I contracted with National Moving Company to move my things from Texas to Washington. They quoted me a rate of approximately $1700 and contracted with A-1 All of USA Movers out of Houston to do the actual physical moving. I was told, and it is written in my contract, that the estimated time for the move was 7-10 days. A-1 All of USA Movers were scheduled to pick up my things on Sunday, July 28. I waited all day at my house on Sunday and they never showed up (they are not in the office on Sunday so there was no way I could call to confirm that they were coming).
I called them Monday morning and they wanted me to take off work so that I could be there when their truck arrived (no apology for not showing up). I said no but gave them my cell phone number to call because my job was only 10 minutes away. At 5:00 pm I called them and they told me their truck was "just leaving Houston now." The movers came at 8:00pm and left at 11:30pm (they were very polite and careful with my things).
Eleven days later I called A-1 to ask when I could expect my things to arrive since they were a day late. They told me not for three more days. When I complained they told me they "guarantee all deliverys within 14 days." Since I only had the National Moving Network Contract I did not know anything about this 14 day guarantee.
Three days later I called again and A-1 told me I had to talk to James the dispatcher. I occillated between calling National and A-1 for the next 5 days, neither of whom returned any of my messages. At least National had a 1-800 number (A-1's doesn't work). I found that that best strategy was to call National every ten minutes necause I would eventually reach the human voice of my customer service representative, Kimberly, who had a main line into A1 (although she never quite remembered who the heck I was even after various calls).
Both companies repeatedly lied to me for the next two-three weeks, telling me that my things had left Houston and giving me various delivery dates. I cancelled two business related trips to stay home for my things. I have never talked to James the dispatcher (after at least six calls) or Jesus Salazar, the owner of A1, who was supposed to call me back and I left him three messages.
Thirty days later I was given the name and number of the driver who had my things. I talked to him twice and the second time he said he was in Portland and would be in Washington the next day. A1 called me a day later and told me they were loading my stuff up from Houston. "What?" I said, "my driver is in Portland!" I was told they had mixed my name up with another customer.
I was then told that I would owe approximately $2300 upon delivery. Since I had contracted for $1700 and paid all but $1000 I was a little perturbed at the news. I was also told I would be receiving a discount and instead I was being charged more than twice my original contracted price.
When I refused to pay this, Dalia threatened me by saying "do you want your stuff or not?" She then told me I had to pay by cash or US postal money order (I was told by National that I could pay by credit card). I hope the IRS is reading this now because I'm sure this company doesn't intend to claim these extra earnings.
I refuse to pay A1's inflated price. Dalia told me they weren't driving "just" my things to Washington for $1700. Well that's what the contract says and it appears to be their mistake since they loaded the wrong customer's things on the truck going to Portland.
I looked A1 up on the Better Business Bureau website. They have 40 complaints this year and the site says they have not bothered to change their business practices to address complaints and they are no longer a member of the BBB though they continue to claim membership. National is slighty better because at least they address complaints.
I have contacted the police in my city in Washington. They told me that I could call them should the movers refuse to unload my things or try to take my things back when they find out I do not intend to pay their under-the-table profit money. What I will do is file a BBB report and wait for Mr. Salazar to contact me to tell me my discounted price.
It has now been 32 days since pick-up. I have the name of a new driver who called to tell me he would be here tomorrow or the next day and to have $2256 "in cash only please" ready to give them when they get here. Hopefully, I can get them to unload my things so that I can do an inventory to make sure everything is there before I "pay" them.
Thank God I live in a small town where the police are especially supportive and helpful! Cross your fingers for me because I'm going to try like heck to get out of this scam!
Jeanne
Albion, Washington
0 comments