Paying the Balance on Moving Day: What to Expect
If you booked your removal with a deposit, there is one more payment to make on moving day. It is the part many people think about least and then worry about most, usually somewhere between the first box and the last. This guide explains how the balance works, what you can pay with, when it is due, and what a trustworthy crew should and should not do.
What is due, and when
When you book with Medway and Kent Removals using the 10% deposit, the remaining 90% of your fixed price is due on the move date. It is paid to the crew. If you chose to pay in full when you booked, there is nothing to pay on the day, and your confirmation email will say that your balance is zero.
Your confirmation email is the document to rely on. It shows the price, what you have paid, and what is left to pay on the day. Read it a few days before the move, so that you know the figure in advance and there are no surprises.
How you can pay
We accept the usual payment methods for the balance.
- Card: all major credit and debit cards are accepted.
- Bank transfer: you can send the balance by transfer. It helps to do this as early on the day as you can, and to show the crew your banking confirmation.
- Cash: accepted, and you should get a receipt or written confirmation when you hand it over.
- Cryptocurrency: also accepted, which is helpful for people who prefer it. Ask us beforehand so that we can arrange it properly.
The price is fixed and there is no VAT to add, so the amount shown on your confirmation is the amount due.
When during the day do you pay?
The practical answer is when the job is done, or close to it. Many customers settle the balance once everything has been unloaded and placed in the right rooms and they have had a chance to look around. Others prefer to pay in the morning, to tick it off and enjoy the rest of the day. Either is fine, and the crew will tell you what suits the job. What matters is that you know in advance how you will pay, so that you are not trying to find a cash machine or an online banking app in the middle of unloading.
Prepare the day before
A few small steps remove nearly all payment stress on the day.
- Check the amount. Open your confirmation email and note the balance.
- Choose your method. Decide between card, transfer or cash, and make sure it is ready.
- Check your limits. Some banks cap card payments or transfers, so check that your daily limit is high enough for the balance.
- Charge your phone. If you will use online banking, you will need power and a signal.
- Have the paperwork. Keep your confirmation email handy in case you need to refer to it.
What if you do not have the money yet?
This often happens when a sale completes on the same day and the proceeds arrive in the afternoon. If that is your situation, tell us in advance. We will not be able to leave the job unpaid indefinitely, but we can talk through the timing so that the balance is settled once your funds have cleared. The worst approach is to say nothing and hope for the best. A short call a few days before the move is far better than an awkward conversation on the driveway.
If you would rather not wait for sale proceeds, paying in full when you book is another option. It needs the money earlier, but it removes the question from moving day.
What a trustworthy crew does
It helps to know what good practice looks like, so that you can recognise it, and so that you can spot anything that is not right.
- The amount asked for matches your written confirmation.
- You are offered a receipt or written confirmation for the payment.
- Nobody pressures you to pay more, or to pay in cash only.
- Any extras are agreed with you before the work is done, not added afterwards.
- The crew are polite about waiting while you check your belongings.
Warning signs on the day
Most moves go smoothly, but there are patterns worth knowing from rogue operators, and they are described in our guide to the signs of a rogue trader.
- A new, higher price is announced once your belongings are on the van.
- You are told it is cash only, with no receipt, when your booking said otherwise.
- Your goods are held until you pay extra charges you did not agree to.
- The crew you were promised are replaced without explanation by people with no connection to the company.
If anything like this happens, stay calm, ask for the price in writing, and call the company office. Do not hand over extra money you have not agreed to. If the company is one you booked by card, you also have the option of raising a dispute with your card provider.
Checking the job before you pay
You are entitled to look around before you settle the balance. Walk through the rooms, check that your furniture has been placed where you asked and is undamaged, and check that nothing has been left on the van. If something is wrong, tell the crew leader straight away, so that it can be put right on the day or recorded properly. Our goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance are there for the rare occasions when something does go wrong, and prompt reporting makes any claim simpler.
After you pay
Once the balance is settled, ask for confirmation that the job is paid in full, and keep it with your original booking email. If you paid by bank transfer, keep the transfer confirmation. If you paid by card, hold on to the receipt. Those few documents will answer any question about what was paid and when.
If you paid in full or used Klarna
If you paid the full price when you booked, either by card or with Klarna, you have nothing to pay on the day. The crew simply do the job. You may like to read our guide to paying for a removal with Klarna, which explains how the instalments work, and why the refund route is slightly different if you cancel.
If you are moving someone else
Many moves are arranged by one person for another: an adult child helping a parent, a letting agent, a landlord, or an employer relocating staff. In those cases it is worth agreeing in advance who will be at the property, who will pay the balance, and how. If the person present is not the person paying, either arrange for the balance to be paid beforehand, or make sure the payer can be reached by phone on the day. Paying in full when you book avoids the problem completely, and gives whoever is covering the cost a single receipt.
Prefer to spread the cost? Pay with Klarna instead
If a large balance on moving day does not suit your month, there is a flexible alternative. When you book online you can pay for your whole move through Klarna and spread the cost into instalments, so that nothing is left to pay the crew on the day. Klarna is shown at checkout when it is available for your price, which for the instant quote tool means smaller moves within the limit Klarna sets.
It is worth being clear about what it is. Klarna provides the payment plan, subject to its approval and terms, and you must be 18 or over. The instalments shown at checkout are Klarna's, and Klarna explains what happens if a payment is missed. Only choose it if you are comfortable with the schedule. If you are, it turns a single large balance into smaller payments, and moving day becomes simpler because there is no payment to make. Our guide to paying for a removal with Klarna explains the checkout step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the balance?
It is 90% of your fixed price if you paid the 10% deposit. The exact figure is on your confirmation email.
Can I pay the balance before moving day?
Yes. Call us and we will arrange it, and then you have nothing to do on the day.
Do you take card on the day?
Yes, all major credit and debit cards. You can also pay by bank transfer or cash.
Will I get a receipt?
Yes. Ask the crew for one, and keep it with your confirmation email.
Is VAT added to the balance?
No. VAT is not applicable, so the price you were quoted is the price you pay.
Ready to book?
You can get a fixed price and book online in a few minutes with our instant quote and pay tool, or ask for a free quote if you would rather talk it through first. Our removals FAQ answers the most common questions about booking and paying, and our guide to removal costs in Kent explains how prices are put together. For anything else, call 01634 971005.