I recently moved from Detroit to Texas. I have had a horrible time with a moving company based in Florida. I was researching moving companies online and received a great rate from Sterling Van Line, based in Miami, Florida. The original quote was $900.00 for 2000 pounds. The company told me that they could pick up my things and have them delivered within 5 business days. I was required to give them my credit card number over the phone to make the reservation. I was told that I could pay the deposit of $450.00 (in form of cash, credit card, money order, or check) upon initial pick up of my belongings and would pay the rest upon delivery in Texas. The pick up date was set for 9/23.
On 9/22/02, I received a phone call from Ron who informed me that the company was running a day behind and asked if it would be okay if they came a day later. I informed the caller that I had made all arrangements based on them picking up on the 22nd. He said, don't worry, I guarantee you that your stuff will still get to Texas before you do on Saturday. I informed him that it would be okay then. I also asked if they would please come in the morning, as I had many things to do.
On 9/24/02, I received a call from the driver of the truck informing me that he would not be until around 7:00 PM. I called the company and was informed that there was a problem in Columbus, but don't worry, your stuff will be there when you get there. The drivers showed up at 7:00 PM and loaded the truck. The driver commented regarding my DJ equipment and said I put extra tape on those for you (this stuff would mysteriously disappear upon delivery). About an hour later, I received a call from the driver telling me that I had exceeded 2000 pounds by about 760 pounds. I was never shown any weight of the truck, empty or filled.
I left for Texas on 9/25/02 and arrived on 9/28/02. I called and spoke with a gentleman who did not identify himself to find out the status of my delivery. He was very rude and told me we will call you 24 hours before delivery, that's all I can tell you. I asked where my belongings were and he said I don't know, I cant tell you. At this time, I became upset and started to tell the writer about the experience that I had with his company (he claimed to be the manager). I asked him to please inform me when I could expect my things. I also informed him that I had done his company a favor by allowing them to come a day later. He then told me that's what you get for doing us a favor, goodbye.
My father called back and spoke with a woman named Lea. She told him that they were waiting for the driver to call in for the night and to please call on Sunday. She promised that she would be tell me the status of my belongings then.
On Sunday, 9/29/02, I called and spoke with Lea. She told me, I'm not sure where your belongings are, but I can guarantee they are in transit and not in storage. You should have them in a day or two. We will call you.
On Thursday, 10/03/02, I still had not heard from the moving company or the driver. I called Sterling Vanline again. This time I spoke with Ron. He apologized and said I had a driver rip me off last week. He also told me that I had a balance of $1100. He said that he was not sure where my stuff was, but when it came I had to pay with a cashier's check. He also asked if it would be possible to wire him the money instead of paying the drivers. I told him absolutely not. He said that he would check on my belongings and to call him on Monday. He promised me that he would be able to tell me where my things were.
On Monday, 10/07/02, I called again and asked to speak with Ron, as I had been instructed. When Ron found out who I was, he transferred me to Eli. Again, I asked where my belongings were and when I could expect to have them delivered. He told me he would check and call me within two hours. Five hours later, I still had not heard from anyone. I called again and spoke with Eli. He told me it will be sometime this weekend. He still could not tell me where my belongings were.
On Wednesday, 10/09/02, a man named David Garland called my parent's home in Michigan and informed my father that they would be delivering my things on Thursday, but that they were going to need cash or a certified check only. He also said that I should have been talking to him all along, when he was notified of the problems that I had encountered. He said that he was the manager and had heard nothing of my problems. He also said that the movers would not do anything until they were given the check or cash. He also said that I could not use any other form of payment.
On Thursday, 10/10/02, the driver called to inform me that it would be Friday before they could deliver my things.
On Friday, 10/11/02, the drivers delivered my things at 9:00 A.M. The workers said that they were from a different moving company, East/West Movers. They informed me that they had picked up my things two days before in Columbus, Ohio. The belongings were unloaded. My furniture items (entertainment center and dressers) were damaged and very scraped up. One lamp was damaged. Several pictures were broken. I also had many missing articles of clothing, and most importantly my two disc jockey turntables that the original driver had commented about were missing (valued at $1200).
I emailed Sterling Vanline on 10/14/02 regarding damaged articles and have yet to hear back from them. I also tried to notify David Garland via phone twice and am always told he is not available.
As a result of all of this I was also forced to live in a hotel for two weeks, while I waited for my stuff to arrive (which costs over $900). This was related to the mere fact that they told me my things would be here in Texas when I arrived.
Robert
Vicksburg, Mississippi
U.S.A.
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