This is going to sound very similar to other reports filed here. We contacted several moving companies to inquire about prices for moving from Worcester, MA to Charlottesville, VA. We decided to use United Express Van Lines because they quoted us the smallest price. After going through an itemized check list, a representative (Judy) estimated that the contents of our five room condo would require 460 cubic feet of truck space and would cost approximately $1200.
After arriving 6 hours late because their truck broke down (and of course they couldn't call us to let us know), the movers loaded our belongings into the Ryder truck they had rented.in actuality, our belongings took up 1100 cubic feet, over twice the space originally estimated. They charge per cubic foot, one rate for the estimated space and a different, higher, rate for the space required over the estimate. Our total ended up being about $4000. Because it was now 11pm on a Friday night we could only give them the deposit we had originally intended to pay. We gave them a personal check, which they accepted.
My husband and I arrived in Charlottesville and called the company to find out when our things would be delivered. The dispatcher (Joe), who was incredibly rude and unhelpful, told us that he would not deliver our belongings until he received the payment in full. He would not accept a personal check, though the driver had previously done so. As all of our accounts were still in MA, we ended up wiring the contents of our savings account to VA. We got a certified check and faxed Joe a copy. He then told us we would have our things the next day, which was a Tuesday. Tuesday he told us we would have our things Wednesday evening. After much yelling, he told us the truck would be there between 3 and 6 AM Wednesday morning.
Wednesday morning the truck showed up at 4 AM. We gave the foreman the certified check. He then told us they required $50 per 50 feet they must walk from the truck to our door. This was not in our signed contract. As if it matters, he told us our contract was old (this was the contract we signed). After we refused to pay any more money, he threatened to leave all of our things in the parking lot of our apartment complex. I told him our contract stated door to door service. He then told me that according to the law, our door was in the parking lot! Fortunately, the other two movers were decent human beings and continued to bring our things in despite the rantings and ravings of the foreman. My husband and I also helped bring things in. Unlike some of the other horror stories I've read, we actually got all of our belongins and nothing was broken.
If an individual did these things, he/she would be arrested for stealing and extortion. I can't believe because this is a company, they can get away with these things. I have contacted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (www.fmcsa. Dot. Gov/factsfigs/moving.html or 888-368-7238) and encourage others who have been manipulated by this company to do the same.
Cindy and Jon
Charlottesville, Virginia
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