Allied Pickfords Hong Kong

My wife is an expatriate staff and we relocate frequently. We have 3 occasions to deal with this so called "relocating expert" in the past 13 years but none of them were pleasant one. First one was in 2010 when we moved from Shanghai to Macau, they used a low quotation to get the contract from my wife’s employer (all 3 moving were paid by the then employer). After removing our stuff from our place, they claimed there was a mistake in the original quote and need an additional amount of CNY1800 or 2000 (I couldn’t recall the exact amount) which the employer refused to pay. We were forced to absorb this additional amount as our stuff was in their hands, to us this was extortion. Second case happened in 2014 when we relocate from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. My wife’s company arranged 3 companies to get an on-site survey at our place and Allied was one of them. The rep from Allied late for an hour (from 3pm to 4pm, all input in my daily schedules of my mobile), causing us to make consequent adjustment with our original plans. The worse part was, when we showed our dissatisfaction to that lady, she raised her voice claiming that was not her fault as she was punctual, fully exercised her Anglo-Saxons type of arrogance. Later we found out the reason why she's late because her home was inside the same community as ours, she can go home right after finishing this job without going back to her office. The attitude of that lady screwed up the whole atmosphere and we dropped them off from the candidate list. The 3rd and last case happened in July 2022 when we moved from Beijing to Hong Kong, this time Allied was chosen by my wife's employer as they got the contract without any on-site survey. They packed all our stuff on 08 July, but messed up with the shipping part and couldn’t get any container space. As a result our stuff was stuck in China by end of July despite the delivery address in Hong Kong was passed to them in mid July. We moved in to our new home on 3rd August and finally received our stuff on 13th August after some heated communication exchanged. We spent 11 days in our new home without small appliances and important household items. Last but not least, Allied promised to pay us an ex-gratia payment of HKD1500 to compensate our inconveniences, which we donated such amount in advance to a local charity in October. Allied forgot about this promise until I reminded them twice, then they sent us a legal form in March 2023 saying that has to be agreed and signed before payment could be released. One of the terms which we disagreed was asking us "to withdraw all and any written material published referring to the settlement of this claim or any event connected to this event what so ever on any media method whether on a public or private platform, including but not limited to social media once payment is received in our below designated account". In other words we have to keep our mouth shut, remove all negative comments already in place and not to review such incident anymore to neither public nor private sectors. We decided not to tolerate them after 3 bad experiences and won't let them go easily this time, and filed a claim through the Small Claims Tribunal. As expected they kneel down immediately by sending a cheque of HKD1,550 to the court to settle the case (50 is the court registration fee for me to file the case). This is a snobish and poorly managed company as they ignore all kind of basic services, and only eyed on profits. KEEP AWAY FROM THIS RELOCATING COMPANY!

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: 100HKD

The terrible experience sharing is with Allied Hong Kong, which the sharing involves my and my friend’s experience.

I write to share these terrible experience with the view to facilitate users to make an informative decision.

A) The terrible experience encountered for me with Allied Hong Kong

1. staff failed to come in the morning to pack the stuff (which the schedule was dictated by them). They end up coming 5 hours late than committed. Given we had lots to arrange, it messed our schedules.

2. The cost end up was increase by 15% given we tried to pack stuff into boxes rather than at its original location and the guy who come said it looks to be more than quote and can only proceed if I agreed on this. Without options at that moment, I have to agree.

The above two experiences were minor. The following frustrated me most as I don’t know the situation of my stuff despite follow up and knowing the voyage has already arrived via other google search means

3. They contacted us saying my stuff is ready to move out, and said they will contact us by sharing the coordinator in the final destination when ready and informed us once delivered.

I followed up on the day that the voyage should have arrived the destination, no replies - ie not even sharing the coordinator contact at the final destination.

I followed up for 3 weeks, no replies were received from them at all, and their link that shows the status of the voyage was never updated. (I realise that because I google the direct voyage name and number and realised it should have arrived to the destinations)

I was frustrated that no one contact or reply our follow up email, not just the status of my shipment, but they weren’t even replying by sharing a correct contact for me to follow up

B) The poor incident of my friend is as follows:-

My friends moved during Covid with one individual cargo booked without sharing. This company kept delaying their shipment despite the contract was signed and payment had been made. While my friend’s friend who was using a different company was able to shipped their stuff during the same period.

It is suspect that they are “gambling” that the shipping costs will go down. Unfortunately, the shipping costs went up instead, and Allied asked my friend to pay the increment in order to move their stuff.

From contract perspective, you don’t have a say given it’s allowed under this such unfair clauses stated, which as a customer you can never bargain or protected with these standard clauses

It’s how Allied company (HK) acted and did that matters.

Last but not the least, I shared these comments to Allied HK, of cos as expected that they won’t reply. Worst is when I shared in their Hong Kong Facebook, they automatically hide all these negative comments.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Flat Service cost: 50000HKD

Absolutely Disgusting Company!!

Our furniture was packed early May, it is now late August and our household goods have not even left Hong Kong.

We have had regular requests through email asking them to explain and get on with it and they always come back with “our dispatch team is working on it.”

Also, it usually takes over a week to get a response from them and if you do not ask questions, you do not get any information.

We even paid extra (after 6 weeks) to have our shipment sent through Australia to NZ, as they suggested this has more movements and would get our goods shipped. Guess what … goods still haven’t left Hong Kong.

These Hong Kong Allied Pickfords do not give a sh#t about people.

I used Allied Pickfords for a within NZ move and they were great.

Hong Kong are the worst experience I’ve ever had and are absolutely disgusting human beings as they do not give a sh#t about anyone.

I had to give them “1 Star” because that is what the system requires. Quite frankly, they’re a negative 5 star score.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: 42000HKD

The scheduled packing is 2-3pm on Saturday, the team arrived at 6.30pm after 4 hours of wait.

Pre-moving, I have provided the contact details (phone, WhatsApp and e-mail address). They confirmed the system was updated with correct contact details. On the moving date, they contacted wrong person. They cancelled the move as they couldn't reach out to me. They claimed the contact details are misleading. Even Allied Pickfords has previously confirmed by e-mail that all contact details were received and updated in the system.

The move was reschedule, and the moving manager, Robert, advised me that the moving team will arrive the flat for packing 4-4.30pm on the same day. The team finally showed up at 6.30pm. During this period of waiting, they kept saying they will be here in 15mins for 2 hours. This is unprofessional estimate of time. We had to tie to the flat for 2 hours because the moving team kept saying they will be here soon. Making sure that they have access to the flat when they arrive.

This is a complete waste of time. If they need more time, why not let us know the realistic arrival time? Rather than lying to us about arriving in 15mins.

No one from Allied Pickford replied to me when the team didn't show up between 2-3pm. I called the move operating manager, Robert, serval times, he claimed bad receptions with his phone. Not possible to answer my call.

I also called the office, no answers. The line requested to leave a voice message. When I was about to leave a voice message, the phone just hanged up - the voice box is full.

I would avoid Allied Pickford Hong Kong for international long distance move. They used to have a good reputation, somehow, this is so different to my experience. The cost of removal is about the same with other removal company. I paid a premium for a reliable international removal service. However, what I experience so far is the opposite.

I would try and use the moving company really specialised in international move and reasonable with their customer service.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Flat Service cost: $4230