Our move is a nightmare thanks to American Van Lines. They have lied to us from day 1 and continue to do so. The salesperson, Eric, I spoke to insinuated that they are carriers, not brokers. When trying to make me choose their company, he said that I had to make a decision quickly as there would be a carrier in our area during my preferred pick-up date and that I had to pay the deposit soon to secure a spot on the truck. I admit, I fell for it. I had just had a baby and things were hectic. I asked him if pick-up could be the 7-8th of June, he said that I could choose a specific date, but they appreciate a window. So, the 7-8th it was. When he mentioned the delivery window of 12-26th I said that is a big window, he replied that it shouldn't take that long, it depends on where on the truck our stuff would be i.E. First loaded would be last delivered making me believe that there would be a big truck with multiple shipments, and that the truck would go directly to our delivery area. When I asked him if I could track our shipment he said yes, I would have the nr of the driver and would know exactly where my stuff was at all times. Lies, all lies. Called AVL a few days before scheduled pick-up, was assured everything was on track. They day before, same thing.
On the 8th, I received a call from Colonial Van Lines, apparently the sub hired to do the move. The owner said that they were running late and that the truck would be there 1-4pm. He went on to complain about AVL accepting jobs that they could not do and that he hated going to washington state and that he wanted to get out of the business. I got the nr of the driver, called 3 times before he finally called me back saying that they would be there 9-10pm. A little later, he called again saying they would be there 3am on the 9th (we had to leave for the airport at 6am). An hour later he called saying they would not make it. We changed our flights and waited. They finally arrived around 4pm on the 9th. Two guys and a small truck. Found out that our stuff would be going to Nashville and that they were not the ones driving it to WA. We arrived in WA on the 11th and have been waiting for our stuff ever since. Called AVL so many times, they never returned our calls. Eventually was told on the 22nd that the truck left Nashville on the 19th, 10 days after pickup and that we could expect delivery 7-10 business days from the 22nd, way beyond the delivery window. The guy asked me if that would be inconvenient! Hell yes! We have been living with practically no furniture with an infant. I asked for the drivers nr so that I could figure out what was going on. I am still waiting for that information. Every time I call AVL I am told that dispatch will call me back, they never do.
At this stage I have no idea when this nightmare will be over. And I still have to pay them thousands of dollars. I will file a claim for the cost of changing our flights and the delay, but I'm sure they will just ignore it. Do not use this company. They are liars and cheats with no morals. They do not care about people at all and will take your money and make your life hell.
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