Moving from Belgium to Northern Ireland

Small sized movers operating from the UK can benefit from not having to register for VAT if their annual sales are below something like £60,000, but in Belgium this is not the case. But I have discovered that a small moving firm advertising in Brussels, a name I am prevented by law from giving, is providing quotes with Belgian VAT added on (21%) but is not registered for VAT; not in Belgium nor in the UK.

I was intrigued as to how this firm this could offer to beat all other prices. So I asked for a quote and enquired which VAT number I could give to my employer. All VAT numbers can easily be checked by going to this EU run site: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/en/vieshome.htm

So I entered the VAT number this firm had given me and lo and behold it wasn't a valid number. So I went back to the firm and told them that the number wasn't valid, the response was to give me a UK VAT number. I was able to check this too and found that I had been given the VAT number of a reputable British moving firm that had no connection whatsoever with this firm in Brussels. But he was charging 21% VAT on top of the price!

Why should you bother if the price is the lowest you've received? Firstly, this firm is engaging in a criminal act. Secondly, the firm is pocketing the VAT as pure profit, which means that, although the firm has provided a price lower than that of its competitors, he's actually cheating you. Thirdly, legitimate movers who have quoted a price in good faith, and who have to account for VAT, are losing out to what is basically a cowboy operator. Everyone loses, except the cowboy.
There's worse to come. I asked about the insurance because I was being quoted 2.5% of value, something I know is well over the moving industry's average. I was given the name of a UK insurer whom I know stopped offering insurance polices for household goods moves two years ago. This is fraud, plain and simple. My guess is the firm is pocketing the insurance money just like the VAT scam it's operating.

Capital Worldwide LimitedWeb site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430

Moving from Belgium to Scotland

No changes to the vehicle schedules, but here's some advice if you are planning to move to or from Belgium. In the 19 years I've been living and working in Brussels with the expatriate community, one issue has dominated the relocation procedure - the etat de lieux.

The problem starts when you move to Brussels, because if no one has told you what to expect then how can you know what is the best procedure to follow. Most landlords and their agents will kindly suggest that you share the cost of the Expert-Géometres, and on face value it looks to be a good offer. What you are not told is:

1. The Expert's fees before you agree so that you know what your share will be
2. That you are entitled to have your own Expert present
3. That the Expert chosen by the landlord might be the same Expert who handles all the landlord's properties and who might be forgiven for having the landlord's best interest before yours.

Many customer's that I've moved have not been aware of their rights to appoint their own Expert, and some have paid sums equal to the Expert's full fees and not just 50% as was agreed. But most of all, people are frightened about the inspection because they have heard that landlords are looking to keep some of the deposit. When you have your own Expert the first thing you gain is peace of mind. Your Expert will represent you on the day of the inspection and will have to negotiate any costs for repairs etc. with the landlord's Expert, thus avoiding a worrying face to face stand off with the landlord also gain because there's no way the landlord can rip you off with outrageous charges.

The Union Belge des Géometres-Experts is the official organisation representing the profession. Their web page allows you to enter the commune in which you live and then provides a list of local Experts. Remember that your Expert should be fluent in the language the etat de lieux was written in.

If you are leaving Belgium, you must have notified the landlord, by registered mail, of your intention to appoint your own Expert no later than 15 working days before the rental contract expires.

Capital Worldwide Limited
Web site: http://www.capital-worldwide.com
Email: moving@capital-worldwide.com
Phone: 02 535 7430