AM-PM Moving and Storage Total Scam
I live/lived on a military post, but as I was separating from the military I hired full-service movers. I surveyed several companies, but I liked AM PM Moving and Storage due to customer service. Item-based moves as opposed to weight-based moves, sounded intriguing, as military moves were always weight-based.
As AM PM and I were drawing up the contract this item-based company began singing the praises of weight-based companies, and convinced me how the latter would be the better option for me. The rep was excellent until the day of the move. Thats when the love affair ended.
The movers called the night before to confirm a 9-11 am time frame. Later that morning it was put off until 2-4 pm. As 4pm rolled around, I called the company. I could no longer get in touch with the rep, nor did he reply to any of my calls or messages. I called AM PM several times to find out what was going on. But I was always told the movers were on their way.
When they finally arrived, 7pm or so, the driver came with two movers, one with a Mexican ID and another with a SSN and no picture ID. The driver said he didnt know the pickup was at an Air Force Base. This is a serious offense, and not just on a military base.
The driver had to hire two other movers. The supposed 9am move began at close to 10pm and ended at approximately 12:30am.
As the move was drawing to a close, the driver kept talking about how there was not much space left in the truck (thats poor calculation on his end not mine); he said my move would probably exceed the weight estimate.in the end I paid more than the original contract stated; I had to leave items behind (a computer desk set, all exercise equpiment and a very large and expensive 3-tiered cat tree); the movers had my husband and mother packing boxes that were placed on the lawn (isn't this what movers are for???)
There were some boxes with no numbers, and the driver said those were probably the ones my husband and mother packed.
Instead of labeling boxes and furniture by numbered tags, (I had labeled the boxes myself), there was an arrow up and down the invoice stating PBO (packed by owner). I have never had this happen with any other company, and with the military we've move A LOT!
For such a "professional"cmpany as they reffered to themselves they brought no mattress boxes, just some large saran-wrap looking item, which of course tore the zipped matress and bed skirt (yes, they packed the bed skirt together with the box spring); we were told the mattress and box spring are two separate items, but they count as a 700 lb. Set (my entire bed doesnt weight half of that)
Of the furniture wrapped in the large saran wrap, none of the items arrived at my house with that covering, just the movers blankets; the movers wanted us to pay for boxes, including $35 for wardrobe boxes (I BOUGHT all my own boxes!); and then the driver had the audacity to tell us he would do us the favor of not charging us for packing supplies, such as boxes, that cheapo tape, the saran wrap, etc. If we chose a non-binding contract as oppoesed to a binding contract.
When my mother told the mover this was a total scam he patronized my mother and I by stating that if you have one light box and another and then begin accumulating more light boxes, at some point those boxes become heavier and heavier. I understand the concept. I learned it in elementary school, if not kindergarten. And then he said we might understand it better if he explained it in a different way.
That's when the binding vs non-binding issue came into play. If we chose a binding contract and the move was over the weight limit, he would charge us for EVERYTHING, to include gas, packing supplies and such.
Although I know my move was less than the 5000 lbs I was bullied into accepting the non-binding contract.
What a sham! I only wish I had done some research before hiring AM PM.
This is just the beginning, I'll update as more details surface!
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