On April 16 I made the worst decision I have ever made in my life when I signed a contract with Mega Moving and Storage.
I am opening a business in Great Falls, MT and contracted Mega Moving and Storage to move some of my retail fixtures here from Georgia. I spoke with Baron several times in the two weeks prior to signing the agreement. I explained to Baron exactly what was to be moved and exactly how I wanted it packed and loaded on the truck. He assured me it was no problem, he even suggested using some moving blankets because they don't charge for those. The binding estimate was $1,300.48 and Baron told me repeatedly that my stuff would be here by Friday, April 24. I gave him a credit card number and signed the contract.
Of course being in Montana, I was not present when the driver arrived to pick up my items on April 18. He apparantly did not like the way they were packed, and if he knew about what Baron and I discussed, he totally disregarded it. He decided to take everything apart and pack it all in individual boxes. I never received so much as a phone call asking if it was ok, or how I wanted things done or anything - as far as I knew, we were on schedule and everything was just fine.
Monday I called to verify that the items were indeed picked up and on their way to me. I was assured that they had been and was told to call back Tuesday morning and talk to Samuel about scheduling a delivery time. On Tuesday, Samuel was out of the office, I was told to call back the next day. Wednesday, Samuel was sick and would not be in. Thursday Samuel was out again but when I told them my items were supposed to be arriving that day or the next, they gave me to another guy. He picked up the phone and simply said "we have not received payment from you yet". I asked him where my stuff was and found out that it is now sitting in a storage unit in Florida! I told him that Baron was supposed to have charged my credit card and he said they would not do that - they need a postal money order or wire transfer for 1/2 of the amount. They would not do anything until they received that money, so I agreed to wire transfer $650. He said "That's not 1/2 - we need at least $1,000". Apparantly, they charge $400 for boxes, and because all those boxes took up more room in the truck, I was being charged for "more inventory". I was not happy, but I transferred $1,010 on Friday, April 24 - the day my stuff was supposed to be here.
It is now June 10 and I still do not have my stuff! I have called them at least twice per week since April 24. They have given me two different phone numbers for drivers that supposedly have my stuff, and 2 different times have told me that my stuff will be there "Wednesday or Thursday" but it never shows up.
I have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Florida Attorney General, the Montana Attorney General, and "8 on your side" I have threatened to sue them for replacement of my items and lost profit (over $20,000). I told them that if I don't hear from them today I will pursue criminal charges for theft.
They don't care! The best solution they have offered is to take my stuff back to where they picked it up from - but they'd still have to charge me for the boxes and labor, so I wouldn't get any money back. This company is a huge rip off and I will do everything I can to keep them from victimizing anybody else.
Jledford
Great Falls, Montana
U.S.A.
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