This carrier, United Express Van Lines, has systematically taken advantage of me from the estimate, to a pernicious bait and switch tactic upon pick-up, to the promised delivery date, to the tracking of my delivery to the delay, and finally to the delivery upon final payment. Their web site fraudulently claims they employ the highest degree and latest technology to track their fleet of trucks.
I originally thought I was working with United Van lines or an affiliate of due to the close nature of their names and logos.
I first entered my items to be moved into the company's software for an estimate on the moving charges. Seeing the cost to be in excess of $9,000, I called the number listed on the site and spoke with Javier. I explained that this seemed high, given I have only a 2 bedroom apartment. He then reentered my belongings into the company's software coming up with a revised quote of $6,000. Given this more reasonable estimate, I agreed to proceed with securing their services.
After a long day of moving, the van followed me to my storage locker at the local U-haul garage. It was here that I fell victim to a pernicious and intentional bait and switch. Eyal, the supervising mover told me that you severely underestimated the amount of belongs and this load is very very heavy. He then proceeded to tell me that he is a specialist in estimating the weight of a load and an expert at what he does and that I have a very heavy load and if I proceed with shipping by the contracted $. 75/lb I would be way over his revised estimate of $12,000. He said that I should cut my losses and pay the company by the cubic foot at the rate of $12,000 or risk a far higher charge. I felt very vulnerable as it had been a very long and hard day and they now had possession of my items on their truck and if I didn't agree to sign they would store and charge me storage and I would be unable to complete my move.in my despair and exhaustion, after 2 hours of haggling, I reluctantly signed the revised agreement.
Unless all my items and furniture for a 2 bedroom apartment and a small storage locker all weigh the equivalent in pounds x $. 75 to six mid-sized sedans, this was a bait and switch.
In order to accommodate the original timeline of 10 to 14 days I made extensive arrangements to accommodate my family, specifically my young son, arranging that he stay with relatives while I flew out without him to supposedly meet the movers. I flew out a week before him, causing hardship on my family and extended family during this extensive separation.
When I asked as to their time line to move my household belongings from New Jersey to California I was told it would take between 10 and 14 business days. It took, in fact, 24 business days. I had to fly out a week early only to be continuously ignored or dismissed by the moving company. Each time I called between the days 10 through 24 I was given no explanation as to the whereabouts of my belongings or a vague description. Specifically somewhere outside of Missouri or near Denver. I was told on days 16,19, and 21 that my belongings would arrive within 2 days. Their web site fraudulently claims they employ the highest degree and latest technology to track their fleet of trucks.
A week later my family arrived and we then had to live in a hotel for a week. I was also delayed in starting my job by 2 weeks.
After I threatened to contact the Better Business Bureau and my credit cards to stop payment, I finally received a call from the owner Ben. Who apologized for the delay and offered a settlement of $1500 towards the bill of $12,150. When his offer arrived in writing there was a surprise statement in it stating that I would not report them to the BBB in exchange for the $1500. As this was not agreed upon during our discussion on the telephone, after I very reluctantly and initially agreed to the initial offer, the carrier is clearly trying to force me not to right a letter to the BBB in exchange for a pittance of $1500. This carrier is negligent and fraudulent and this method of cash in exchange for no complaints is how they continue to pursue this criminal business practice, preying on people who reluctantly agree to accept this minor amount of money in exchange for not warning others.
When the furniture finally arrived, I was the victim of extortion as the carrier now threaten me with not unloading my furniture until I gave them the balance of the amount owed in CASH, although it was agreed upon previously otherwise,
On the contract in Section 1 it states that the mover IS liable for damage or delay caused by unexplained or unreasonable reasons not listed on the contract. It also states in Section 2 of the contract the carrier IS liable for delay for any listed reasons, none of which apply, and exempt from any cause other than negligence of the carrier. This carrier is clearly negligent.
Laurie
san diego, California
U.S.A.
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