Approximately one year ago, I set a plan to move to Phoenix, AZ with my roommate. I looked forward to the sunny skies, scenic surroundings and the joys of having a worry-free move. I could not have been more wrong.
The company that I originally signed my contract with was the National Moving Network. They seemed, kind courteous, well-informed, etc. They appeared to know a lot about the moving industry and I took comfort in the fact that they could handle the coordination of everything for us. Our original quote for a two bedroom apartment was $2,355. We paid a down payment of $600 and were told that our possessions would arrive 7-10 days after pick up on December 29th, and that we would be able to inspect our things after the truck was unloaded, before paying the movers the balance of $1,755. This is just the beginning of the lies that we were told.
First, to their credit; our movers (Modern Moving, Farmington Hills, MI 1-800-63-MOVER) did arrive on the day that they said they would, however, they had picked up another load earlier in the day and did not have enough room for 3 major pieces to fit on the truck. These were new pieces of furniture that I had purchased as well as a Total Gym which I specifically told Patriot about in my initial quote. I called Patriot and spoke to Nancy, a miserable, loud, nasty shrewd of a woman; who insisted that it was not her fault that my pieces could not get on the truck and that another carrier could come out on Monday to pick up the rest of my belongings.
I was leaving to drive to Phoenix on Sunday, so Monday was not an option for me. Nancy did not seem to understand this and hung up on me numerous times. I kept calling back to speak to her so that this problem could be resolved. To keep this part short, the pieces would not fit, so I gave away the Total Gym and returned the two other pieces of furniture to the store so that I could leave as scheduled. The guys from Modern, (I think his name was Ian) indicated that I should call the warehouse tomorrow and get the final weight on my load and the expected arrival date.
Second, I saw the above as just a small glitch, I got my money back for the furniture that I had purchased and I could just buy more in Phoenix right? No big deal. Again, another misconception. Since I was told that my belongings would arrive in Phoenix 7-10 days after pickup, I packed enough things to have until then and figured that my life would arrive around the 8th of January at the latest.
Well, here we are at Day 22, and I still do not have my things. Moreover, they are still in Michigan and I have no idea when they will arrive here in Phoenix. I spoke to Tony from Modern Moving on January 4th, the day after I arrived in Phoenix and he told me that my final weight was 4100 lbs, which was 100 more than the 300 lbs padding that is allowed, so I had to pay for the full 400 overage at. 50 cents per lb. Something must be wrong with their calculator, because by my calculations, that means that we would have to pay $1955, but instead, Tony quoted me a final price of $1797 for the move. I thought that he was smoking crack, but whatever. At any rate, I asked him when it was going to be here and he said that he didn't know because the truck was not loaded yet.
I was absolutely appalled by this. I knew that it was at least a 4 day trek for the truck when it did finally leave, so that it meant that it would obviously not be there within my 10 days that I was guaranteed. I asked Tony about the guarantee and he said that Patriot never communicated that information to their company and that I had to research it with them. Thus begins the run-a-round that we received. Modern then went on to say that they only had two trucks and that it should make it on the truck that was leaving at the end of the week for the southwest and that I should have my things by the beginning of the next week. He also stated that their company had a 30 day policy, not a 10 day policy, so again, I was floored. Furthermore, he indicated that I had to pay either by cash or credit card and I was told by Patriot that the funds had to be certified.
To make a long story even longer, I called Modern back at the end of the week and was told that my order did not make it on that truck because of other orders that had to go on. All moving orders are sorted by date and they have a first-come, first-serve policy regarding moves, so I had to cross my fingers and hope and pray that my belongings got on the next truck that was leaving at the end of the next week.
That put me at the with a delivery date off the 19th or so, which was 11 days beyond the 10 day policy. So here I am on the 20th of January, I just spoke to Modern Moving again and was told that even if my things did get on the truck this week, that I may not receive them for another two weeks because of a truck swap that has to occur in either Denver, CO, or Oklahoma City, OK. WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? As a compensating factor, Modern said that they would take $25 a day off for every day that they go beyond 30 days, that is unacceptable. As a means to an end, I have been trying all day to contact Patriot Moving, which appears to have gone belly-up over night, because the line does not ring through to anyone.
I am absolutely livid and I have filed complaints with the BBB on both Modern Moving and Patriot. I am at the end of my rope and would appreciate any assistance or comments that any could provide. I feel as if my life is not held hostage by incompetent fools. And my only recourse is hoping that there aren't any unexpected charges or delivery fees associated with this nightmare. Is there a class-action suit that I can enjoin on?
Komika
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
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