I had the misfortune of hiring Champions Movers, Inc. To assist in my interstate move in June. Prior to the pick up date I received a quote in the amount of $1,070 - half of which was to be paid at the time of pick up, the other half upon arrival. However, once my things were loaded and locked on their truck, the 2 movers demanded $2,460 on the spot - well over the 110% rule allowed by law. Of course I refused citing the terms of the contract, but they threateningly stated that they didn't know what they would do with my things unless I paid and signed their "new" contract right then. A contract completely different that the one I had seen before. Afraid for my things and for my safety at that point, I signed and paid but then immediately put a stop payment on the check.
The next morning I drove to their office in Fremont to resolve the issue with the manager, BEN, only to find to my horror that the address did not exist. It was a strip mall with no matching suite number or P.O. Box. Alarmed, I immediately drove to their physical address (listed and licensed with the California Public Utility Commission): 453 Queens Lane, San Jose, CA 94539, and of course found that that address did not exist either. It turned out to be a PG&E meter. When I called asking for their location they flat out refused to tell me. At that point I notified them that I wanted to cancel the entire deal and offered them $500 to just tell me where my things were so I could pick them up and do the move myself. They again refused, and said I would still have to pay at least a couple thousand dollars.
Outraged, I began calling every consumer agency, government agency, and the media for assistance, only to be told that this was a "civil" matter and they couldn't (more like wouldn't) get involved. Since when is extortion merely a civil matter? Frustrated and not knowing who to be more mad at - the people that were supposed to help me and wouldn't, or the people that wronged me in the first place, I took it upon myself to research Champions more intently. I soon came to notice that many people on the internet claimed that Champions Movers was in fact the same company A.S.A. P Relocations (which has been blacklisted with over 98 complaints on the Better Business Bureau). They simply just changed their name so they could continue running their scams under the radar. Well I was able to obtain conclusive evidence that undeniably supports this.
Champions Movers continually claim that A.S.A. P Relocations just happens to be next door at 455 Queens Lane, but fiercely deny any affiliation. While I was checking into Champions non-existent address at 453 Queens Lane, I also looked into the property at 455 Queens Lane which sure enough did not belong to A.S.A. P Relocations either. The current CFO at that property provided me with a signed statement which states that he owns or leases the entire street from 437 to 455 Queens Lane and that Champions Movers had never existed there. Upon further investigation I found a listing in the 2007 Yellow Pages online with Champions Movers address listed at: 2295 Ringwood Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131, which is the SAME ADDRESS listed on A.S.A. P Relocation's current website. Also, the truck that the movers came to pick up our things with had A.S.A. P Relocations written on it, and if you call Champions Movers answering machine you will get a recording that says A.S.A.P. Relocations. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. Well I went to the Ringwood address and sure enough there was an unmarked office with storage pods in the back, which is where I am absolutely certain that Champions Movers/A.S.A. P Relocations holds hostage many of their clients belongings.
Since Champions Movers has a non-existing physical address which it is licensed under with the CPUC, as well a non-existing contact address in Fremont which is listed on their contracts, how are they able to legally operate? They do not have one legitimate address where they can be contacted other than the one they share with A.S.A. P Relocation on Ringwood Avenue. I along with many other people have been victimized by this company because they are allowed to simply change their name and continue running their scams.
I have had my things held hostage by Champions Movers since June, and over the course of that time their monetary demands only increased drastically (I believe the last was over $10,000). Of course I refused their outrageous demands and continually offered the original quoted price of $1,070 for the return of my things, but of course that wasn't enough for them... And they didn't even move my things! They are scam artists in the truest sense and are completely incapable of reasonable negotiation. They will do whatever it takes to get your money - extortion however, seems to be there method of choice.
I have since moved to a new state with nothing but my car and have had to start completely over. Now it is my mission to do whatever it takes to get the word out and make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. I urge everyone out there to use your resources to help stop this company from ruining the lives of more innocent people. It truly is ultimately up to us as consumers to protect each other from these malicious crimes. So spread the word... DO NOT USE CHAMPIONS MOVERS!
Holly
Walnut Creek, California
U.S.A.
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