Man.U Services

Here is my and our story:

José Manuel Umaña O (called Manuel, for those closest and trusted people: “Manu” (first name and abbreviated family name)), Colombian and Swiss national since 2012. From a farming background, his father was a coffee grower.

Born and raised in Colombia, I was fed up with the corruption, the violence and the insecurity that reigned and still reigns in my country. I left Colombia with my family in 1999, leaving my entire privileged life behind: owner of a beautiful house, a farm and a business (a clothing shop). I was an active member of the Lions Club International, an honorary firefighter and a member of the parents’ association of the school where my children were enrolled.

After rather complicated experiences and adventures in Europe, first in Spain and then in Switzerland, my divorce from my Colombian wife was added to the mix. For five years I found myself alone as an undocumented person in those two countries and I started all over from scratch. I did not want to have the status of an asylum seeker and become a burden to Switzerland. I met my future and current wife in 2005 and we married in 2006. Our first daughter was born the same year and the second in 2009.

In 2006, once my situation was regularized, I found a job and took on the role of head custodian at the Montessori International School in Neuchâtel. Almost at the same time I launched, together with my wife, my own moving and cleaning company: “Man.U Services”. Manuel Umaña, Colombian, and Susanne Desteffani, Swiss German, a trustworthy combination.

Man.U Services was probably the first small company of this kind to offer its customers on-site payment by credit card. Registration with the commercial register was done immediately and in 2012 the company name changed to “Man.U Services Sàrl”. We obtained our transport license in 2015.

With the help of my wife Susanne, who takes care of the office and accounting, we have already served hundreds of clients, handling their moves, the cleaning of their apartments or houses, medical practices, etc., with professionalism and always great care. Clients have been almost without exception very satisfied and recommend us to their circles.

Recently we have been offering rental of utility vehicles. These are very clean vehicles and always checked after each rental. The interior is fully arranged and equipped with the necessary accessories to carry out small moves without worry.

Since 2018 Man.U Services Sàrl has also become the first moving company to offer its services exclusively online (without a prior visit to the client to prepare a quote). This became even more important since 2020 due to the health situation, in order to avoid any unnecessary contact and to protect the health of our clients and ours.