Shore Porters Society

After paying £5,457 for removal of a large table and chairs from Angus on 30th Sept 2022, with delivery to the Isle of Wight notified for 10th October, nothing arrived on that day and as at 19th, SPS are unable to provide a new date despite repeated requests. When challenged about a poor service the response was an arrogant "its a consignment order so it is what it is". This quote was twice that of others, but I selected it based upon the view that SPS was a quality operation that would deliver. Sadly, I was very wrong. I recommend prospective customers look elsewhere when moving items.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: £5457

This was the second time we used Shore Porters as we were please with the first move.
In this latest move we were seriously let down by both Shore Porters and the insurance company they brokered.
Three items were damaged, one of which was a tv which Shore Porters agreed was not even packed correctly the other two were damaged due to rubbing while in transit. Leaving Aberdeen, as their company director stated "high quality furniture in first class condition" arrived in a state that would be out of place in a charity shop.
After examination by an SP estimator who acknowledged the damage and bad packing SP simply sent me Insurance claim forms and washed their hands of the issue. During a discussion with the director I was advised to "check out my home insurance"
Question- why my home insurance when I have taken a specific insurance with SP for the move? Beggars belief!
While it is understood the insurance policy was "not new for old"
after being advised to take out cover of £50k the replacement value of the claim was £6k we had to settle for less the £1K as it was stated that was the insurance companies final offer.
A complaint is now with the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Normally I am of the opinion any complaint is between and customer and the contractor and should be left that way. However I feel I have been so badly let down by both companies and ripped off I am turning to social media. A very unhappy customer!!
Its time Shore Porters looked to their laurels!

Service cost: £2200

I moved from Aberdeen to Leeds in August 2017 and was shocked by how bad The Shore Porters Society was. Most of my furniture was very badly damaged and needs replaced which was not covered by the insurance policy that they sold me. I ended up with only enough compensation from their insurance company to replace one bedside table when ALL of my bedroom furniture needs replaced - a dressing table and stool, two bedside tables a chest of drawers and an ottoman. Another table now has a corner missing too and as much of my things are still in storage I’m sure that I’ll discover more broken items.
The 2 men who packed everything into their lorry clearly just wanted to get finished as early as they could and barked orders at me and were very rude, throwing my things into the lorry. None of the boxes they packed were clearly labelled so it was impossible to find things when they delivered the boxes.
In short, I would have been better doing this move by myself. When I complained about the damage afterwards they couldn’t have cared less as they already had my £1850!

Service cost: £1850

I moved from Dundee. Shore Porters are supposed to be the best and before engaging them I could not find a bad review, so I accepted their inflated price, assuming (wrongly) that this would be reflected in the level of service and expertise. 
One bathroom was completely ignored, resulting in me having to leave a large cabinet that I was unable to move myself, and pack and remove the other items. On delivery, there were several breakages, including antique family heirlooms and the insurance that they sold me at HUGE expense quibbled and would not pay me the replacement value of the things that could be replaced.
It is better to hire a van yourself and do your own removal. If you can't, don't be fooled by inflated prices and reputations - Shore Porters will not take any more care than a cheaper company and, arguably, they will take less care (these are the first breakages I have ever had in 16 moves, whether I have done them myself or hired a removal company.) Also, arrange your own insurance - again, I could have bought much cheaper insurance that would have been just as good (bad) if not better than the one recommended by Shore Porters.

Service cost: £4706