As with everyone else that has filed a report, I have had the same unfortunate experience. I submitted a request on Movers.com and had several moving companies quote my move. I went with Continental Express/Express Moving Company/Fast Lane Move because of their price and after looking on their site. They seemed professional. I spoke with and received a quote from Chris H.
I was moving all the big items in the house (We were doing all the small items ourselves) so TV's Refrigerator, Beds, Pool Table... And the movers.com site asks for a check off list (which I filled out) so that they can get an accurate quote from their companies. I called Chris H after receiving the quote to make sure that there was NO additional costs assoicated with the move based on my submittal. He said that the price included EVERYTHING but the state of California charges a double drive time. Which I was fine with. I also asked him about setting a not to exceed price which he said that he couldn't take over the phone and we were to tell the Foreman when they came to our house. Also, I asked Chris in his experience based on what I had to move what the normal time was for this type of move (I was on a budget) and he said in his experience 4 hours (105 * 4 = $415.00).
The movers came. They were not in uniform as the site stated their movers were... The truck... Was not brightly colored or had the name of the company on it... They sent 4 guys (not very big for what I had to move). Anyway... Just like everyone else... They showed up at the door... (I was at the new house my husband at the old) and they had my husband sign a bunch of paperwork (he had no idea what it was) and then he asked to set a Not to Exceed Price of $500.00.
30 minutes into the move they tell my husband that there is a "state of california law" that they have to wrap the refrigerator and TV's a certain way... And they said it would be an additional cost... He calls me... I IMMEDIATELY call Continental Express... Totally pissed off and I talk with Chris H. Who then transfers me to his "supervisor" and all of our friends... Adam. I go off... Say Chris H said no additional costs... What are they thinking... I specifically asked and I was packing all the small stuff ourselves... They had our inventory list... And if they were going to charge then to just leave because I didn't was not going to pay for the packing materials... Adam (not apologetic at all!) just tried to keep putting the blame on me.."packing materials not included" he said... Duh... I read that and called to specifically ask if there were ANY additional costs on my list and Chris said "No" and I didn't think that the refrigerator or TV would need anything special... Like boxes. I thought moving blankets would do it. Adam proceeds to say that he would call the foreman and talk with him.
I hear nothing back... So I assumed that the issue was resolved and they wouldn't charge for packing since no one talked to my husband at the house as well he thought everything was fine.
About an hour later (2 hours into the job) I call my husband to see how things are going... He's helping them move things... (to lessen that time) he dis-assembling the beds (they were supposed to do that in the timeframe) He said they had the refrigerator packed up and the TV's... And they came up to him with the Not to Exceed Paperwork of $1,000 which we originally said $500 and he said that was not what he asked for and they said that the packing put us over that price and that it was $413.30 just for the packing! They already had it packed and in the truck... My husband was put up against a wall.
I called Adam again... Pissed... And told him to stop the move right now. I did not want to incur anymore cost and that they were shady, and had us backed up against a wall. They stopped the move went to our house and when they came in I said that I would pay for the moving cost but I was disputing the packing charges... The guy just stood there and said that he would not unload our truck unless we paid for the full amount which was 972.40... I was LIVID... Then I said... How does he know and why would I sign a charge slip before the job was done (he already calculated in 5 hours) he said he could not start the job unless I signed and paid... They held our furniture hostage. Anyway... Signed to get my furniture back... Called California Public Utilities Commission. And came to find out they had 11 open complaints... And told me to take pictures of the packing. Which I did.
They used dish boxes to pack the refrigerator and TV... 11 of them at the price of $30 dollars each... And charged for Matress Covers... (which was saran wrap!)... Also the total move was 4 hours at the most and I wanted them out of my house so fast I said just leave everything where it is and we would assemble and move things in place and unwrap (which we did). This move was SO stressful. So basically they just moved: 1 Queen bed, 1 twin bed, 3 tv's, refrigerator, 4 stools, dresser, amoir, and 4 couches. This took them 4 hours (which I stopped early) with 4 guys and we had everything prepped they were already disassembled and unhooked and just needed to be moved.
My husband and I could have done this in less time or about the same time with 2 of us. We paid for 4 guys to make it faster and be able to get everything moved in a short amount of time. All in all... They moved almost half of what I sent a list of what needed to be moved. They took their time and didn't move very fast.
We will NEVER use this company again, and would highly recommend not using them or movers.com for that matter since I have heard nothing from my complaint to them. I will also be filing a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission and the AMSA organization... Class Action Lawsuit I saw someone put down? If you start one I'm in...
Anonymous
Rocklin, California
U.S.A.
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