I was contacted by Nationwide Relocation when I was looking, online, for someone to move me from Ohio to Oregon. I received a follow up call from Chris Michalski, who asked me what I had to move and gave me a quote for the moving expenses. I was hired by a school district who planned to pay for the move, so Mr. Michalski dealt with both me and the school district. A delivery date for my furniture was set between 7/14/08 to 7/27. The job was farmed out to Olympic Moving Co.
On 7/15, a man came to my door telling me he couldn't get a semi to my apartment and would have to charge me $300.00 so he could rent a U-Haul to get my furniture from my house to the 18 wheeler. I called Chris, and he told me I needed to pay $288.00. I told the driver I thought he could get an 18 wheeler to my apt., and he said, "Then you do it!" They left to get a U-Haul, and came back approximately 3 hours later saying they had trouble finding a truck. One of the movers took a crystal sugar bowl, dropped the lid on the floor, and threw them both in a box. I couldn't watch, anymore. I also had a contract with them to move my car. I left the car at my friend's house in Ohio and arranged with the Nationwide to pick up my car at her house. The load dates were between 7/16 and 7/18.
Today is 7/29, and my car is still sitting in front of her house. The told me to leave it unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Well, I'm not THAT stupid, so the car is locked and my friend has the keys.
I, along with the school district have made several attempts to talk to these people, both at Nationwide and at Olympic Moving Co. Sometimes it is successful, and sometimes no one will get back with us. I was called early Sunday morning and was given a quote of double what I first owed, then told that my furniture was "en route", and that it would arrive sometime between "Sunday and Wednesday".
Yesterday, both myself and the school district were called regarding the money and were told to have it in a postal money order or cash when the driver arrived. She strongly eluded to the fact that I would get my furniture "tomorrow", which would have been, today (Tuesday, July 29th). Somehow, the secretary at the school district was able to get the name and number of the driver. I called him to see if I could get some idea of what time he would arrive, and he said, "Where you at?" I told him "Oregon". He said, "Oregon! I'm still in Chicago. I have to go to Idaho and then Utah before I get your way. I won't get there for 2 or 3 more days".
Meanwhile, after 26 days of signing the contract, and 14 days after the promised load date, my car is still sitting in Ohio, and my furniture is still in Chicago (where it went after it left my apartment).
I am in my 60s and living in an empty apartment, sleeping on the floor, with absolutely nothing, and have been, now, for 2 weeks. My rental car has to be returned tomorrow, so I'll have no way to get around. I asked them if they didn't think they owed me the price of a rental car until they could get mine to me, but they said, "Oh, we can't do that".
It has cost me just about all the money I had just to eat out everyday and pay for a rental car other necessities.
I'm wondering if I have any rights, here, and just what they are. I don't feel I should have to pay them anything for either my furniture or my car, assuming I ever get them. I have also read some horror stories about how people have received damaged/destroyed property when the did get their furniture. This is an extremely stressful situation, and the point in hiring a professional moving company was so things wouldn't be stressful.
Calling them is futile, because they refuse to return my calls. I'm just sitting here in Limbo with no idea what is going on. I've been lied to and told so many different stories, that it's impossible to believe anything they say.
Can't something be done about this? I have already contacted the BBB, but they say it takes approximately 30 days to act on a complaint.
Any suggestions? The only one I have is Please, don't ever use this company. Word of mouth can make or break a business. I urge all of you to use your mouths to break this business. I intend to do everything I can.
Angel
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