Auckland Pack N Move

We booked Auckland Pack N Move (who we discovered also trade as Auckland Budget Movers) to move us 15 minutes away, specified we had 18 external stairs to get up to our new home, advised them of double door fridge.

They advised medium truck and 2 men for 3 bed house, quoted us $45 per half hour, plus $40 call out charge.

They got to our house to load up, and were rude, didn't want to do basic stuff like take drawers out of units. Were reluctant to move our fridge - in the end charged us $65 extra. They insisted we pay for two hours upfront plus the $65 for the fridge.

Eventually loaded everything up, and got to our new place, arriving before my husband.

They took one look at the stairs and objected to it, saying it was unsafe, because it was raining (it was winter, and had been raining on and off for quite a few days).

We (myself and daughter) were trying to talk to the men, and they refused to talk to us. Talking over us, walking away, stating they would wait for my husband.

They started unloading items into the garage under the house.

My husband turned up and they immediately talked to him and explained that they couldn't carry any of our items up stairs because it was raining (refusing to even carry light items up). We agreed with them that we wouldn't pay for the 30 minutes wasted while they argued with us, and had extended conversations with their office.

I called their office, and the person who I spoke to refused to speak to me also - when challenged about whether it was because I was a woman, I was told it was due to "privacy issues". My daughter was the one who paid for the removal and they wouldn't speak to her either.

I ended up calling an alternative company (Insphire Removals https://insphire.co.nz/webpages/insphire-relocations/)

Who arrived within 15 minutes. They unloaded the removal truck and took everything upstairs - including the 2 door fridge freezer. They said that they didn't view the stairs as being dangerous at all, and said it was part of the job. They were fast, efficient, friendly and made us feel very calm.

The APM men insisted on us paying them an extra hour, which we did just to get rid of them as we just wanted to get on with the move. Insphire finished the job.

Auckland Pack and Move subsequently emailed us back demanding payment for the extra half hour (the time they wasted arguing about not bringing the items upstairs), and told us they were passing us on to Baycorp if we didn't pay .

We are currently trying to get a refund from them, as we don't see why we should have to pay for two removal companies.

Wish we'd looked for reviews before hiring them!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $435

I paid for three truck loads (four hours).

- They did one and a half trucks loads.

- They dropping and smashing one of the glass doors of an expensive display cabinet, then refused to move any glass items (tables, mirrors, TVs etc)

- They dropped and broke a large study desk in two.

- They crashed into the phone box outside and attempted to drive away.

- Management are rude, unhelpful and aggressive.

The result, less than half my furniture was moved, multiple expensive items were broken due to negligence, and I was still being charged the full price. What an absolute rip-off.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $460

Paid $490 they turned up 2 hours late and only did ONE load of my two bedroom unit, which was only my furniture not a single box, moaned about the stairs even tho I had specified I lived on a second floor, my stuff had dirty hand prints all over it, and when I called when waiting on them to arrive and wondering where they were the lady told me to be patient or cancel my move. I’ve just had surgery and unable to lift anything... which sadly I’ve had to now to get moved. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $490