Access Vanlines (AVL) were contracted to ship my personal effects, including a dearly loved motorcycle, from Houston, Tx to Queenstown, New Zealand. My stuff was packed on the agreed date but since then it has been a horrible experience.
I was assured that delivery would be 8 to 10 weeks, typical for a move from the USA to NZ or vice versa, I know because of personal experience. I was verbally given a delivery date of 11/25, about right given my goods were packed 9/184. With no communication at all from AVL since I sent the check in late September I finally called them a week before the first delivery was due. I was informed delivery was now 12/20. This was not met and a 3rd date 1/12 was given.
After many requests I finally received the name of the local agent. This agent has received no paperwork from AVL and has informed me the vessel that my effects are supposedly on is not due until 2/24.
Three delivery dates missed and if AVL are to be believed just over 5 months after I packed up in Houston I will finally see my stuff. No company could ever advertise themselves as "international relocation experts" and offer a 5 month delivery time frame.
AVL has still not provided despite numerous verbal and written requests, the vessel name and arrival date, the container number and bill of lading number, the insurance policy for my goods and the certificate of title for my bike. All these items need to be with their agent for my goods to be succesfully imported to New Zealand. I also paid for a door to door delivery but now face additional charges at the New Zealand end. I suspect my goods are gone forever at a total loss to myself.
My advice "Do not under any circumstances ever use Access Vanlines". All personnel I have spoken to at AVL are evasive at best. They do not respond as they say they will and when they finally do the response is simply untrue or incomplete. They are fantastic at providing a quotation and requesting payment, in fact they will have you courier the check at their cost and cash it very promptly. When you express concern about the status of your personal effects you are simply dismissed in a very curt manner. These people are simply unprofessional and not to be trusted.
Tim
Queenstown
New Zealand
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