A Moving Nightmare: Beware of BIR (British International Removals)

Regrettably, our recent experience with BIR (British International Removals, bir.co.za) has left us dumbfounded, questioning how such a business can still operate. Having relocated around the world multiple times, we were unprepared for the level of incompetence and deception we encountered with this moving company.

The troubles began the moment we committed to their services. The lack of transparency and communication was staggering, leaving us feeling completely misled. Critical information regarding necessary paperwork was either omitted or conveniently deferred until the day of packing. For instance, the absurd demand to list all household items, obtain receipts, and providing valuations of any items over 20,000ZAR on the delivery day left us in a state of disbelief.

The saga continued when our container was inexplicably delayed and stranded in a harbor over Christmas, accumulating exorbitant costs. To make matters worse, upon the arrival of our belongings, the border police flagged incomplete paperwork, adding an additional layer of stress. The sheer volume of damaged items, including broken furniture legs, smashed cupboard doors, and shattered lamps, was disheartening. Astonishingly, when seeking compensation, we were met with the excuse that we failed to submit required paperwork—an omission conveniently revealed only on the packing day.

Items were missing, incorrectly marked, causing the local team (company in Czech called IDCAR, idcar.cz) to be extremely annoyed and screaming on us. At one stage I just started crying.

The unsettling discovery of internal emails from the account department, mistakenly sent to us, revealed a pattern of negligence. One customer's Vespa scooter suffered damage, and despite lengthy correspondence, the company staunchly refused any responsibility.

In conclusion, we implore anyone considering relocation services to steer clear of BIR (British International Removals). Their tactics of obfuscation, negligence, and refusal of accountability paint a disturbing picture of a company more adept at exploitation than facilitation. Save yourself the anguish and financial loss by avoiding these ************ movers at all costs.