In February I contracted a move from Wichita Ks to Chilmark Ma (Marthas Vineyard Island) with Leo at Worldwide Van Lines in Florida. The "charming" young man told me all the usual things one would want to hear about an upcoming move. Of course he omitted the part about them subcontracting these moves out. Therefore my first words of advice, stay away from Worldwide Van Lines. The subcontractor he chose for my move was Worldwide Transfer in Wichita Falls, Texas. Leo told me he had selected his favorite crew to move me and it would be a piece of cake! That was the first lie Leo told me. He had nothing to do with choosing a "crew". My goods were to be picked on the 25th of March and I would get a 48 hour window.
On the 24th of March I received a call from Rebecca with from Worldwide Transfer that the truck was about an hour away! Fortunately I had my things already packed so all there was to do is load the truck. The truck finally showed up and there was only the driver aboard. I asked him where his helper was and he stated the person didn't show up. So my sister (72 yrs old) and me (74 yrs old) help load the truck. Then I was told I had to pay and additional $700 as I was 1100 lbs over my alloted 2000 lbs. I called Rebecca and told her I wasn't paying it as I knew it wasn't true. She said I would have to call her boss, Bobby, as he was her boss. I made the call and Bobby was very agressive and tryed to tell me he would "eat" half of the $700 and I would have to pay the other half. I told him there was no way my goods weighed over the 2000 lbs and I would not pay it. He finally realized I wasn't giving in but told me to give the driver the cashiers check for $800 that was to be paid upon delivery. I arrived on the island on March 27 and starting April 1st I started calling Worldwide Van Lines (Leo) and was going to point out the problems I had with the subcontractor and of course after many voice mails he never returned my call. I then started calling Rebecca and asking about my shipment and got very vague answers anywhere from having to reroute the truck to driver emergency to any weak excuse she could think of.
This went on for two more weeks so I called Worldwide Van Lines and tried to contact customer service. After 2 calls leaving voice mails I spoke with a very rude lady and she said I would get my things eventually. I started to protest and she hung up on me! I kept after Rebecca daily and kept saying a few more days until delivery without telling me where it was. I contacted a lawyer friend of mine in Boston and he said I had to give it the 30 days the contract stated and if I didn't have my things to contact him and he would handle it. I gave Rebecca one more try and told her I had talked to my attorney and if I didn't have a definitive answer in 2 days I would have my attorney contact her. Surprisingly enough I got a call back and my things were in Ohio and I should see them in a couple of days. I told her I wanted the drivers cell number to confirm this. I called the driver and he assured me he would be here on Thursday morning. Then he told me I would have to pay for ferry tickets to bring things over and for him to back off island or he couldn't bring the truck over. Of course I told him at this point I didn't have a choice. That was an additional $300 after all my other costs. I call this holding my goods hostage. The driver wasn't the same one that picked up but he was polite and seemed to care. I checked my goods and there was minor damage to some things but at that juncture I knew it would be fruitless to file a claim. I fed the driver 2 meals and gave him a place to sleep and fixed a lunch to go when he left. He said he didn't have much money and the company doesn't pay food allowance.
After he left and I was putting away my things I was missing a box with things of great value to me and no one else. The box had old family photos from my Mom and Dad (both deceased) and can't be replaced. If anyone had Worldwide Transfer (Penske truck) move their things, please check and see if you can find a box with old photos that doesn't belong to them, please contact Rebecca at Worldwide Transfer and I'll pay for the return. There is much more to my story but I have read so many complaints about this company and also Worldwide Van Lines and can see some people were worse off than me. As consumers we have to stop these kinds of businesses from all the fraud, deception and underhanded dealings. I'm not finished with this yet and I'm gathering documents to give to the attorney.
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