Guide to removals associations
Removals Trade Associations and organisations
The British Association of Removers. – B.A.R.
This Association has the highest profile within the removals industry. Its members follow a strict Code of Practice and they provide a complaints and disputes resolution service. BAR members are regularly inspected and the BAR holds training days for all members of the industry. The British Association of Removers Code of Practice is approved and monitored by the Office of Fair Trading under its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. The BAR has around 600 members.
The National Guild of Removers and Storers. – N.G.R.S.
Rival association to the BAR but also has high membership standards. The ‘Guild’ vet their members and provide strong marketing support. All Guild members are on the Register of Approved Removers and Storers and their customers have access to their Removal Industry Ombudsman Scheme.
The Road Haulage Association R.H.A.
The RHA provides dedicated campaigning, advice, information and business services specially tailored for the haulage industry. They use their buying power to negotiate exclusive savings on a range of key haulage services, saving members time and money. The RHA is also proactive on ensuring their members are kept up to day with legislative changes, and lobby hard on behalf of commercial road haulage workers.
The Federation of Independent Removers and Storers. FIRST
As far as we are able to discern, this organisation no longer exists, so be wary of any firm using it to promote themselves.
FEDEMAC - The Federation of European Movers Associations
FEDEMAC was founded in 1959 and was officially registered as an independent European organisation on 1 January 1995. FEDEMAC’s members are National Moving Associations. The UK moving association working with FEDEMAC is the BAR, British Association of Removers. Today FEDEMAC represents the interests of around 4,000 professional moving companies in 25 European countries.
FIDI
FIDI has approximately 750 affiliates, who are international moving companies. It is the largest global alliance of independent quality international removal companies. FIDI focuses on the intercontinental movement of household effects. All members are required to follow best practice and to receive shipments from another FIDI agent, so quality of service is assured. FIDI's vision is to position FIDI affiliates as the "mover of choice" for international relocation and to promote affiliates' competitiveness within the international moving and storage marketplace.
The Self Storage Association – S.S.A.
The SSA is the trade association for the UK’s self storage industry. It supports its members who are both self storage practitioners and industry suppliers, and helps to raise awareness of best practice within the industry. It is currently made up of more than 250 professional companies who either operate self storage facilities or who are leading suppliers to the industry.
Last updated: 14th December 2009