On May I found the moving company Star Van Lines over the internet. I researched the company through the better business bureau, and found not one discrepency or bad report. I then contacted Star van lines, and contracted to move my household goods from Sierra Vista, AZ to Western Pa.
In our conversation the agreed upon contract was to include: packing & packing materials, tear down of any bedroom furniture (to include reassemblly at destination) and one months free storage at destination for an appproximate charge of $900.00. My part was to send them a check for $180.00 and would require an additional $450.00 at pick up date. The date of pick up was set for June 15. The contract that I recieved was a printout over the internet with a promise of a contract to follow at pick up.
June 15 th came and went with the company neither calling or showing up. I contacted them on the 17th and talked to the dispatcher "joe" who told me that there was a mistake and that they would definetly be there June 22nd. Again on the 22nd of June—no show and no phone call. I called them the following monday and demanded a return of my money I was told then by the Manager/dispatcher "joe" that we had a contract and he was willing to abide by the contract that I would have to be billed for the ammount of the full contract. I have only the excuse that I was desperate.
He again promised to pick up by July 5th—no show, but promised 20% discount off of total bill for my trouble. I rented a truck, packed my belongings and put them in storage until pickup came—July 7th. I have a bill of lading signed by the company representative for a total bill of $650.00 of which they recieved $630.00. I arrived at my destination July 10 on August 10th I recieved a phone call from the Dispatcher claiming I would recieve delivery of my belongings for $270.00 and an additional $464.00 because of overweight shipment and storage fees. When I refused to pay that ammount and pointed out that the bill of lading states that I would only owe $20.00 upon delivery—
Joe stated that his driver ran out of money and he was changing his mind I owed him $734.00 upon delivery. I contacted a lawyer and was told to pay him $270.00 but no more. I again heard from Joe the dispatcher—when I demanded to talk to the owner of the company I was informed he was the owner and unwilling to negotiate.
Needless to say it is now Sept I have no idea the whereabouts of my household goods, the owner of the Now defunct Star Van Lines and owner of American Moving Express refuses to return my phone calls, I have contacted the State attorney generals offices of PA, AZ, and FLA and got nowhere fast. I have reported this compay to the US Department of Transportation and have since found that the owner Joe Pinada AKA "Al" (at American Moving Express) has been fined and has a file.
All this man does when he violates the law, is file for a new moving company name and license in the state of Florida-who do nothing to stop him.in the mean time, I have no idea if I'll ever see my family pictures, furniture, childrens possessions or family heirlooms again. No legislative office seems to want to take on the task of stopping these robbers.
Brenda
Lyndora, Pennsylvania
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