1st Move International Limited Reviews 

511
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.4

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 36 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the service, describing the process as easy and stress-free, with belongings arriving safely and on time. The staff are frequently highlighted as professional, helpful, and communicative, providing excellent support and making the overall experience effortless. However, some customers also noted concerns regarding pricing and communication. Several reviewers experienced unexpected price increases or additional charges not clearly explained upfront, sometimes after items were collected. There were also instances where delivery times significantly exceeded initial estimates, and some mentioned issues with customs requirements or receiving incorrect quotations.

What people talk about most

Service

Consumers find service to be positive, with many reviewers describing it as amazing, easy, and stress-free... See more

Staff

Customers consistently note positive experiences with staff, highlighting their helpfulness, professionalism,... See more

Delivery service

People report positive experiences with delivery service, noting that belongings arrived safely and in good... See more

Price

Users describe ambiguous interactions with price, with some reviewers reporting significant discrepancies... See more

Customer service

Clients share ambiguous opinions on customer service, with some reviewers having excellent experiences,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1st Move International worked with me from the very first phone call explaining everything regarding the shipment of my belongings from the UK to the USA. They made the whole process easy and stress f... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Collecting and packing goods end of Sept - excellent. Keeping in contact - excellent. Quality of packing when left UK - excellent. Goods arrived in around 3 months, but Australian customs delayed ins... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly Recommend 1st Move International! We used them for our move from London to South Carolina (US) and it was smooth and easy. The team is extremely friendly and in communication the entire time. I... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

From the very first call to when we received our goods, the whole experience with first move was awesome. They were professional, proficient, responded to all our questions and were kind. They held ou... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Moving Company
  2. Exporter
  3. Logistics Service
  4. Moving and Storage Service
  5. Shipping Service
  6. Vehicle Shipping Agent

About 1st Move International Limited

Written by the company

Here at 1st Move International, we have been packing, moving and shipping household goods, furniture and personal effects overseas for more than 25 years.

What We Do Best

Faster Shipping

Unlike other movers, we never have to wait for a container to be full before we can ship out your belongings.

Thanks to our unbeatable packing, we're able to ship using weekly consolidated container shipping services, allowing us to offer our customers faster, guaranteed weekly shipping from the UK.

Once packed, your shipment is immediately booked onto the next weekly sailing. No waiting!

Visit our website to learn more about how we can offer faster shipping from the UK.

Unbeatable Packing

Our packing methods are simply exceptional. We never ship items loose inside of a container. All shipments are carefully packed and arranged onto their own individual pallets.

Palletisation drastically reduces handling of individual items during the moving process, increases efficiency when loading/unloading and offers the absolute best protection for your prized possessions on their journey to your home overseas.

Visit our website to learn all about our safer packing procedures.

Clear & Accurate Pricing

Our packing allows us to measure your shipment exactly. We never have to estimate the volume of your goods and once packed, you will be provided with the EXACT volume of your shipment and a photo of your pallets will be sent directly to you. No guessing!

Our Services

We offer international removals services from the UK to the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Dubai, Cyprus, Malta, Singapore, South Africa, the Cayman Islands, Singapore and many more popular destinations!

Get a Quote

Ready to start your move? Get a free quote on our website today or contact a member of our team.

1st Move International - Faster Shipping

Written by the company

Regular departures from the UK
1st Move International are shipping regularly to the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, UAE and other key destinations worldwide.

Faster Shipping

Faster International Shipping

Here at 1st Move International, we do things differently than other, conventional, international removals companies. This helps us to overcome the additional pressures that are still being seen throughout the international supply chain world as a result of port congestion, causing delays in securing shipping containers and space with vessel operators.

Contact info

4.4

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

511 reviews

5-star
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1-star

Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 75% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 month

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4.4

All reviews

(511)

32 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A satisfactory experience

My Move was handled well from pick up to drop off in Sydney. All furniture and belongings were very well packed and there were virtually no breakages.
It wasn’t cheap…..the storage expensive and my possessions arrived almost 6 months to the day they were fetched.
The staff were pleasant and helpful to deal with.

24 October 2022
1st Move International Limited logo

Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for leaving a 5 star review of your experience with 1st Move International. I note from your file that your goods were in storage with us as you were waiting for your Visa, not in transit for 6 months. We booked onto the next available sailing after all documentation was in place, and your shipment sailed as booked on this scheduled sailing. Thanks again!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

US move was easy.

We were very pleased with our move. The communication from them was excellent. Everything was explained and the instructions were very easy to follow. The pick up in England was on time and they were very professional. We were kept up to date as the move progressed. On arrival everything was well packed. The only problem was that on delivery one of our pallets was dropped and some glass items did break.

15 August 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for leaving a review of your experience with 1st Move International. We are glad that you felt we were very professional and that on arrival everything was well packed. It is a shame that your good made it all the way to the USA from England and then one of the pallets dropped causing some glass items to break. If you can e-mail yourmove@shipit.co.uk with details we can begin the insurance claim process accordingly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent from start to delivery

Excellent from start to delivery, very good value for money and communication along the way. We felt like we / our stuff was in great hands during the entire process and they took the stress out of packing up our things. Our stuff arrived State side in perfect condition and was well wrapped and secure.

2 August 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review, we are glad that our packing method meant that your personal effects arrived into the USA in perfect condition. Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Moving made easy and hassle free

Dealing with 1st Move was a pleasure. Tessa patiently dealt with all my queries and was very reassuring and knowledgeable. No question was too silly for her to answer. Also the movers were quick and professional. All my boxes arrived safely at their overseas destination. I would highly recommend if you want piece of mind when moving.

8 August 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review, your kind comments have been passed on to Tessa and the whole team. Thanks for your recommendation!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Friendly, professional, excellent service

From start to finish, everyone we dealt with in the company was professional, warm, friendly and extremely helpful at all stages. The efficiency of collection and the ease at drop off and unpack was incredible. All items reached us in absolutely perfect condition. There was a delay in our items leaving the UK but this was communicated to us openly and honestly. Thank you!

22 September 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for sharing your experiences of shipping with 1st Move International, we are glad to hear that your items reached you in perfect condition.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great experience

Everything was according to plan and on time. US-based receiving company was exceptionally helpful and kept us updated from when the ship docked to when it was delivered. Really well wrapped and protected and arrived with no damage

21 September 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your 5 star-review. We're glad that you also found the agent in the USA "exceptionally helpful" as well as we expect them to be an extension of the customer service that we offer. Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great experience, would use again

I was really nervous in making my selection of which shipping company to use. Reviews for all companies I looked in to seemed to be quite mixed but the customer service from 1st Move International in answering all my initial questions was great. The cost was also really competitive and so I accepted their quote. The booking process was simple, the collection in the UK was well communicated, the tracking of my pallets on the ship from the UK to the USA was fun to follow.. and then the communication Stateside was also good. I was amazed that the eta given when my pallets left the UK was the exact date my stuff arrived at my house! I was expecting delays with the global shipping issues so that was a bonus. All of my boxes and furniture was well packed and arrived as I left them. All in all I had a great experience and would use them again.

4 July 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your detailed review, we are glad that you chose 1st Move International and that you would use us again. Although there are delays in global shipping we do try to mitigate these as much as possible with our packing and shipping processes. Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Clear communication

Clear communication, flexible and accommodating. Thank you.

6 July 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your positive review, we aim to make moving your personal effects as stress free as possible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Move from UK to USA

My items were packed and loaded in the UK and sailed to Miami without a problem. Everything arrived intact. I had to wait for the Miami team to unload in the port but it all worked out and was placed outside my new home.

8 September 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thanks for your review, we are glad to hear all of your goods arrived intact and you were pleased with the service.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service

Excellent service! Kept me up to date every step of the way and all goods arrived just as I packed them.
Janine

15 August 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for leaving a review of your experience with shipping with 1st Move International. We aim to please! Thanks again.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid this nightmare

This has been a nightmare unpacking and seeing the absolute recklessness and damage done to our belongings. We paid $11,000 and the service was not only bs but they ruined valuable pieces of antique furniture that cannot be replaced and hold sentimental value. Furniture legs missing on all of our furniture, what is this company?? We were aware that our items were sent to Bristol to be shipped then we saw they moved to London, for weeks and weeks. Which this goes against what is stated on their website, “that once packed it doesn’t just sit around”. Since our items sat in the heat for months, most of the artwork and clothing is destroyed due to being stained yellow. We paid for professional packing done BEFORE they took our items, thankfully we have photos of them leaving with our things thrown into a van. Once stateside the company provided to us couldn’t even deliver since we didn’t have a forklift. We paid 1,000 for this 1.5 hour move to be done. We paid £9,000 for our items to be moved from Uk to Houston. What we discovered after opening is appalling and honestly we are still considering pursuing our legal options. We paid extra for their “professional” wrapping. What a joke. Our furniture has all been destroyed, antique and vintage furniture with the entire frames shattered. It honestly looks like they played football with our items. Our crate and barrel pull out sofa is filthy and looks like they sat on it. These companies are so dodgy, I’m glad we have proof of their bs and email chain to see this through. Feel free to message me or search their reviews and see my pictures.

Update: Shipit received our complaint on 8/9. No apology for the service provided and advised to just submit insurance claim which will not cover replacing the damaged items.
10/31: insurance is still reviewing. We are out 10,000 and are still without furniture. They asked us for quotes to repair and we were told by 4 companies the damage was so bad they couldn’t repair.

8 August 2022
Unprompted review
1st Move International Limited logo

Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for sharing your review. As yet we have not seen an insurance claim corresponding to the details on your review, please can you send an e-mail to yourmove@shipit.co.uk so that we can urgently investigate this?

Update - I will ask the operations team to forward your email to me for further investigation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

London to Vancouver

Great company, worth paying a bit extra for given their professionalism and the peace of mind. Everything was handled really well on both ends of my journey and their agent on the BC end was great and really went above and beyond to get me a good deal on warehousing.

19 July 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your wonderful review, we very much appreciate your kind words and are happy to have helped.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

From 1st contact

From 1st contact, thru delivery, the whole process has been handled in a great professional manner. I have had all my questions answered quickly and positively. I have been kept up to date with all the various timings from pick up in Dunfermline Scotland to delivery at my home in Huntley Illinois U.S.A. The packaging of my deceased parents items of furniture was Excellent. Many thanks to all involved

18 July 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review, your kind words are much appreciated, especially using the word "professional" as this is what we strive to achieve for all of our customers. We are glad that our packaging helped to protected your parents items. Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Move from London to Cyprus

We were very happy with the whole experience.Very nice team to deal with,friendly and helpful.
All our items arrived safe.
We will strongly recommend this company.

29 June 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for sharing your experience of shipping to Cyprus with 1st Move International. We are glad that your items arrived safe and appreciate your recommendation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The 1st Move team were excellent from…

The 1st Move team were excellent from start to finish! i'm delighted to have had them recommended to me by a friend who also had her stuff shipped from the UK to Aotearoa NZ. I can't fault your communications - you kept me in the picture brilliantly. Everything arrived safely, just MAF NZ who opened a couple of things and i think they must have been the ones that broke the bottom of a leg of a chair, because your packaging was seriously good! As an almost plastic-free household the amount of bubble wrap was a bit over the top for me, but at least it can go to the soft-plastic recycling here. Thank you for bringing my personal belongings to me - i'm now enjoying opening the boxes like it's Christmas!!

27 June 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for sharing your experience of shipping with 1st Move International, we are glad that you found our team excellent from start to finish. Also, thank you to your friend for the recommendation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First-class service. Responsive and thorough.

I contacted 1st move because I was selling my house in England in order to move permanently to the US. They were very responsive, providing all of the forms and background info. Their representative also contacted me to explain the process. The criteria around insurance are particularly interesting. Don't yourself pack anything delicate. If they pack stuff, then that covers it for any damage. They spoke with me again in the build up to the packing day. Talked me through the Customs process. Packing day went smoothly. Their guy could not have been more helpful. Next day they sent a picture of my shipment, on its pallets, all shrink-wrapped and ready to go. Next they told me when the ship had left England. The company handling the US end emailed me once the pallets came into their hands. Finally, all of the pallets, still shrink-wrapped, were delivered to my house and parked in my garage. All of it was beautifully packed. Paintings, glassware, electronics, all arrived safely. Nothing was damaged. Excellent service, I couldn't be more pleased.

21 June 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for leaving a review of your experience of shipping your personal effects with 1st Move International. We're so happy that you couldn't be more pleased with our excellent service, and received your shipment with no damages. Your review has been shared with the whole team here. Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1st move International was fantastic…

1st move International was fantastic very grateful for the company to help on short notice and received my personal belongings in South Africa without any hiccups
Thank you

16 June 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review. How to get rid of hiccups? Either breath into a paper bag, drink a glass of water backwards, or use 1st Move International for your overseas removal! We are happy to help.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I paid from Uk to Toronto in GBR from…

I paid from Uk to Toronto in GBR from my destination.
I was told I would not have to pay any more money at the port of arrival.
On arrival in Toronto I was told to pay another Cad 700+ to release my belongings.
Overall I paid a lot to get my belongings delivered to Toronto.
It cost me almost £4000 to move home when the original estimate was less than £2000.

15 June 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review, although I am sorry that we did not meet your expectations. Please note that the terms of shipment, including all exclusions to the quotation, was noted to you several times during the process. This confirmed that any terminal handling/documentation/customs clearance was NOT included in your quotation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Overall a smooth process

We were pleased overall with the experience. There were a couple of plastic totes that broke during transit because of how they were packed (by us) and palletised (by 1st Move) but contents were absolutely fine.

We were charged an $80 "emergency congestion charge" when it arrived in the States, but we were pre-warned there could be some unexpected charges and 1st Move told us to budget worst case $300 for these fees, so we were in budget. You can see the shipment arrival process on our YouTube channel, parkerlings. Note the benefit we had by having access to a skid steer to move the pallets where we needed them.

Overall, good communication especially when there were various delays through the process. Thanks 1st Move!

11 June 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review and for sharing your great YouTube video! We're glad that you found our communication good and were pleased with the whole 1st Move International Experience. Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1st Move in UK great, delivery in the USA not so much

1st Move was great to work with and our relocation from London to the USA went well and was roughly delivered as estimated. The UK side was very smooth and had great service all around. The receiving end in the USA was not at good, with sparse service updates from the end contracted logistics company. The shipment arrived at our residential address with no pallet jack or way to get the actual pallets off of the truck, so definitely a miss for the "logistics experts" doing the delivery. All around, I'd recommend this service above other international shipping options that our friends have used, which have had many more challenges and delays.

11 June 2022
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Reply from 1st Move International Limited

Thank you for your review and your recommendation. Sorry to hear that your friends have experienced challenges and delays using other international removals companies. We're happy that you found our service great all around! Thanks again.

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