Excess Baggage Company

I had the misfortune of choosing Excess Baggage Company for a recent move from the UK to Shanghai.

Fair's fair it started well. The people on the phone were helpful and courteous during the application, the 'man with van' arrived promptly and was, again helpful. From there on the experience descended into farce.

The shipment was collected at the end of August 2009. As I write, the best estimate they can give me is the 20th December for delivery. 16 + weeks. I was originally quoted 8 weeks.

I am currently sitting in a very cold Shanghai with all my winter clothes somewhere deep in a container, on a ship in an ocean far far away. They didn't respond to my emails on numerous occasions and every time I called my customer service rep I was told (after giving my name) that she was not in the office. I have had my concerns ignored and then told to contact the operator of the vessel my stuff is on (a chinese company where even the simplest of tasks is embroiled in annoying translation) to try and figure it all out. I was assured that my stuff was in customs in Shanghai only to then be told that it was, in fact, 4 weeks sailing away from Guangzhou (a port 500 miles or so from Shanghai). No apology for this so far.

If you are looking for a company that will take your money with a smile and then provide an awful service (both actual and customer) and leave you stranded and cold without your belongings then I cannot recommend these people highly enough.