BAR Member vs Non-BAR Removals Companies

Whether a firm is a member of the British Association of Removers is one of the clearest indicators of its commitment to professional standards. This page explains what BAR membership covers, how a BAR member compares with an unaccredited firm, and how to check a company's status before you book.

We are Stranks Removals & Storage, a fourth-generation family firm trading in Ashford, Kent since 1941, and a full BAR member. This guide is written to be useful whoever you end up booking with.

What Is the British Association of Removers?

The British Association of Removers (BAR) is the UK’s principal trade body for the removals industry. Founded in 1900, it sets minimum standards for member companies across staff training, vehicle condition, complaints handling, and financial protection for customers.

BAR membership is not automatic. Companies must apply, pass an inspection, and agree to operate within the BAR Code of Practice, which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). Members are subject to ongoing monitoring rather than a one-off check.

BAR Member vs Non-BAR Removals Companies: The Key Differences

The table below sets out the main practical differences. These apply in general across the industry; individual companies vary, so treat it as a guide to what to ask about rather than a verdict on any single firm.

Area	BAR Member	Company Without BAR Membership
Code of Practice	CTSI-approved BAR Code of Practice	No mandatory code
Pre-move survey	Expected as standard for most moves	At the company’s discretion
Staff training	BAR-aligned training expected	No minimum requirement
Complaints process	Access to BAR Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)	No independent route
Advance payment protection	BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee available	No equivalent scheme
Insurance	Public liability and goods-in-transit required	Varies widely
Ongoing oversight	Members subject to monitoring	No oversight body

This table reflects BAR’s published membership requirements as of 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. If you have a specific dispute or claim, seek independent guidance.

What the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee Covers

One of the most practically useful aspects of booking with a BAR member is the Advanced Payment Guarantee. If a BAR member company that participates in the scheme ceases to trade after you have paid a deposit or the full amount, the Guarantee provides a route to recover those funds.

This does not apply to non-BAR companies. If a non-member firm takes payment and then closes, you have no trade-body protection and would need to pursue a claim through your bank, card provider, or the courts. For anyone booking a move weeks or months ahead, that difference is worth weighing. It is a separate opt-in within BAR membership, so it is worth confirming a company participates in it specifically, not just that it is a BAR member. We participate in the scheme.

What BAR Membership Does Not Guarantee

We think an honest comparison has to say this plainly: BAR membership is a meaningful quality signal, but it is not a promise that every job goes perfectly.

It does not resolve every dispute automatically.
Not every BAR member operates identically within the code’s parameters.
Membership alone does not tell you about a company’s local knowledge, fleet capacity, or specialist experience.

Used as one indicator alongside reviews, years of trading, and a direct conversation with the firm, BAR membership gives a fuller picture than any single factor on its own. On Referenceline we hold a 9.7 rating from 380 reviews with 98% of customers recommending us, and we would encourage you to look at that kind of independent feedback for any company you are considering, ours included.

Additional Accreditations to Look For

Some companies hold accreditations that go beyond BAR membership. One is BS EN 12522, the British Standard written specifically for furniture removal services for private individuals. It covers processes, vehicle condition, staff training, and storage in more detail than BAR membership alone, and it is held by relatively few independent removers. We are certified to it.

Checkatrade certification and Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman membership are further signals that a company has agreed to independent oversight of its service and complaints handling. We hold both. When comparing companies, it is fair to ask directly: which accreditations do you hold, and can you show evidence of them?

How to Check Whether a Company Is a BAR Member

The BAR website maintains a public member search at bar.co.uk, which you can search by company name or postcode. If a company claims BAR membership but does not appear, contact BAR directly to confirm before booking.

Look also for the BAR logo on the company’s own website, and ask specifically whether they participate in the Advanced Payment Guarantee, since that is a separate opt-in within membership. For moves abroad, check whether the firm holds BAR International membership rather than domestic membership alone.

How Stranks Fits In

Stranks Removals & Storage, based in Ashford, Kent, holds full British Association of Removers membership and participates in the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee. We are also certified to BS EN 12522, are Checkatrade certified, and are a member of the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman scheme.

The business has traded as a family removals firm since 1941, across four generations of the Strank family. We operate from a 13,000 sq ft owned warehouse in Ashford with up to 250 storage containers, a fleet of 4 trucks and 5 vans, and a team of 17. You can read more about the family and the firm’s history on our About Us page.

Serving Kent and the South East

We are based in Ashford and cover moves across Kent and the wider South East, including Folkestone, Canterbury, Maidstone, Hythe, Tenterden and Dover.

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Proud to be one of the most highly recommended removals companies in the UK

Julie Rhodes

The team were very professional, friendly and respectful. Carefully packed our items for storage. We made a good choice with Stranks!

Sarah Trigg

This is the third time over the years that we have used Stranks. David quoted, advised and liaised with us from the start to guide us through the process. This move itself was annoyingly prolonged due to a long key wait. We got the keys and access at 4pm in the end. At every stage of the move, Shane, Dan, Armond, John and then the other two (Joe? and another colleague) were professional, friendly and extremely hard working. They even kept their efforts up when they found that we had only gone and bought a town house! The boxes destined for 'bed 1' were like the hot potatoes that no-one wanted to end up with! Still, everything got moved to the right rooms without an issue. We wanted to review and pass on our thanks to those that made a long moving experience, so much more bearable. We would totally recommend Stranks to anyone in need of removal services.

Anthony Guard

Absolutely brilliant removal service from Stranks .Dan T ,Dan D and Armand were fabulous from beginning to end .Would highly recommend using this company for your home removals.

Emma Witcher

I always use Stranks Removals when I move - they are so professional This time I had Dan D & Phil moving me from a 2nd floor apartment (no lift) to a bungalow The guys were extremely helpful and professional I would highly recommend this company They also have storage facilities

D Stonehouse

Outstanding service from start to finish. From accommodating a very difficult long process to the team on the day, I couldn’t fault a thing. The moving guys made the day go like clockwork. Would not hesitate to recommend Stranks

Esther Denny

I’d give 10 stars to the team that helped us relocate from Kent to Cornwall. They were competent, capable, professional, accommodating, friendly and very easy to work with. I hope not to have to make such a move again but I wouldn’t hesitate in using Stranks and highly recommend their services. They helped make our move a stress free experience and worth every penny we spent and more.

rossoandy

Long established family business, they listen to what you need and if at all possible oblige. Sensible rates and knowledgeable caring workers. Happy to advise on the best way to get your needs sorted even recommending local man and van companies if the job is really too small for them.

Hayley Pearce

Stranks Removals, friendly, helpful and literally go the extra mile to help, highly recommend

Sydney Colegate

Extremely helpful and reassuring right from the very start. The removal peeps were very polite and didn't leave until we was totally happy that everything was where we wanted it to be. Amazing service.

More Happy Customers

Independently verified professional removals

Is a BAR member removals company always more expensive?

Not necessarily. BAR membership reflects standards, not a fixed pricing bracket. Some BAR members are competitively priced, and some non-members charge high rates with no corresponding accountability. Price and accreditation are separate considerations, so it is worth getting quotes from both and comparing exactly what each includes.

What happens if I have a complaint against a BAR member?

BAR members must follow the BAR Code of Practice, which includes a defined complaints handling procedure. If a complaint cannot be resolved directly with the company, customers can escalate to BAR's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service, an independent process that does not require going to court. Non-BAR companies have no equivalent independent route.

What is BS EN 12522 and why does it matter?

BS EN 12522 is a British Standard written specifically for furniture removal services for private individuals. It is less commonly held than BAR membership and covers operational processes, vehicle standards, staff training, and storage in more depth. A company certified to it has been audited against a detailed technical standard, not just a trade-body code. If you are comparing two BAR members, BS EN 12522 certification is a meaningful differentiator.

Can I trust a non-BAR company?

Some non-BAR companies operate professionally and carry appropriate insurance, and the absence of BAR membership does not automatically mean poor service. However, it does mean there is no independent code of practice, no Advanced Payment Guarantee, and no trade-body ADR route if something goes wrong, so more of the risk sits with you as the customer. For a significant move, the added assurance of BAR membership is worth factoring in alongside reviews and a direct conversation with the firm.

Does BAR membership cover international and European moves?

BAR has a separate division, BAR International, covering overseas and European relocations. If you are planning a move abroad, check specifically whether the company holds BAR International membership rather than domestic BAR membership alone.