A couple weeks before I moved I got an online quote from a moving company, Interstate Moving and Storage, they called me and we discussed price, etc. I was quoted $850.00 to move my stuff from San Diego to Syracuse, Utah. First the moving company was 3 hours late, we had an appointment for 11am, they came at 1pm. After Mike and another guy packed my stuff up the guy, Mike, told me that I could either pay 2400.00, because that is how much my stuff costs per pound.
Apparently I had 2500 lbs of things because they charge. 85 cents per pound or I could pay a 2000.00 flat rate. Of course I argued with him and showed him my quote online because I saved the copy. The lady, Anna, who quoted me wrote down that I had 1000 pounds of stuff, even though I told that woman exactly what I had. Why would I lie about what I have, I wanted a real quote so I can plan and budget. I was so pissed.
So, Mike said that he would take 100.00 off, so then my price would be 1900.00. I didn't budget for that much of an under quote. Maybe like 100-200 dollars over, but not over 1000.00. So, I took the flat rate of 1900.00 because I had to be out that day. I could have left my stuff behind, but I am still paying on the furniture and my car is already filled up to the legal limit allowed for driver's safety, so I had no room for anything else.
So when they take your stuff you are suppose to pay 65% of the total cost upfront. That was like 1400.00!!! I'm like look, I am going to be honest I did not budget for such a price, is there something we can work out? They already had my shit in the truck too. So Mike tried to get a hold of the owner, Amit Bembaron, but the owner wouldn't answer.
So, I told him I had 900 dollars I could pay up front in cashier's check. I told him that I probably won't have the rest of the money by Jan 17th when they were suppose to deliver my things, so they can put it in storage. This company was also a storage company. He said okay and then we parted ways after I gave him the 900.00 check. The day was Jan 15th.
I didn't hear from Mike til March 13th, he showed up on my doorstep with my things asking me if I had the money so he could deliver it and that the company is going out of business in 2 weeks. I told him that I didn't, but I just got a job, started Feb 27th and I will come up with the remainder 1000.00 in the 2 weeks. So, he said he would put it in some storage place close by. He also said that if I didn't pay them in the 2 weeks time frame they would take my stuff and auction it off.
So, the last week I tried to call them to work out a payment, but all of their numbers were disconnected and no one was replying to my emails. I thought I lost all my stuff because they went out of business. So, I paid off my furniture, 1700.00, I got in SD because I hadn't paid on it yet (had to be paid off by march) and I didn't want them to come after me when I didn't have my furniture anymore because of that moving company. They could take my car.
March 18th, the day after (No kidding, the freakin day after!) I paid that bill, Mike calls me and is like, Hey do you have the money? I couldn't cancel paying that bill, so, I told him that I had been trying to contact them, all their numbers were disconnected and no one was replying to my emails. I did have the money, but I had to pay another bill because I thought you guys disappeared on me and sold my stuff.
So, I told him on the 27th I will be able to pay him because I get paid at the end of the month. He said okay and tells me that if I don't pay they are going to auction my stuff. He also said that when I pay them, $1000.00, he is going to tell me what storage unit my stuff is at, the unit number, code to get inside, and he would tell me where he hid the key so when I pay I will have to look for the key and get the stuff out of storage myself.
So, I talk to many people, call lawyers, SLCPD, and then the Consumer protection agency to get some advice because I knew what they were doing is illegal. The CPA was the last people I talked to and the investigator said to go ahead and pay this guy so I can at least get my stuff back because that is the most important thing right now.
I had til the end of March to get my stuff out because the storage unit was paid up until April 1st. First the moving company said they would auction my stuff off, then they were saying that the storage unit would. So, time wasn't on my side. So, I transferred the 1000.00 on March 27th, to the owners bank account, hours later after battling with the owner about me paying, Mike, told me all the info I needed to find my stuff and the key.
Amit thought I could cancel the transfer even though the money was already taken out of my account and pending in his. I tried to tell him the money is there, call your bank to confirm that. My sister's hubby ended up going to search for the key Mike hid, find the unit of where my stuff is, and pick everything up on March 30th, the day before I had to get it out by since I was at work. Him and one of his friends got my stuff and when I got home we all unloaded the Uhaul. I am happy that nothing got severely damaged in this whole fiasco.
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