The contract from Hell with Expediant Van Line - May now be operating under Beckins Moving - This Moving Company should not be allowed to reopen under a new name: Pick up date 07 Delivery date 5
I purchased a home in May in Georgia and moved from NY to GA in 2007. After the purchase of my home, I could not move right away, but I knew I had to return my apartment within a month or two the latest. So, I conducted a search on line for moving companies, and out of 4 recommended movers, and after talking to all and comparing their estimated prices, I decided to go with Expediant Van Lines because they quoted me the least and the sale rep. Anthony was so courteous on the phone. OH MY LORD! THE BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER!
On June 18, I contracted with Expediant Moving via a phone inventory which was estimated at $1,500 of which $200 down payment was due immediately. I paid the $200 deposit from my debit card by phone the secure July 1 as my pick up date. On July 1, the moving company was a no show, I contacted them more than 5 times, and was lied to and giving the run around, and finally told that they would be there first thing on July 2. I took a day off from work in vein. On July 2, they showed up after 2:00 P.M., so I lost two days of work as a result. Upon their arrival, they did a walk through of my apartment and told me that they will have to charge me more because I have more boxes than quoted for. Mind you my entire apartment was already packed with boxes purchased from Sam's, and they hardly had anything much to do. A few items were left to be packed and they used 6 wardrobe boxes and a few picture frame/mirror boxes for these items. After being told this, I advised that I told Anthony, the sales rep., from my initial point of contact that I would have 40 -60 boxes, but they claim he wrote down 45 boxes only, so they brought up the cost from $1,500 to $3,400, they more than double the price for 17 more boxes. Once picked-up, I had to give them half of the amount, will I told them I only had $800 because that is what my original half of the cost would have been. They argued with me, and finally decided to take the $800 and do the job, which left me with a balance of $2,600 less $200 deposit $2,400. The following day, I contacted the office to speak with Anthony regarding the over estimated amount charged to me at the point of pick up with no one to help me that day from their offices, he got so rude and hang up the phone on me. Such a huge change from the day they wanted my money. At that point, I realize it was a big mistake.
Later that month my toddler, who is an extremely fragile child, health wise, got very sick, and was finally admitted to the hospital in White Plains, NY, in August. At that point, I advised the moving company that my belongings would just have to stay in storage until I was ready to get them. I was advise by the moving company that the storage amount would be $175 per month with the first month free of charge, which I accepted. I decided to move to GA in September instead of December. But, again, my son got sick and it cost me quite a bit of money to care for him without insurance.in mid-October I received a phone call from Sam, and later an email on October 16, advising me that my balance through November would be $5,800 not counting the $200 deposit ($3,225 for storage plus $2,600), which means that they charged me $200 per month for twelve months plus my moving balance. They refuse to allow me to pay off the storage fee to remove my belongings, and said that it was in the contract. I further advised that they over charged me for the storage just for a one bedroom set apartment (no dresser or chess, only bed with two night stands from Ethan Allen), including my son's crib set with changing table and chess, with no dinning room, and only a living room (a love sit and a chair with auto man, two side table and coffee table from Ethan Allen) a marble top side table and 62 boxes. I had no control over this situation.
In November I deposited $1,000 in Expediant Van Lines' Bank of America account, which brought my balance from $5,800 to $4,800 (not counting $200 deposit).in February I get a phone call that they need more money, I told them I lost my job, and they had to wait until I got my tax return at which point I would have them deliver my items. At that point my balance went back up again to $5,600 as of March. After being yelled at, hung up on, and treated so badly by almost every point of contact, Idan, Sam, Anthony and especially Charles Blanchard, in March of I was told by Sam If I pay them in full, they would settle for $4,000, so I agreed to try to get a loan or borrow the money and asked for an extra month. On April 20, I received a phone message from Idan, that Expediant Van Lines is going out of business, and if they do not hear from me in 10 days that in 21 days they will auction my items.
I came up with $4,000 on April 30, and called them to advise of the same. At which point I was told that my balance was $6,925. I told them that was incorrect because I paid them $800 on pick up plus $200 deposit, plus $1,000 in November of and they recalculated, and noticed that they had not reversed the $1,000 payment nor were they counting my $200 deposit. So, they claimed my balance was $5,925 (not counting the $200 deposit), and Sam agreed to take $4,000 for full payment to deliver my items to me the following week.
He asked me to deposit the entire amount in a new Bank of America account in the care of Beckings Moving, where Expediant Van Lines is now operating out of. But, I expressed my concerns because they were going out of business and that the contract stated c.O. D upon delivery. So, I told him that I thought the money was due upon delivery, and he then told me NO, NOT IN MY CASE, so they breached their contract.in order to have received my belongings and have them delivered to me, I had to deposit $4,000 in Beckings Moving's Bank Of America account, and I did on April 30 for $4,000 in cash. I confirmed it with Sam, prior the deposit and after the deposit by email and it was agreed that all of my belongings would be delivered on May 7. On May 7, a third party delivered my items, and I only received 45 boxes, my mattress and box spring (terribly damaged/dirty and not boxed as originally stated on the contract - worth $5,000), received part of my toddler's bed ($1,300 worth), missing also were my foot board, bed railings, head board, and cannot put up my bed ($2,500 worth), my son's chest is missing ($80 worth), my laptop was in my boxes ($2,500 worth), most of my work suites (worth more than $2,500), my son's belongings, my expensive bags (4 coach, 4 prima classe, 1 prada, 2 Duney & Burke all with wallets) (worth more than $4,000), all of my academic books from undergrad and graduate schools (worth more than $3,000), one of my night stands (worth $780 - from Ethan Allen) one marble top round side table (worth $400). And, so many other things that were in these 17 boxes (including 3 wardrobe boxes and two extra large bins full of academic books). Not only were these items missing or lost, but my living room was damaged, my expensive dishes (7 of the salad plates broke because the box was all torn up - even though it read all over Extremely Fragile, Handle with care).
On May 7, while the drivers were still here, I contacted Sam, and advised him of my missing items. He asked me to email him. I emailed Sam on May 8 and spoke to him on May 11, he was suppose to have the company conduct a search for my items, and file a claim with their insurance company and then call me back. He never did. So, I called him again on 15 for a status, he advised that they could not find my items, and that he filed a claim and would let me know what the outcome was. I thought that was weird, since he did not know what the value of my 17 boxes were, what was the content, and did not ask me what my furniture were worth. I had not heard back from Sam since May 15, and he did not return any of my calls or left messages for him at Beckins Moving, where they are now operating. Their toll free number is now forwarded to a cell phone number, which is always full and cannot receive messages. I left Sam more than 5 messages at Beckins, and called his cell phone every day with no answer. When I finally reached him on his cell phone on Monday, June 1, he claimed there was a bad connection and he would call me back in 10 minutes, but never did.
I finally got a hold of Sam today, at Beckins Moving, after holding for more than 5 minutes. Sam advised that he is leaving the company (Expediant Van Lines who is going out of Business) in 2 weeks and will do his best to try to resolve my issue before then. But what happens if not resolved who will my point of contact be after then, I asked? He brushed me off, and repeated that he will try to resolve my issue before he leaves the company. He claimed they filed a claim with their insurance company Shield Insurance operated by Van Liner. But, I am unsure because he refuses to give me any information regarding the claim. I have been getting the run around, no return calls, no response to my emails. This move was suppose to cost me $1,500, and ended up costing me $6,000, and I lost a lot of my belongings; I cannot even put up my bed or my son's bed. That is just not fair or right. This is an injustice. I took matters into my own hands, and filed a complaint with BBB of NY against them, and saw this Ripoff complaint, which led me to their insurance company, who no longer insures them. I called Van Liner and I am drafting a claim with them. Pat from Van Liner was not very nice to me, but did not have a choice but to give me the information I need to file the claim. So, thank you for this information, it has helped me thus far.
If anybody has any other information about Expediant Van Lines or other insurance companies that they are insured by, please advise. My loss and damages are over $15,000. Thank you.
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