I hired North America Moving Systems (thinking they were North American) to move my 1-bedroom apartment from the east coast to the west coast after they contacted me through www.123move.com in late May. They gave me an estimate over the phone for just over $ which, as far as I knew, was market price. Frank Mayo, my salesman, and I agreed that pickup would occur on June 16th and that delivery would occur on or within a few days of the first available date for delivery, which was June 26th. I agreed to pay 20% of this estimate on these terms.
On the morning of June 16th, three (3) men arrived in an unmarked truck that was tagged with gang signs. They immediately told me that I had more than estimated, and they cancelled my old estimate. Partway through loading the truck, they issued me a new one for over $5500.
On June 25th, I called North America to find out the status of my shipment. They gave me the number for the dispatcher, 973-472-0303. I called that number, and they answered, United Moving Systems. They asked for my name and phone number and told me that someone would call me back. That week, I called both United and North America leaving my number and talking to various people. The only thing anyone would tell me is that someone would call me back, which never happened. They told me that the dispatcher, whose name is supposedly Akin, does not have a phone. After a week of calling, being disregarded, lied to, and even yelled at, I decided to involve my attorney.
My attorney first contacted North America's office manager, Bill, on June 29th. Bill said that I would have my shipment within 7-14 business days of pickup, which worked out to be July 6th. After hearing no word by July 6th, My attorney informed Bill that they had until the following Wednesday, July 11th, to deliver. Bill could not tell my attorney the status of my delivery or even where my possessions were. Neither my attorney nor I have received any phone calls from North America or United.
Finally, after contacting www.moverescue.com and being put in touch with a federal investigator who was actively investigating both North America and their other fradulent permutations I received a call from a truck driver (with a sub-contracted company that I hadn't ever authorized to take my stuff) informing me that my belongings would be delivered. The sub-contracted company was Enterprise Moving Systems out of Brooklyn, NY.
When the sub-contractors arrived, July 26th, they arrived in an old Bekins trailer that had been covered with paint to partially cover portions of the letters in the name Bekins. And although they were pleasant enough and moved all of our items up three flights of stairs with little complaint it in no way made up for the month of hell prior to our belongings return.
Our stuff, suprisingly, was not damaged, but it smelled so bad that it took four bottles of febreeze and endless hours of cleaning to get the stink of wherever North America had housed our things out of our new apartment.
North America is a fraudulent company that obtains business using North American's good name. United is the same, banking on United Van Line's good name. They give purposefully low quotes to obtain business, and they have a history of tripling their original quotes (google United Moving Systems moving scams). Items have a history of arriving (if arriving) broken and purposefully vandalized. United and North America seem to be owned by the same people.
Please note that United has had its license revoked. Movers are required to list any agents they plan to use in their contract, and there was no mention of United Moving Systems or any other mover. My experience matches perfectly with the description of rogue movers in the pamphlet, Your Moving Rights and Responsibilities, which North America never supplied me with.
Brian
Pasco, Washington
U.S.A.
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