Legal Advice - Moving Related

[AbigailC]

I am hoping for some legal advice related to an international move from Thailand.  I have used a moving company from Bangkok and was assured a certain price per cubic meter.  I read the contract and asked MANY questions.  I was assured that the price was an all inclusive one for the movers coming, packing my items, taking them to Bangkok, storing them, preparing paperwork, and shipping overseas.  The movers took my things this week and now the company has sent an invoice for 30,000 baht over the initial price.  They're stating that this is for the increased cubic meters due to the size of the shipping crates.  This was not mentioned in ANY of the emails or in the contract terms.  I have not paid them yet and the manager is stating that I can ship things without a crate for the original price, but that things will likely get damaged and I won't be able to complain. I am at a loss in how to proceed as they have all of my things.  I feel misled and taken advantage of.  Is there any legal recourse? Many thanks.

[smutcakes]

Do they mean that you said you had 10 m3 but actually when they packed it you had 15 m3? Is that what they mean? If so, of course you should pay it.

[AbigailC]

No, I had the same amount that we had initially agreed upon, but now they are adding another 1.5 cubic meters for the size of the shipping crate, but they never mentioned this charge or the increased size in any of the communication or in the contract.

[ezzra]

Seems like you have fallen to a scam by an unscrupulous people who's now got you by the balls, if you have a contract stating the full amount like you say and there's no clause that was overlooked and allow to company to charge you more, you can try bluffing and threaten them with a legal action  and see what the response is, of course, this can be a protracted issue, them holding on to your things and legal action cost money, see how you go...

[AbigailC]

I've sent a kind, but firm response back so I will see what comes of it.  I do not want to take legal action if at all possible, but will see how it goes.

 

Thanks.

[Bang Bang]

17 hours ago, AbigailC said:

I have not paid them yet ...

The situation sucks. But if you haven't paid them yet then you might just say, look I can't afford that additional amount at the moment so just leave the crates as they are, or unpack them if you like, until I get the funds.

 

That puts the squeeze on the sob owner because he has already incurred costs including labor, freight booking and so forth.

 

Don't say you won't pay. There's no need to get into a confrontation. Be sweet. Just delay and let him stew in his own juices. I'll wager after a couple of days he'll come back with a face-saving, ok I negotiate with the company, not 30k, can do 10k, you pay 10k

 

Then give him 5.

Edited June 27, 2018 by Bang Bang

[FritsSikkink]

6 hours ago, Bang Bang said:

Be sweet. Just delay and let him stew in his own juices. I'll wager after a couple of days he'll come back with a face-saving, ok I negotiate with the company, not 30k, can do 10k, you pay 10k

 

Then give him 5.

Or he gives another bill for storage.