This is the account of my shipping experience with A-1 Auto Transport.
We were shipping a brand new Toyota Camry from Las Angeles, California to Atlanta, Georgia. We chose A-1 because of a recommendation from a friend.
Booking the reservation went smoothly and we were told if we didn't pay in full, the price of shipping would only go up, so we did. We booked 4 months in advance and we received a call after 2 months. They said they would need to charge us more money because of rising fuel prices. First off, our move wasn't for another 2 months, and secondly, what business asks for more money after basically requiring us to pay in full so far in advance. Obviously we refused, and they dropped the matter.
We called a week before our pick-up day to confirm. They said someone would call 24hrs in advance. NO CALL, we called A-1 and they offered no reason why no one called, just that someone would call and schedule pick-up for the day aftert our scheduled day, eventually that happened. They picked up the car, and we filled out a bill of lading noting all damage (a few minor scratches) pre-existing on the car.
On the positive side, the car arrive in Atlanta in about a week and a half, which was faster than expected. However, that is the only positive in this story, it only get worse.
We were able to track the car online, and noticed it had reached Atlanta, but A-1 never called, so we called A-1. They said it had arrived but there was "damage". A-1 wouldn't elaborate except to say that its a "scrape" to the trunk.
The car was delivered to a small run down used car lot in a BAD neigborhood. The people who owned the lot were nice, but it seemed weird that A-1 would chose such a shady place like that to drop a car off. We called the used car lot to confirm the damage. They stated that it "wasn't pretty" and was easily over $1000. (its actually over $3000)
Seeing the car was very traumatic, the damage was extensive and rendered the car not legally driveable. This was a brand new 2005 Camry, which isn't the nicest car, but to see it go from pretty much brand new to its current state was very upsetting.
Here is the extent of the damage: Both tail lights were smashed and broken, the entire trunk was smashed in along the license plate, the bumper was chipped and cracked, the rear fenders were bent around the tail lights. It basically looked like someone had rammed a horizontal metal bar at the same hight as the license plate into the rear section of the car. The rear end looked like it had been in a trash compactor, not like it had been in a rear end collision.
To top it all off, the bill of lading at the destination was not the same as the one we signed in California. This one was labelled "duplicate" and noted NO DAMAGE, not even the minor scratches the car had. This is pure deceit and fraud.
A-1 has been nothing but evasive. Offering no details of the incident and, while not denying that it happend, they aren't admitting to it either. They show no remorse and act like they don't care and aren't liable.
We contacted our insurace company and they have been very helpful. They said a lot of transport companies are this way, and they know how to deal with them.
This is one of those times we are VERY THANKFUL we have a good insurance company. Dealing with claims through A-1 would be almost impossible. They require 2 repair quotes, pictures, and a written complaint, all in 7 days of delivery.
I'm sure this is the reason A-1 didn't call us to tell us the car had been delivered, they wanted us to be outside of this period. Our car needs to be towed, so getting 2 quotes in time would be very difficult as well as expensive, and based on their very slanted contract, getting our money back would probably take years. Our insurance company recommended we still submit a written claim with pictures.
I am a realist, and I know these things happen. But it has been nothing but un-professionalism, rudeness, and a lack of sympathy from this company. Although our insurance will take care of the car, nothing can repair the headache and heartache A-1 has caused us. If you value you time, money, and your car, DO NOT USE A-1 AUTO TRANSPORT.
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