This morning, just after 9am I called the new number Express Baggage had given me regarding our baggage. I spoke to three people before speaking to the person who knew what was going on. She said that they had our boxes and they were waiting for collection. Phew!
We have now arranged to collect them on Monday, as by this time will have possession of our house so we can take them straight there.
A big sign of relief all round. We just hoe everything is in good condition when we collect. The amount of stress the baggage company caused us yesterday was totally unacceptable. Also, their couldn’t care less attitude really annoyed us.
After this we had to take our new Ontario driving licences to our insurance broker, so he could have copies on file. It was pouring of rain today, exactly as it had been on Monday when we saw him last. He and his secretary blamed us for bringing bad weather with us and asked us not to visit again! They thought it was really funny.
After this errand, we drove over to Prince Edward County to see our realtor who sold us the house. We parked our new truck outside and walked in and both of them went into minor hysterics at seeing us. There were hugs all round and lots of catching up. They really are lovely people and we hope to keep in touch with them both for a long time to come. They have invited us out for dinner once we are settled in our house. Obviously this sort of hospitality and friendship would happen with estate agents in the UK too…NOT!!!!!
After this we drove across the island to Picton where there is another furniture store, but we didn’t find anything we liked.
Next back to Quinte Mall and spend the next two hours in Sears. We sat on every sofa, laid on every bed and opened a lot of freezers!
We have now found a really nice and comfy mattress and a great sleigh bed (when in Canada) and have ordered them. They should be delivered in a week or so.
Now at least we will have something to sleep on once we leave the hotel in just over two weeks, just have to find everything else now!
So far, so good.
Yes, you’ve guessed it, I am stressed!
This morning we had received an email from our shippers, Excess Baggage (EB) to say our goods to follow had arrived and to contact Air Canada (AC) on a certain number to arrange collection. Great we thought.
I phoned the number given, but was informed it was “out of service”
Then I had to phone EB in the UK to ask for the correct number. I got a new number.
Phoned new number and told the man who answered that I wanted to arrange collection of my shipment. He asked for the waybill no which I gave him. He said, “You have already collected these boxes”, “No I haven’t” I replied.
He checked the number and it related to a shipment of 24 boxes weighing 889kg for a company based in Toronto and the boxes had been collected the previous day. Our shipment was 15 boxes weighing 440 kg!
He gave me a web address to input the waybill no into to show that it was incorrect – it was! I thanked the AC guy and said I would check with EB again.
So, another phone call to the UK and spoke to a guy at EB and explained the problem. He said that the waybill number was correct; I said it couldn’t be because when I called AC, they said and proved that it belonged to a completely different shipment. He said he would need to check with their shippers and would come back to me in a couple of minutes.
Twenty minutes later, no call, so phoned them once again. Spoke to a woman who said that the guy I had been speaking to was on the phone dealing with my query and would call me back soon.
Half an hour later, still no call, so phoned again. The guy I had been dealing with answered the phone and said he had been trying to phone me (yeah right). He said the waybill number was definitely correct.
At this point I was starting to loose my rag and hubby was going bananas. I explained again that something was wrong because when I called AC with that number they had it tracked to a completely different consignment. SO WHERE WAS MY BAGGAGE????
Again, he said that the number was correct and that was all he could do. Now I really did loose my temper and asked how I was supposed to collect baggage from Toronto with a number not belonging to my goods and with him obviously not giving a toss about the problem. I demanded to speak to his manager – was put on hold.
I was on hold for 10 minutes and eventually got another woman on the phone. I explained that I had been on and off the phone to various parties for the last 75 minutes and that I wasn’t prepared to wait any longer on the phone and that they should sort out the problem and leave a message on our hotel answer phone and back this up with an email. She said she would and I ended the call.
Now I was so stressed, I had a thumping headache and we still had loads of things to do.
We jumped into our new truck and went to a couple of furniture shops and looked at sofas etc. We then set off for Kingston as we had to pick up our cards and cheques from the bank and also register for health cards and SIN.
Went to HSBC bank and met woman who had our cheques waiting, however she did not have our temporary debit cards which we need in order to use the cheques! After some debate she said she would try and get them issued. More stress! Eventually we got the cards and was on our way. Our real ones will be sent to us once we have our house.
Then went over the road to the Service Canada place to get SIN numbers. Handed in our paperwork and ID etc and she completed the forms and said that our SIN cards would follow in 6-8 weeks. We explained that hubby was self employed and needed to be able to work. She said she would rush his through and that if we popped in on Thursday she would issue him number (the card would still take 6 weeks). Got receipts and left. No problems for once.
Next we went to the place to register for our health cards. Again we were seen pretty quickly handed in the paperwork and ID. Guy completed the forms, took our pictures and samples of signatures and gave us receipts. Another very easy process. The card will be delivered in about three months as in Ontario the health card does not click in until after three months.
After this we drove back to Belleville and had dinner, then returned to the hotel.
First thing we did was check the phone for messages – none! So out comes my laptop and hey presto an email from EB. It says that we need to call some woman in Toronto tomorrow. Will just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.
Sorry to waffle, but aagggghhhhhhh!
