On January 11 I made reservations for a move to Chicago from Omaha through Mike Lair at Moving Cost. He scheduled the move with Modern Movers in Farmington. I paid a deposit of $873.53 based on a total weight estimated fee of $1,891.64.
The contract indicated estimated delivery 2/11-2/21 since I would not be moving there until January 31st and while the company paid for my hotel for a week or so, I would need to find an apartment. Once I found an aprtment, I called Mike for a pickup on February 12th & delivery on February 14th. He assured me it was all set. I explained that I was taking far less than I originally estimated since my apartment was small. He assured me that the balance would be lowered accordingly.
I flew back to Omaha on February 11th to finish packing. I just walked in the door when a driver named June called stating the other driver could not make it and since he was in the area, he could pick up my furniture. I agreed. June's associate tried to buy my large screen TV during the loading and I refused.
When June was there he explained he could not deliver on Monday since he had a job to do in Milwaukee and another one further north. My daughter and father were witnesses to this. He even asked me to print off MapQuest from Milwaukee to my Chicago address and I did.
Since I was limited on funds, I rearranged my schedule to drive to Chicago Monday in order to save on hotels. On Sunday afternoon June called indicating that one of his jobs was canceled so he can deliver on Monday. I explained that I could not do the long drive to Chicago that day arriving in a city I was not familiar with at night. He then said he would take my furniture back to the office in Michigan, unload it, then have someone deliver it to me on Tuesday. He gave me the company's 800# and told me to speak with Dave.
Due to severe arthritis in my back, the drive to Chicago took 10 hours since I have to stop frequently. I spent the night in a hotel as planned. On Tuesday I called Dave. After several conversations he stated that my furniture could not be delivered until Wednesday. I spent another night in a hotel. On Wednesday I checked out of the hotel. I spoke to Dave and then to the owner, Dennis Rice. He said June was in Ohio woth my furniture and so it could not be delivered until Thursday. I checked back in to the hotel.
On Thursday morning I checked out of the hotel again and there was a message waiting for me at work from June stating he would try to deliver that afternoon or Friday. Neither he nor Dennis Rice seemed to care that I was running out of money, could not stay in my apartment since he had all of my blankets and pillows, and that I was running dangerously low on my prescriptions.
After several pleading conversations with Dennis, June called me that afternoon. He was still in Ohio for his uncle's funeral! He assured me he was leaving then and would be back in Michigan that night and he would leave me a message at work (since I did not know where I would be sleeping that night). He assured me my furniture would be delivered on Friday.
So I checked on how much I had left on my credit card (still insuring I had enough to pay for my delivery) and decided I could not sleep in my car or on the floor in my aprtment. When I got to work on Friday there was no message!
When I spoke with Dennis Rice he stated June was still in Ohio! June lied again! He then asked if I lived by Lake Shore drive and I said I did. He indicated that they could not get a semi into that area so they will need to unload and reload on a smaller truck once my furniture got to Michigan. June had a map for a week showing where I lived!
Dennis said he would call me back after getting everything organized. When I did not hear, as usual, I had to call him! He stated they would load up the furniture Saturday and deliver on Sunday. I had enough money for one more night in the hotel. Saturday I slept on the floor in my aprtment.
When the delivery driver arrived, he would not deliver until I paid the total balance. I did not agree with this but what other choice did I have? He also told me he wanted to deliver on Saturday, but "they" would not let him.
When my furniture started arriving I was devasted. The large screen TV I refused to sell had both front wheels broken off and a crack in the side. An antique trunk was scratched up, veneer was ripped off of the kitchen table legs, the sofa cushions had tears, my leather trunk had a gash, and handles were broken on my chest of drawers.
I wrote Modern Moving and Moving Cost (copies to the BBB in Western Michigan and FL along with the AARP). I demanded reimbursement for the damage, my hotel, prorated rent since I would not have takn early possesion of my apartment if I knew I would not have furniture until the 20th! I also explained that I was overcharged.
I received a letter from Lisa Kairiunas at Modern Moving stating they needed their own form completed for a damage claim and that another gentleman would be reviewing my expenses due to the delays. No mention that I was overcharged. I could not take a dining room set, antique hoosier, and an antique cabinet so how could the weight still be identical to the estimate?
Well, I completed her form showing damages and overcharges in the amount of $2,310.04.in the meantime I received a letter from Dave Monette indicating they will not pay my hotel and other delay fees since the contract said they had until the 21st to deliver.
During many of the conversations with Modern Moving I was in tears and begged! I even left several messages at Moving Cost to help me. All I received was a message that Modern Moving had until the 21st to deliver and only then could I report it to the police.
In addition to the damage and overcharges, my hotel fees were $451.43 and prorated rent costs were $224. I moved to Chicago for a job! I could not afford these types of expenses after being out of work for a while.
In my copy to AARP of which I have been a member since I asked them to post a warning on their message board about these companies.
I have not heard from either Better Business Bureau, the AARP, nor do I have any money back. Please beware of these rip off artists. My daughter used Two Men and a Truck when she moved, and they truly were a stress free move. I wish I had known!
Aldona
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
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