SECOND-TIME NEGLIGENT DISSERVICE, DAMAGE AND THEFT FROM ELLIOT INTERNATIONAL MOVERS.

I first encountered Elliot International Movers (“Elliot”) approximately a decade ago when I moved to South Africa from Switzerland. I was imposed to their disservice by Packimpex, a Swiss International moving company I entrusted with my move. Parkimpex appointed Elliot as their local correspondent to conclude the move in South Africa on their behalf.

Elliot packers were extremely careless, smoked Drugs/Dagga in my premises, in their drunken state deliberately walked over my antique marble tops breaking them, broke my B&O Television, valuable antique pieces and stole my valuable items. Despite reporting this carelessness and thievery to Elliot’s management, they denied any wrongdoing, defended their staff and made excuses on their behalf, until I reported the injustice to the South African Police Service with irrefutable video footage.

Fast forward to 2025, when I was moving household items and a vehicle from Switzerland to South Africa, again. Avoiding Elliot’s abuse, I approached a different moving company, Atlas International Movers. This consignment was only ten percent of the previous one in size, containing a Ferrari vehicle, valuable antique pieces, expensive clothing and shoes.

Disheartened to receive an email from Elliot informing me that they are Atlas’ correspondent in South Africa and will be delivering my consignment; I immediately responded to Elliot relating the previous despicable disservice suffered in their hands. Elliot’s managing director responded and promised me that they will ensure a seamless professional service this time and asked me to trust her with my goods. I did not have a choice, I was at their mercy.

Notified that my consignment is arriving on 23 May 2025, I flew to South Africa to receive same. I submitted all the SARS Customs requirements, requisite ownership receipts etc. to encourage an efficient delivery. I was informed that my consignment is picked for assessment before release, a normal and welcome protocol. Despite conclusion of this SARS Customs check, Elliot withheld my consignment for approximately a month, deliberately delaying me from returning to work abroad until I had no choice but to leave.

A few days later I had to return to South Africa at a huge cost to release my consignment. I did not have the original inventory list with me when I landed since I just rushed straight to Elliot having to return to work the same day. I asked the Elliot driver for a copy, but he refused saying he does not have one. Cognisant of Elliot’s previous denials, I recorded the entire delivery. Furthermore, I started a new inventory list with their help, recording everything that was offloaded onto my premises. They were five gentlemen and I was alone. I requested that they read out every item that is placed in storage and I recorded same in front of their general manager who was just observing and monitoring the offloading.

1. I received and recorded 53 items delivered by Elliot and gave them a copy of the new inventory list recorded in their presence with numbers and descriptions informed by Elliot’s staff. 2. Whilst I did not have the original list and could not verify what was missing, my clothing and shoes were visibly absent, on asking the supervisor and general manager on site, they told me they know nothing about clothes. 3. The packers were extremely careless and I constantly requested them to handle my stuff with care. 4. When everything was offloaded I even checked the truck if maybe they forgot my clothing and shoes inside but there was nothing. 5. The supervisor then collected forms that came prepared and fully filled in, from his truck, and asked me to sign. The forms claimed that: 5.1 I am happy with their service. 5.2 They did not damage anything. 5.3 They left the premises clean. 6 Non of the claims on their forms were true. I told the supervisor and the general manager that: 6.1 I am NOT HAPPY AT ALL with their disservice. 6.2 I do not know what is damaged or not. 6.3 I reminded him how many times I begged them to handle my stuff carefully on the day as they were extremely careless. 6.4 I informed them that I will make time to assess my consignment and will request Ferrari to do a thorough assessment of my vehicle. 6.5 Lastly, I reiterated that I need the original list to compare what was received on the day against what was shipped from Switzerland. This is on record. 6.6 I refused to sign their papers but I initialled the papers to acknowledge their presence and wrote that I need to compare the inventory lists and that I will email my comments after all assessments are concluded. 6.7 I requested copies which I was deprived of. 6.8 Atlas assisted with the original inventory list which enabled me to compare what was received against what was shipped from Switzerland. 6.9 First realisation was that item numbers and descriptions where shifted around and do not reflect the original list. 6.10 Second realisation was that there are six items missing.

I have photographic proof that some of the missing items were indeed received by Elliot, which confirms that my stuff was ****** at Elliot’s depot. The Managing Director first said that they need time to investigate, but later sent Atlas to inform me that they are not available to address my query. A few days later, Elliot, copying Atlas on an electronic mail, informed all parties that when they opened the Container with the SARS Customs official present, “(1) my Ferrari was not strapped onto anything, it was just loose. Furthermore, Elliot claimed that (2) they opened one huge crate with a broken Chagall Mirror that was not secured or supported in any manner; lastly that (3) they only received 58 (fifty-eight) items instead of 59 (fifty-nine), with one item missing and unaccounted for, and that if I have any queries, they are not available but I should consult their legal Counsel”. This blatant abuse blew my mind.

Utterly dismayed that three decades after “Apartheid is abolished” in South Africa Black people are still subjected to the same abuse, I insisted that Elliot rectifies their negligence. Despite the Managing Director’s request to investigate and revert, Elliot now insists that they are not available to address my query. Since Elliot is refusing to address their negligence, importantly my missing items, my only available option is approaching the Law; as I hereby do. I request the SAPS to assist me with handling the theft of my goods. I am currently preparing legal papers for a civil lawsuit against Elliot in South Africa.