In September 08 Global Ocean Freight (GOF) contracted to organise a 40' container to collect household goods (HHG) and car and ship them to Mallorca, Spain, on 27th October 08. The price was agreed, contract signed and they appeared to be efficient.
All papers re the car were sent to GOF including a deposit for $1,050. On 23rd October they e-mailed (not phoned) to say the container would not be arriving to pick up our HHG and car. They could not find a container ship going to Palma, Mallorca. They were trying to send the container to Palma Island in the Canary Islands. We advised GOF that they could send our container to Barcelona, Spain then clear customs and truck it to Mallorca. They refused. We knew that was the only possible way of sending a container from USA to Mallorca as the island is small and no container ship would go directly there from USA. We were advised that a truck would arrive and we would be charged double handling ($1,100) and HHG put into store for an indefinite period. No date for shipping could be given. Then we would have to pay for storage. They agreed to refund our deposit less $50 for UPSing the car documents to us.
As the house was in escrow and closing 5 days later we were fortunate to have a friend who made 3x 5hour journeys with his truck and trailer to take our HHG into storage. We have now had to return to USA to be present at the repacking of our goods by another company. To date GOF have cost us $4,000 more than expected (air fares, fuel costs) plus all the items we were going to ship to Europe but our friend was not able to store ie. A Wurlitzer, etc. Amounting to $6,000 which we had to give away due to the time shortage ie. Would could not sell them in 4 days and had to clear the house before close of escrow.
Although we have contacted the BBB they have done nothing except monitor our compaint and we have not received our deposit from GOF.
They have made a difficult process of moving to another country even more difficult. It has been a complete nightmare and many sleepless nights.
A warning do not use global ocean freight.
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