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Hamiltons Removals – Members of the British Association of Removers
East Anglian removals company Hamiltons Removals are proud to be members of the British Association of Removers – but what does this mean in practical terms? Here we look at the history and background of the organisation, as well as the other accreditations which we hold.
The Association’s History
The British Association of Removers (BAR) was formed in 1972, more than 70 years after the removals industry first had a trade body. On May 3, 1900, The Furniture Warehousemen and Removers’ Association (FWRA) was formed ‘to be of general use to the members of the trade’.
In the early years, the association’s members used horses and trains to move people’s possessions around. Although these modes of transport were largely replaced by the motor vehicle, there wasn’t a big growth in the removals industry until after the Second World War. The war efforts in various countries – not just the UK – meant that governments had first call on horses and then on motorised vehicles, as well as fuel. The economic effects of The Great Depression in the 1930s also meant there wasn’t much demand for removals companies between the war years.
As well as altering the way they operated, the association also underwent several name changes over the decades. For instance, the FWRA became a national association in 1936. The British Association of International Furniture Removers (BAIFR) was formed in 1924, but it would be take almost half a century for the domestic and international sectors of the removals industry to be brought together under one banner organisation – the BAR.
Today, the association still has several different groups to represent the interests of members who serve particular markets, such as the Commercial Moving Group, the Overseas Moving Group and the Self-Storage Special Interest Group. The BAR also has its own training division.
What Does it Mean?
Membership of the BAR means that East Anglian removals company Hamiltons Removals can offer fringe benefits, such as the Advance Payment Guarantee (the equivalent of ABTA for the travel industry) and can trigger a disputes resolution procedure in the unlikely event of a problem with a removal which cannot initially be resolved amicably between the company and the customer. All complaints against BAR members are handled by The Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman, an independent alternative dispute resolution body.
Membership also means that affiliated companies commit to ‘safely handle and protect all customers’ possessions’ during the course of the move, and that staff have to be ‘presentable, polite and reliable’. All BAR members undergo annual audits and if they are found not to be following association rules then their membership can be revoked.
Hamiltons’ Removals Other Accreditations
We are members of the association’s Overseas Group – one of only 54 BAR members who have this accreditation. This means we meet the British Standard BS 8564 Overseas Moving Standard, which focusses primarily on staff training, vetting and security processes. We are also part of FEDEMAC, the Federation of European Movers Association, which represent the interests of more than 1.600 professional moving companies in more than 27 European countries.
We also have two accreditations relating to our Safe N Stored self-storage facilities at Harleston and Aldeby. Our membership of the Self-Storage Association UK (SSAUK) means that we are committed to promoting best industry practices at both sites. Hamiltons Removals are also members of Caravan Storage Site Owners Association (CaSSOA) who in 2017 honoured us with a Gold Award Certificate, recognising the high level of security at our Aldeby site.
East Anglian Removals Company Hamiltons Removals – Operating During Covid-19
The housing market is remaining open during the latest lockdown, so we are continuing to offer removals services while adhering strictly to the latest government guidelines.
We are still taking enquiries and providing quotations for your removal requirements, and our surveyors have been carrying out surveys – either in person or via video link. All our moving crews have been issued with the necessary personal protective equipment.
Our staff are manning the self-storage depots at Harleston and Aldeby and continue to send out any online orders for packaging materials. If you need to get in touch, you can call us on 01379 or email us at info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.
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