I am a single person, age 62, retired from the State of Michigan, Department of Social Services (32 years service). I was born and raised in Detroit. After my father's passing in I had no living relatives in Michigan. I made arrangements to move to Red Wing, MN, where I have cousins.
I moved from Dearborn Heights, MI, on 8/5/09. The moving company is North America Transfer, 1409 Kuehner Dr., #236, Simi Valley, CA 93063 (888 275-0950). I was given an estimate via phone & internet of $4,450.00. I had a single level, 3 bedroom house (1025 sq. Ft.), no garage. My car was transported by a separate company and arrived on 8/8/09. The night before the move, I was told that my possessions would be delivered the next day. I did not receive my possessions and now the moving company will not give me a date, stating that it is "open".
When the movers arrived at 8:30 AM, the truck was smaller than expected and only 2 men came. There were supposed to be 4 men. One man walked into the living room and began saying that there was much more in my house than I had stated in my inventory. He had not seen any other rooms at that point. He continued to repeat that throughout the morning. At lunch time, I was asked to go and get a carry-out lunch for the 2 men at an Arabic restaurant, which I did. After lunch, one of the movers took my car keys (he had obviously watched where I put them upon my return) and left, driving my car without my permission. The other man said he went for cigarettes. He was gone over 2 hours and very little moving was done in his absence. When he returned, he said he was detained by an accident. I later learned that he had driven over 30 miles in my car. The moving company knew that I had a 5PM flight out of Detroit to Minneapolis. I had to leave within 20 minutes of his return and the moving was not finished. They handed me an 8 page form (Revised Written Estimate) to sign, with a new amount for the move, totaling $9,620.37. They said they would dump everything on the front lawn of my house and leave if I did not write them a check for $8,000 and sign all 8 pages of the form. I had to call a friend to borrow money and have her to put it in my account. I had surrendered the house to Flagstar Bank; I am in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy - due to a combination of the medical bills for my parents who both died at age 89 and breaking both wrists in 2007 and losing my job.
I have called the company repeatedly since 8/6/09. I have never spoken to the same person twice. When I ask to speak to Mary (the original sales person), I am told she is not available. So far, I have spoken with a Cheryl, Danielle, Sarah and Morgan. The later person told me that they had up to 21 days to deliver as stated in the contract (there is no time frame stated in the contract). When I told her that I would have to seek legal help, she stated that she didn't care.
My neighbors called to tell me that they had left my refrigerator (this was the only appliance to be moved), 2 sets of vertical blinds (all removed and packed previous to there arrival), nuts and bolts to dining room oak table, part of the computer desk (cannot be re-assembled without), all garden tools, except lawnmower, queen sheets, comforter, bed-skirt, mattress pad, 2 pillows, and 8 packed house plants. These items were all on the inventory list. They took items that were not on the list and which they had been told NOT to tag.
Days prior to the move, I had refilled all my medications for 90 days and packed them (keeping out enough medications for 1 week to bring with me). I also packed my heart implant monitor (I have a defibrillator/pacemaker), which is still in the truck. My cousin has provided me with clothing, a blow-up bed and other necessities. CVS Pharmacy has helped me to get 30-day refills on all my medications - but they have also informed me that the meds I packed will be spoiled due to sitting in the heat in a truck for so long.
Can you help me? I do not know what to do. Everything I own is in that truck.
I am sending this to you from the Red Wing, MN Library. I do not yet have an email address in MN.
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