You have two quotes in front of you, and both websites have a row of logos at the bottom. They look reassuring. It is not at all obvious what any of them mean, or whether the company with more of them is the better choice.
Quick answer: for an international move from the UK, the three to look for are British Association of Removers (BAR) membership, an Advanced Payment Guarantee covering your money, and FIDI FAIM, an independently audited standard for international movers. Any of these can be checked on the awarding body’s own website in a few minutes, so there is no need to rely on a logo.
What is the difference between a membership and an audit?
This is the single most useful distinction, and logos hide it.
- A membership means a company has joined a body and agreed to its rules. Good bodies vet applicants and can remove members who break the rules.
- Financial protection means a scheme stands behind money you pay in advance.
- An independent audit means someone from outside has examined how the business runs, against a published standard.
A company can have one, two or all three. They answer different questions: “will they behave?”, “is my money safe?” and “does the operation actually work?”
What does each accreditation check?
| Name | Type | What it tells you | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Association of Removers (BAR) | UK trade association | The firm operates to a Code of Practice approved by Trading Standards, with financial vetting | How it performs on your specific route overseas |
| Advanced Payment Guarantee (APG) | Financial protection | Advance payments are protected if a member ceases trading, for private individuals moving to, from or within the UK | Anything about service quality. It is also not cover for your belongings |
| Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO) | Dispute resolution | BAR’s disputes scheme is independently operated, so there is somewhere to go if you and the firm disagree | That disputes are rare |
| FIDI FAIM | Independent audit | The company has passed FIDI’s quality standard for international movers, covering financial stability, quality management and compliance | Who will deliver in your city, or who your contact will be |
| International Association of Movers (IAM) | Global trade association | The company is a member of a worldwide moving association with a Code of Ethics | It is not an audit of the UK operation in the way FAIM is |
What does FIDI FAIM actually involve?
FIDI is a global alliance of independent international moving companies, and FAIM stands for FIDI Accredited International Mover. It is the credential experienced expats mention most on forums, usually with the advice to check the directory.
According to FIDI, FAIM runs on a three-year cycle. There is an external audit by independent auditors every third year, with a self-assessment and an independent financial assessment each year in between. A company that fails can lose its place in FIDI. So this is not a one-off certificate on the wall, and that is what makes it different from most of the other logos you will see.
Which ones matter most for an international move?
Domestic removal credentials are a good start, but an international move has a longer chain of risk: packing for sea, customs, a partner company overseas. So the priority shifts:
- Is your money protected? Look for the Advanced Payment Guarantee. On an international move, you may pay thousands of pounds weeks before anything moves. See what you pay up front, and whether it is protected.
- Has the operation been audited? FIDI FAIM is the standard most often used for this.
- Is there somewhere to go if it goes wrong? BAR’s dispute scheme with the FHIO gives you an independent route.
You may also see BAR Overseas Group, or a BAR Overseas badge, mentioned on expat forums. It is a BAR grouping for members carrying out international work. Ask any firm you are considering how it applies to them, and check it on BAR’s website.
Gerson Moving Services holds BAR membership with the Advanced Payment Guarantee, FIDI FAIM and International Association of Movers accreditation, and is part of the AGM Group of companies. You can see what each one means for you on our accreditations page.
Comparing International Removal Companies?
Ask your move manager who handles each stage of your move, what protects your payment and which accreditations apply. You will get a straight answer you can check for yourself.
How do you check a claim is real?
It takes about five minutes.
- Note the exact company name on your quote. Trading names and legal names can differ, so check Companies House if you need to.
- Search the BAR member directory at bar.co.uk.
- Search FIDI’s directory at fidi.org for FAIM certification.
- Ask for the Advanced Payment Guarantee details in writing, and check they cover international moves.
- Be careful with expired or vague claims. “Fully accredited” with no named body, or a logo that does not link to anything, is a reason to ask a follow-up question.
If a logo appears on a website but the company does not appear in the awarding body’s directory, ask why. There may be a simple explanation, such as a trading name, but you should hear it.
What do accreditations not tell you?
We hold these credentials and are glad to, but they will not answer every question.
They do not tell you who your contact will be. A firm can pass every audit and still pass you around a call centre. Ask: “Who will I call once my belongings have left the UK?” With us, that is your dedicated move manager, your primary contact throughout.
They do not tell you who delivers. Almost every international move is carried out by a partner in the destination country, and a credential held by a UK firm does not automatically apply to that partner. Ask who delivers in your city, and how they are chosen. Here is how destination agents work.
They do not tell you the quote is complete. An audited firm can still exclude things you assumed were included. Read what is often left out of a removal quote.
They do not guarantee nothing will go wrong. Moves are complex and things can go wrong on any of them. What accreditations give you is a company that has been checked, and somewhere to turn if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FIDI FAIM better than BAR?
They do different jobs. BAR is a UK trade association with a Code of Practice and consumer protections, while FIDI FAIM is an independently audited global standard for international movers. For an international move, it makes sense to look for both.
Should I use a removal company that is not BAR registered?
Not every good company belongs to BAR, because membership is voluntary. But if a firm is not a member, you lose the Code of Practice, its dispute route and the Advanced Payment Guarantee unless it offers an equivalent. Ask what protects your money before you pay.
How do I know if a removal company is FIDI accredited?
Search the affiliate directory on fidi.org using the company’s name. A genuine FAIM company will appear there. If it does not, ask the company to explain.
Does accreditation mean my belongings are insured?
No. Accreditation is about how a company operates, and the Advanced Payment Guarantee protects money, not belongings. For damage or loss, you need moving liability cover. Ours is called MoveProtect, and your move manager can explain what it covers.
What does IAM accredited mean?
IAM is the International Association of Movers, a global trade association founded in 1962, with members in over 170 countries. Members commit to its Code of Ethics. It shows involvement in the international moving industry, though it is not the same kind of audit as FAIM.
Do destination partners have to be accredited too?
Not automatically. Accreditation held by a UK company does not carry over to a partner overseas. Ask how the firm selects its partners, and whether they hold their own credentials.
Related Topics
- How to choose an international removal company
- Who handles your move in the destination country?
- How to avoid removal company scams
- Our accreditations
Check us, too
Everything on this page applies to us as well. Look us up in the directories, ask your move manager how your money is protected and who will deliver at the other end, then decide.
