Pickfords, the UK’s leading international removal company moves more people overseas to more destinations than any other removal company. We have access to the global resources of one of the world’s most trusted international removal networks and have the expertise and resources to move you to any country in the world.
As one of the UK’s largest shippers, we have been providing international baggage and unaccompanied personal effects services to expats and foreign nationals, students, holiday makers and businesses for many years.
So if you have a few items of personal effects to send overseas, luggage or baggage, we can arrange to collect, ship and deliver your goods worldwide.
- Reliable. Pickfords moves more household effects overseas than any other mover. Our processes are tried and tested and audited as part of our quality accreditation.
- Local service. Our extensive network of branches covers the country. If you need cartons, tape or packing materials, we’ll deliver them to your door.
- A range of transit options to suit your needs. You can choose from a range of transit options to suit your timescale and international removal budget. Pickfords can move your consignment by air, road or sea.
- A known contact at your destination. Pickfords offers a door-to-door baggage service. Your baggage will be delivered by either our network partner or by our selected courier.
Calculate your shipping costs online at Baggage Quote. Please select from our range of Pickfords cartons, which are supplied and delivered free of charge throughout the UK. Our tea carton or export carton are generally recommended unless you have a specific requirement. If you have any Other Common Items such as suitcases, skis, surfboards etc please select from the list or advise the dimensions of Any Other Items in the tabs provided. Our quotation will immediately follow and will illustrate all shipment methods available to your destination. Alternatively contact one of our consultants on 08000 190 333.
We offer an extensive range of robust cartons designed to withstand the rigours of international transit and will supply and deliver free of charge throughout the UK on payment of a £50 deposit. Our tea carton or export carton are recommended unless you have a specific requirement such as pictures, books, clothing or a bicycle. We recommend you order surplus to your initial requirement as a return trip would incur a £20 delivery fee. There is no charge for unused cartons, which will be collected with your shipment. Please bear in mind that cartons and materials remain our property until shipment.
You may use your own cartons if you prefer but please ensure they are of export strength and suitably robust to withstand the rigours of international transit. We can arrange casing of plasma TV’s and other delicate or valuable items at our depot for a small extra charge. Please note that any package considered unsuitable for export will be repacked at our depot and will incur a £30 packing fee.
Delivery and collection is free of charge if you live in London, Manchester or Glasgow. If you live elsewhere delivery and collection of cartons is arranged through our courier service, which covers the entire UK and EU. Please note the service is restricted to what one man can lift so please do not exceed 30 kilos per item. A re-packing surcharge per item of £30 will apply if items are deemed not suitable for transit. You will receive an SMS confirming delivery or collection the preceding afternoon.
| Delivery of
empty cartons | Collection | Transit from/
to our depot |
|---|
| 1st item | extra item |
|---|
| London (within the M25) | Free | Free | Free | Next day |
| Rest of England, Wales | Free | £15.00 | £10.00 | Next day |
| Scotland | £6.00 | £15.00 | £10.00 | 2/3 days |
| Northern Ireland, Offshore Islands | £60.00 | £60.00 | £30.00 | 2/3 days |
Important notice. The Baggage service is restricted to what one man can lift so please do not exceed 30 kilos per item. A re-packing surcharge per item of £30 will apply if items are deemed not suitable for transit.
You can deliver to our London office between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and between 8am to 1pm on Saturday. We would appreciate advanced warning so that we prepared to handle your shipment.
We will supply bubble wrap and tape free of charge for owner packing of fragile items and offer a professional packing service at our depot for a small extra cost. You should ensure that breakables are placed in the centre of the box and packed tightly to prevent movement in transit. Heavy items such as books should be packed in small cartons and evenly distributed throughout your consignment to limit risks of damage. You should avoid packing clothing in plastic bags, as condensation will occur. To satisfy health and safety requirements please do not exceed 30 kilos per carton. If in doubt contact our experts for advice.
If you have a flat screen TV we can provide a robust TV carton suitable for a 27”-42” screen (stand removed) or a 42”-52” screen (stand removed) at a cost of £15.
If you have electrical items valued over £250 or a bicycle valued over £750 it is an insurance requirement that the cartons containing these items are over-cased for added protection unless packed in one of our special application cartons e.g. TV carton. Ply over-cases are available at £15 and £30 each respectively.
Once packed, please seal the boxes, and mark each box with your reference number, surname, destination port, service and box number (e.g. 1/3, 2/3, 3/3). Then call us to arrange collection.
Certain items are prohibited under general conditions of carriage and storage, whereas others cannot be imported as personal effects or may be subject to inspection and/or treatment or obtaining an import license. For further information please refer to our Prohibited/Restricted Items
fact sheet. Any package containing a prohibited or restricted item will be subject to a £30 surcharge and the item will be removed and destroyed.
You can book online at View My Quotes, call us on 08000 190 333 or email us at shipping@pickfords-baggage.co.uk.
You will need to provide us with a copy of the signature page of your passport and entry visa (if applicable) and complete the following documentation prior to collection:
Some countries require a completed customs or quarantine declaration prior to arrival, which we will forward with your completed customs inventory form and a copy of your passport to our destination representatives. For a complete list of documents required
for common destinations please refer to Baggage Documentation.
If you live in London please return the completed forms to the driver. If you live elsewhere please mail the completed forms to our local office. Please note that storage charges commence 7 days following collection pending receipt of your completed documentation
and payment. We are unable to ship your goods without completed documentation and payment.
By sea — your belongings share container space with other consignments bound for the same destination. We operate to regular sailing schedules and have guaranteed allocations on every vessel. You should allow an overall transit of approximately 6-12 weeks to arrival at destination port and a further two weeks for customs formalities and delivery to residence. Sea freight rates are based on the overall volume of goods. Volume is determined by multiplying Length x Breadth x Height in metres and then multiplying by 35.315 = cubic feet.
By air — Unaccompanied Airfreight is a cost effective alternative to prohibitive airline excess baggage rates, with transit typically around 10 to 14 days to airport or 14-21 days to door. Air freight rates are calculated on the greater of volumetric weight or actual gross weight. Volumetric weight is determined by multiplying Length x Breadth x Height in centimetres divided by 6000 = volumetric kilos. Your consignment will be weighed at our depot to verify the actual gross weight.
By courier — our express courier service is generally cost effective for smaller consignments. Transit is typically around 7 to 10 days door to door. Courier rates are calculated on the greater of volumetric weight or actual gross weight. Volumetric weight is determined by multiplying Length x Breadth x Height in centimetres divided by 4000 = volumetric kilos. Your consignment will be weighed at our depot to verify the actual gross weight. Please note any package by courier service exceeding 30 kilos gross weight or 150 cms in length will attract a surcharge of £30. We are unable to accept any package exceeding 70 kgs or 240(L) x 120 (B) x 150 (H) cms or 419 cms in length and girth combined (length + 2 x breadth + 2 x height).
By road — consignments bound for European destinations are delivered by road trailer service to kerbside at your residence. Transit time is typically around 10 to 14 days door to door. Road freight rates are based on the overall volume your goods occupy within a trailer. Volume is determined by multiplying Length x Breadth x Height in metres and then multiplying by 35.315 = cubic feet.
Please note in accordance with anti-terrorist regulations governing shipment by air freight and air courier the contents of your shipment may be examined in transit or may be subject to security screening, which could include the use of x-ray, explosive trace detection and other security screening methods.
Important notice. The Baggage service is restricted to what one man can lift so please do not exceed 30 kilos per item. A re-packing surcharge per item of £30 will apply if items are deemed not suitable for transit.
Our charges include nationwide delivery of robust export cartons and packing materials, one free collection in London within the M25. Shipping charges are not subject to VAT unless your destination is within the European Union, in which case VAT applies at the current rate.
Our charges exclude destination import duties, taxes or other sums due to government departments, such as quarantine inspection, steam cleaning, fumigation and any resulting treatment fees. For further information on charges that may be payable please
refer to our relevant Guide to Importing Personal & Household Effects. If your country
is not listed please refer to our Customs Guides. Please note that airfreight to airport excludes charges for destination customs clearance and delivery to residence, if required, which can be paid locally to our destination representative.
We take every precaution to protect your possessions in transit. Nevertheless, we recommend you cover your goods under our Marine Transit Insurance to a sum equivalent to full replacement value at destination. Cover is available on owner packed effects for All Risks of loss and/or damage, upon receipt of your completed Insurance Proposal, subject to the terms & conditions of the policy.
All Risks cover - Available at 5% of value declared (i.e. if you cover £800 worth of goods, premium is £40) + Insurance Premium Tax at the current Rate.
Cover commences from collection and continues during the normal course of transit until delivered to your destination residence. Please note that if you decline cover, we will rely upon BAR
terms & conditions (clause 8) in the unforeseen event of loss or damage.
If you are travelling en route we can arrange to store your goods and defer shipment to coincide with your estimated arrival date. Storage is available at £20 per item per month, and commences 7 days following collection. Insurance may be extended to cover your goods in store, at a rate of 1% of value declared per month, plus Insurance Premium Tax at the current Rate, upon your written instruction. Failure to extend cover will render the goods uninsured.
We will require a non refundable £50 deposit prior to delivery of empty cartons. This can be paid by debit or credit card over the phone. If you live in London within the M25 the balance can be paid direct to our driver. We accept Cash, Cheques, Debit and Credit Cards. If you live elsewhere payment should be made by debit or credit card over the phone. Our terms require payment in full prior to shipment. All business is undertaken in accordance with BAR
terms & conditions. Your attention is particularly drawn to Clauses 8,9,10,11 which set out our liability to you for loss of or damage to goods and property and the time limit for claims, and to clause 6 which sets out our policy regarding cancellations.
Following collection your goods will be consolidated at our depot in preparation for international shipment. Please note we are unable to ship your goods without your completed documentation and payment.
Our on line
shipment tracking enables you to monitor your consignment in transit upon entry of your invoice reference and the surname that appears on your shipping documentation. Full details including estimated date of arrival and contact details of our local representative will also be advised by email following shipment.
All shipping documentation is forwarded by courier to our destination representatives in advance of arrival. When your consignment arrives at the destination port or airport our appointed representative will contact you to arrange customs and quarantine formalities and a suitable date for delivery to kerbside at residence. Each representative has been carefully selected for their local knowledge and the quality of their destination services. Please note that airline storage charges are levied on uncollected airfreight consignments within 24 hours of arrival. It is therefore advisable to contact the representative immediately on arrival if you select our airfreight to airport service.
As a general rule most countries will require your presence to clear customs on arrival of your goods, although a few countries will permit you to nominate a representative to clear customs on your behalf. For further information please refer to our relevant Guide to Importing Personal & Household Effects. If your country is not listed please refer to our Customs Guides. If you are travelling en route we can arrange to store your goods and defer shipment to coincide with your estimated arrival date.
Most countries permit duty and tax free importation of used personal effects if the goods are owned and used by you for a minimum of 12 months prior to your departure and the goods are for your own personal use or wear and are not intended for any other person or for gift, sale or exchange. New items (particularly those packed in the manufacturer’s original packaging) will generally attract import duty and tax.
Goods destined for Australia and New Zealand are subject to a physical examination by the local quarantine inspection service; it is essential that any items that may have come into contact with soil or vegetation are thoroughly cleaned prior to shipment, failing which treatment may be required.
If your consignment is selected for examination by the quarantine authority an examination fee will apply, and the fee will depend on the duration of the examination. Additional fees will result if steam cleaning, fumigation or other treatment is required.
As members of the British Association of Removers our customers benefit from the International Movers Mutual Insurance (IMMI) advance payment guarantee scheme. In the unlikely event of failure of a member, the association will appoint another member to complete your contract at no additional expense. IMMI is the only authentic scheme offering total protection against insolvency.
In the unlikely event of an insurance claim, or any other matter requiring our attention you can rely on our continued commitment. At Pickfords we thrive on repeat business and personal recommendations and therefore have a vested interest in everything being completed to your total satisfaction.