Tom McJilton of Simply Moving, Incorporated gave me the lowest estimate of several movers I solicited through an internet site. It was $3318.31 for 7098 pounds, based on an inventory checklist online I submitted. This was for a cross country move. He said my inventory was actually only 6600 pounds, but he increased it slightly so I would "be safe" if there were extra items. He seemed legitimate and I didn't check him out on the internet.
When the movers came, they told me that there would be an extra cost for tape, and for the few things I needed packed, which I told Tom about a day or two before, including some garden tools, 2 large mirrors, and 6-7 pieces of art or smaller mirrors. Also, I didn't get time to pack my glass shelves from 3 cabinets, so I asked them to pack them. I told Tom this the day before my move, also of 8 picture boxes that weren't listed on the inventory sheet, but since I had sold some furniture I figured I was still okay with the weight. He told me the truck would be weighed at their warehouse and if there was a difference I would be billed for that. I was fine with that and thinking things were good, since I had paid $2300 of the $3300 bill already, I expected maybe another $1000 for the additional materials and shipping, if that.
The men who showed up, the leader was a thug. I couldn't understand what he was saying most of the time because of a thick accent, but I was a trusting fool, so I just let them do their work. He had me sign a few documents, and a sheet that he said they would list any additional materials on. Tom had told me that it would cost $50 per piece of artwork or mirror, so I still thought I was within budget or reasonably close.
When the majority of my furniture and goods were in the truck, the thug leader presented me with a bill for an additional $6612.31. He said he estimated that I had an additional 4500 pounds of stuff. Also, there was an additional fuel surcharge for the weight of $337, $825 for the stairs (even though I told Tom I lived in a 3 story rowhouse), $1057 for packing materials, and $3375 for the additional weight.in addition, he told me he was giving me a deal, and that if he took the truck to be weighed, I would probably have to pay more. I got on the phone with Tom and he said all this was reasonable, and I called him a liar and a thief. They basically had all of my things hostage on the truck, I was settling on my house the next day, and I had no choice. They wanted cash for 70% of the additional cost, which was almost $5000. I had to call my elderly Mother with dementia who had to have my niece drive her to the bank to cash out her last IRA savings account for $5000.
The moving van showed up at my storage unit 2 1/2 weeks later. Only the driver was there; 2 guys pull up in a beat up old car and I realized they were day laborers who were hired to haul my stuff into my storage unit. They seemed to have no experience moving, they were just grunts, and barely listened to my instructions on how to pack the storage unit.
Many of my goods were damaged, broken doors, scratches, knobs broken off a dresser, and these guys didn't understand the word "fragile" and packed heavy things on top of fragile items. Since they are in a storage unit, it will be a while before I look through all the boxes, but the ones I have already looked at, some things have been broken.in addition, I had to pay the driver the remaining $2000 in cash, plus I asked for blankets to be left on my couch and a fragile antique cabinet. I was charged $17 each for these blankets, even though the u-haul store sells them for $1 each. It was like a final kick in the pants.
Reading these other comments and checking with the BBB, I kick myself for not doing my homework. Clearly this is a rogue moving company, and I got conned. This company needs to be driven out of business, and fast.
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