International Relocation Services – Europe and Overseas
Robinsons International are experts in overseas removals. We have a dedicated International division which focuses only on moving overseas, to any country worldwide with regular shipments to and from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Canada, South East Asia, South and Central America, Europe and many other locations.
Click here for our dedicated country guide pages.
This centre of excellence for overseas removals means that clients moving abroad can be confident that they will always get expert advice from specialists who are highly trained in all aspects of international removals.
We do more than other transport moving companies – your dedicated Move Manager will provide you with information on the country to which you are moving together with practical information including recommendations for customs compliance, advice on insurance, details of your new country’s tax system and a great deal more.
With our in-depth knowledge and experience we provide a professional, individual move for every customer and because we are still a family owned private firm we offer a personal one-to-one service based on your needs to ensure you are in safe hands. Many of the employees working at Robinsons have lived in different countries and are expatriates themselves. As a result our people understand the rigours of moving overseas and understand your concerns.
We are wholly committed to delivering a quality service. Having attained Quality standard ISO 9001 and FAIMISO we believe this is a minimum requirement when considering a removal company however, we are also leading the industry by achieving ISO 14001 Environmental standard to ensure our impact on the environment is minimised. We are also authorised and registered with the FSA and offer an All Risks Marine Insurance policy. We are members of the industries leading associations FIDI, OMNI and BAR and as a result your move is 100% financially guaranteed, giving you peace of mind from start to finish.
Every international move is co-ordinated and managed by a dedicated Move Manager, who will be your single point of contact throughout the moving process and ensure regular communication, so that any problems or concerns are picked up early and resolved quickly.
Our International Move Managers have immediate, real-time access to up-to-date information on the very latest customs regulations and destination country information worldwide. He or she will discuss and record the timing and scheduling of the move in detail, not only packing and moving dates but details on vessel sailing and arrival times, import duties, customs clearance procedures and ever changing restrictions. Your Robinsons' Move Manager is specially trained to interpret customs regulations, which are sometimes complicated, into terms that are easy to understand. To ensure all angles are covered, the Move Manager will also cross-reference all information with our partner in the destination country.
One of the most important aspects of any move is the packing. We use the very latest packing techniques and materials to wrap and protect your possessions. However precious and fragile they are, you can be sure that they are in safe hands.
All of our international packing teams undergo specialist training and are regularly updated with the very latest packing materials and techniques in order to guarantee a high level of protection.
We will ensure:
- China and breakables will be individually wrapped in tissue, paper or bubblepack, and packed into special china cartons.
- Books, CDs and files will be wrapped and packed into smaller cartons, ensuring the load is not too heavy for the carton.
- Clothing will be transferred on their existing hangers either into upright wardrobe cartons or into layflat cartons if preferred.
- Lampshades and pictures will be placed into cartons made specifically for maximum protection of delicate items.
- Furniture will be wrapped in superior-quality export blankets. All antiques and polished furniture will have the added protection of a cardboard layer over the export blanket.
- Wood crates will be specifically built for fragile or valuable items.
If you choose to pack for yourself, we can provide the necessary materials well in advance of moving day, as well as offer advice on how to minimise the risk of damage.
Sundry
Books
Clothing (Flat)
Kitchenware
China
Robinsons have developed the ideal storage system to ensure maximum security and protection.
We use purpose built vehicles specifically designed to accommodate our storage containers. These containers are already in the vehicle when it arrives at your home. Your furniture is wrapped for protection and placed inside the containers. An individual inventory for each container is made as each item is placed in to the container.
Your possessions will then be sent to your nearest Robinsons storage centre where they are transferred to the warehouse for safe keeping.
You are welcome at any time to visit our storage centres to see exactly how your possessions are stored.
We will ensure:
- All containers are packed under your supervision
- A full inventory of containers is provided
- Containers are off loaded directly into storage - minimising handling
- Safe, secure storage facilities
- Long or short term storage options
- Insurance
Containerised storage is especially useful for
- Short or long term storage of home contents to avoid breaking the moving chain
- Storage of contents during renovation works
- Storage of surplus belongings when downsizing home
- Storage of home contents whilst overseas
By Road
For moves within mainland Europe we will provide a complete door-to-door service. Once the vehicle has been loaded at your address in the UK, the same crew will be responsible for taking your furniture to your European destination.
Seafreight
Seafreight is used for the majority of overseas removals. Shipments are normally conveyed in steel shipping containers (either 20' or 40' in length) which carry the packed household effects. Containers are shipped with reliable shipping lines providing modern equipment and vessels and containers remain unopened until they arrive at their destination.
Seafreight is the most cost effective option for shipping anything from a single item to a full container load.
Airfreight
Airfreight is normally the preferred option for items which are needed in a hurry or if you are shipping goods to a difficult destination where seafreight is not practical.
This option is generally more expensive than surface modes however, Robinsons International have excellent purchasing power in the airfreight market and our associates operate many consolidation services which have reduced the cost of air cargo in recent years.
Our marine policy provides all-risks insurance protection for your household goods, personal effects and automobiles moving by land, sea and air. This policy offers you “all risks” coverage door-to-door, subject to the terms and conditions.
Peace of mind
Whilst every care will be taken by Robinsons International to transport your possessions safely, you will appreciate that the distances involved, coupled with the rigours of an international transit, means that on occasions loss and/or damage to your goods may occur. We therefore strongly recommend that you take out insurance cover to ensure that you are duly compensated for any loss which may occur.
Your International Move Coordinator will provide you with the necessary documentation to complete. The form has been designed to be as simple as possible. However, it will require you to list all the items you are moving, together with their replacement value.
Tax and Duties
Remember that many countries have import duties and purchase taxes that are higher than the UK. The value that you show on the form should be sufficient to replace the articles as new at destination. Please do bear in mind that the original purchase price, an old valuation or the UK second hand value are not always a good guide.
Cover during storage
Remember to keep the cover in force until your goods arrive at their final destination. The policy automatically provides some cover on arrival in the destination country but this is limited to 60 days storage only. If you need to keep the goods in store for longer than this, you must tell us and we will arrange for the policy to be extended. You will have to pay an additional premium for extensions.
Claims
Despite everybody’s best intentions, accidents do happen from time to time. In the event of loss or damage, notice should be given to Robinsons International within 30 days after delivery or 30 days after the scheduled delivery date, in the event of non-delivery.
It is important that at the time of notification, full details of any losses and /or damages are provided.
Following your initial notification, you are allowed a further 60 days to forward documentation in support of your claim.
Finally, we all have possessions which have sentimental value. Unfortunately, you cannot claim for distress, loss of use, consequential loss or sentimental value.
As an appointed representative of Lonham Marine Underwriters acting for and on behalf of certain underwriters at Lloyds, we can offer extremely competitive rates of insurance for goods whilst in transit.
For full details of our insurance and its terms, please see our Marine insurance application form below.
