We contracted with National Moving Network to move us from a western state to the east.
The National Moving Network rep estimated the weight of our belonging would be 5000lbs and gave us a $3700 total.
We sent them a $1000.00 check as a down payment.
I have 4 international moves behind me and know how to pack.
We had our most valuable items crated. Everything else was paper wrapped/bubble wrapped and then packed in cardboard moving boxes.
After many rounds of telephone tag with National Moving Network / AY Transport, a very large truck from AY arrived.
The driver claimed that the truck was 1/2 full.
We waited around while the driver diddled with paperwork and for the local 'helpers' to arrive.
The driver would not open the truck while I was present.
The local 'helpers' arrived and started removing our household items.
After a bit, I went outside to see how things were going. All of our belongings were sitting in the street behind the truck.
The truck was 90% full.
There was no possible way our belongings were going to all fit on that truck.
I asked one of the local 'helpers', who claimed to have moving company experience if he thought that there was a chance our belongings would fit on that truck. He said, "No"
I asked the AY Transport driver if he thought that there was a chance our belongings would fit on that truck.
First he said, "Yes, I move things around. I get it all to fit."
Then he stated that I had contracted with him for 630 cubic feet of space and if he couldn't fit all of our items in this truck, "Another come soon!"
The driver would not permit the local 'helpers' to load any items onto the truck. He was attempting to do it all by himself because as he said, "I expert. I know how to load."
The driver then started pitching our antique chairs towards the
front portion of the trailer as if they were firewood.
All our furniture that got into that truck was slammed and piled into the mix of items already on the truck. I pity the owners of those pieces. The AY Transport driver was using someone else's leather chair as a ladder to enter/exit the trailer.
I told the AY Transport driver that enough was enough and I would not be using his services.
I asked that all our items be removed from the truck and that everything be brought back into the house.
The driver went ballistic and said no.
He then called me a liar and a thief and ordered the local 'helpers' to not listen to me.
I hired the local helpers on the spot and they started to bring everything back into the house.
The driver then closed the door of the trailer and told me to pay him $500 cash or he would leave and I would not get the items in the trailer.
He got in my face and demanded all his paperwork, which was still in the house.
I went back into the house and asked my wife to call the police. I then went back outside and told the driver that the police were coming. He again called me a liar and a thief and said the police would soon take me away.
I stood in front of the truck so to block his exit and waited.
When the police came they took a statement from me and then from the driver.
The driver again demanded $500 from me and I told him to file suit. The police explained to the driver that this was a civil manner and asked him to open the truck.
My belongings were taken off the truck and returned to the house. The worst casualty, an early 19th Century Scots sideboard. This piece had in the past successfully made the crossing from the UK to Australia and then from Australia to the US. Unfortunately with this crew it couldn't survive the 100 feet from my door to the street.
Calls to and messages left at National Moving Network and their insurer have not yet been returned.
We hired another moving company and they will be here tomorrow.
As soon as we arrive in our new location we will bring suit against both companies.
I am very grateful that we stopped the work and did not let that truck drive away full, after reading other horror stories about this crew. I feel for those of you who were taken by this pack of liars and swindlers.
Rico
Salt Lake City, Utah
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