My moving experience began in when i receieved a quote via the internet from aaa movers out of florida. I would learn this was only a broker. I was quoted $500. I was required to pay for the deposit. I paid with my credit card for 1/2 of the total, my "deposit". The other half would be due upon the arrival of my goods.
On 07/15/05, the movers called the day expected and told me they were having car trouble but they would be there within a couple of hours. I waited around my house called every hour to get an update... Over 12 hours later they show up at my house after 2am. They packed everything they could get their hands on - even my kitchen trash and contents of fridge and groceries. Please note, my apt was only 500sf and i had sold everything but 1 tv, 2 child night stands, a full size bed, a coffee table, clothes, a bike and misc belongings. Around 5 am.
When they were through, "oren" threw paperwork at me. I had originally signed a contract with "aaa movers" the contract he made me sign was with "professional movers" 1470 boggers road #205, duluth ga 30097.in addition, some of the paperwork said bekins van lines - all of this should have been a red flag, but oblivious, i signed assuming the balance was as promised. At the end of the stack of papers i see the balance is now over $2600, with a minimum due over $1000. I told them that i had paid $500 and about the other half was paid upon delivery. He laughed at the quote and told me the minimum would be $2500. The contract he had me sign said minimum of 1082 and a maximum to be paid upon delivery of 2650. Note "due upon delivery". I offered to pay the remaining $500, as i assumed the $500 i had paid earlier had been applied. However, he said there never was a $500 payment and he did not even work for the company i had given the payment information to he was a hired moved, hired by a broker. I tried to explain to him at 5 am in charlotte, nc - if you do not carry $1000 around with you there is no where to get it, and that the maximum i could get out of an atm was $500. He got more and more angry the more i told him i had already paid $500 and i would pay him $500. He screamed at me and demaneded payment of $1000 then $2500 what happened to the "due upon receipt of goods"??
I demanded they remove my belongings from the truck. They ran out of my house and sped off - with everything i own except my clothes for the next 2 weeks. "oren" in his haste had left behind the "addendum" it stated i actually owed a "prior cost" of $1082 and a new cost of $2732. It was a carbon copy - and i knew i had not signed this! There was a $1050 charge for packing supplies! It said the request for change was made "prior to loading" and "while loading"??
I called the police, but they said since i had hired them as movers there was nothing that could be done and to call the dept of transportation. The dept of transportation told me since the move was ordered in florida, originated in north carolina and ended in florida, there was no state responsible and there was nothing they could do.
I called the mover "oren" at 770-630-4313 and he said that the minimum was still $2500, and this was due before delivery of goods. If any other costs had accrued by the time payment was received, the balance had to be paid in full before goods would be delivered. I reminded him of the contract and he told me i did not know what i was talking about and it did not matter because he had my things so i had to pay him. I pleaded with them man to follow the contract or at least deliver my things at the promised 50% balance as i did not know if this man even had my things. He said would store the items for "free" for a month (this "benefit" was already in the original offer, so he was not doing me any favors). However, he reminded the balance had to be paid in full before delivery. I told him i did not have $2500 - he told me he would "work with me" and to send 2 separate checks mailed to 6555 sugarloaf parkway, suite 307, duluth ga 30097: $220 each to aaa storage systems and the other $265 to professional movers. I recently discovered address of aaa storage and systems of 6555 sugarloaf parkway, suite 307, duluth ga 30097 is actually a po box at mail boxes etc!
Even though i knew it was 100% gauranteed i would never see my things again - i sent the payments with a certified check from bank of america via bill pay. Since these are not "checks" i had no idea whether they had been cashed or even received. He swore he only received one out of 10 sent. Everytime i called for my balance it was $500-$1000 more. Occasionallly, i would give up and not send payments. However, everytime eventually the stab of personal belongings, photos, family heirlooms would ache at me and i would send another payment. This went on for 2 years. When asked to send a statement after 1 year, he stated i had paid only $2500 and my new balance was $4500. I argued this and he said he would "knock off a few months of storage to even it out". This statement was mail ed from pro move at 8009 wood iron drive, duluth ga 30097.
After another year i asked again for a statement - it still only showed $2500 paid and my new balance was $5500. This statement came from aaa storage systems, 6555 sugarloaf parkway, suite 307, duluth, ga 30097. This only reaffirmed the fact that ihad been scammed the invoice also showed the monthly payments paid to professional movers, but it showed them paid to aaa storage. I demanded proof that he had my things, he said that the storage sapce was full and he had no idea what was mine and that this was not possible and that he would not do it if it was possible, i owed him money and i would get my things when i paid him - but what was the total due? When asked to substantiate the unchanging balance paid and the every growing balance due, he told me the months i had not paid were added in addition to extra storage fees - as he said my belongings filled an entire 52' truck! My parents moved from a 3000sf filled home and filled a 52' truck - a far cry from a 500sf apt with next to no furniture.
This man actually calls me and asks me in 2008 asking if i wanted to begin repayment? Do not believe if you hear of the law that a mover must send you a certified notice before they auction/dispose of your things, i keep waiting, hoping i can pay whatever imaginary number floats his boat that day - but i know it will never come. I would love to get back what he stole from me, but i know that they were long gone before i made that first check out. When i began researching, obviously i was extremely ignorant to moving companies. I was overwhelmed at the number of complaints and stories similar to mine. This man is a scam artist.
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