The British Association of Removers (BAR) has introduced a newly structured association wide advanced payment guarantee scheme (APG).The scheme is aimed at adding further protection and security when using the services of a BAR member.Having the APG scheme in place provides the consumer with added protection against a BAR member going into financial failure, while responsible for an un-discharged removal contract.

Implementing new intiatives

Tony Tickner, BAR president said, “There is a continuous need for us to implement new initiatives, to ensure that BAR members are seen as the preferred service providers for the consumer when compared to non BAR members and other trade bodies linked to this industry.“I am delighted that the BAR, with the support of its members, can now deliver in my view one of the biggest new benefits to its members seen for many years. The new APG scheme not only achieves this further separation when compared to non-Members, it also allows us to be fully compliant with the requirements of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) code of practice.“In this day of enhanced consumer protections, only a BAR member can now guarantee its customer financial protection via its national trade association. In the same way that most of us will only buy a holiday from a company offering an ATOL or IATA protection.”The new association APG scheme came in to force as of 1st July 2017, and replaces all previous schemes.Linda Cavender, chief executive of the Trade Association Forum, has said, “I am pleased to see the British Association of Removers is introducing an Advanced Payment Guarantee to indemnify and protect consumers against their removal contracts being unfulfilled as a result of a BAR member ceasing to trade for any reason.”

What does the scheme cover?

Following 18-months of consultation, the BAR board of directors formally adopted the implementation of the APG scheme, which will come in to force as of 1st July 2017.The APG scheme covers advanced payments (cash, BACS payments and/or debit card payments) made for private residential contracts concluded in the UK, in order to protect consumers against the risk of a BAR member in financial failure. The scheme is designed to cover domestic, European and international moves.Adrian Simpson, service director from CTSI has said, “We always welcome any measure which will protect consumers, especially during a potentially difficult or stressful time in their life. All of our consumer code sponsors have to show that they go above and beyond the requirements of consumer law, and this measure will only help with this. Our scheme now covers over £51 billion of consumer spending across sectors such as cars, property and of course removals.”

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It is mandatory for all BAR member companies to provide the consumer with an advanced payment guarantee and if any BAR member opts to engage with an alternative scheme to the one provided by the BAR APG, then they must be able to demonstrate that the self-arranged scheme meets or exceeds the minimum criteria determined by the BAR APG scheme, and that it will be renewed annually.In addition to the code of practice, BAR members must reach and maintain the criteria of BAR membership. The BAR also provide an alternative disputes resolution scheme (ADR) for consumers, which is handled independently by an approved Consumer ADR body under the ADR Regulations 2015.

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Find out who won Best International Removals Provider at the Relocate awards in 2017– in the Summer 2017 issue of Relocate Magazine.

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