYWAY!
  
  At last but not least ; When a removal company applies for the BAR membership, BAR advertise the application in R&S magazine to notify all the members in the area to contact BAR if they have any objection. This is when the competitors get the chance to object the new applicant, based on reasons such as , They under-cut us or charge very little for the job which means they cant do the job properly.
  
  BAR have lost over thousands of members over the last two decades, and now are limited to under 500 members in the UK while there are thousands of decent real removal companies out there being rejected from joining BAR to ensure the members, specially the larger firms, use the membership title as a selling point to win jobs against none member companies. My personal experience says , it often doesn't work!
  
  BAR is not to protect the consumers either. The ombudsman service is not free of charge and terms and condition is mainly set to protect the members. i.e 7 days time limits for claims. Often used as a escape for the removal companies to reject a claim pointing out to the terms and condition which is provided to them by the BAR. Well As a removal company owner I can reassure you that the company has the power to extend this period and ask the insurance company to deal with the claim, so.. don't get mugged off!
  
  More than a trade association? .. yes ... A closed social club!!!

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