Cargo Freight in Qatar please help and advice.
Hi
I was working in Qatar but now moving back to the UK. I want to take with me a lot of my belongings that I have here in Qatar. I want it done through Freight/Cargo ship or by air.
Does anyone know of any good, reliable and reasonably priced companies here in Qatar who can do this for me?
Your help is much appreciated.
There have been several reports at QL from people who have faced considerable problems with cargo agents in Qatar when they shipped their items home. From their posts it appeared such agents use the benefit of the person's exit from Qatar as they are unable to do much from their own countries when these agents go about playing their games, cheating them and making them lose their money. Just couple of weeks back a person posted his bitter experiences using one such cargo agent in shipping his items back home.
While I am not aware of any good, reliable agent which I could recommend, the following tips may be useful for you to keep in mind while dealing with cargo agents:
*If you have a full container load (FCL) of items, it would be better for you. However, if you don't, then the cargo agent needs to wait for some other customer/s shipping items to your country as he needs to fill his container. This may take a bit of time. If you are unwilling to wait, you will need to bear the cost of shipment of the full container.
*If you book a full container, make sure you collect the Original copy of the Bill of Lading (also known as the Negotiable Copy) from the cargo agent before you leave Qatar. Do not leave with just the Non-negotiable copies of the Bill of Lading.
*Try to see the shipment has been dispatched before you exit Qatar.
*Have your shipment insured here.
* Get hold of all payment receipts made to the cargo agent before you exit.
*Do not accept verbal promises made with a smiling face by the cargo agents.
Trust this helps.