Bait and Switch
John Morlock
Submitted this review about
Colonial Van Lines
Review made Live: 5/20/2012 1:16:00 PM
My experience with Colonial Van Lines was worse than a nightmare. I am a disabled, retired veteran. I have moved at least once every three years for the last 30 years. All of my moves in the military were fantastic. Now that I'm retired, this was my first move that I paid for myself. I wish I had found your site before I chose what company to use for my move.
After receiving quotes from 4 or 5 moving companies, I decided to go with Colonial. After a few phone calls, I was given an estimate by Teddy Alejandro. I was reminded over and over that the estimate would be higher because he had to give me a "guaranteed not to be higher than quote." My weight was estimated at 6387 pounds. I knew how much I had to spend on the move and was quoted $3884.80. I then had to use my credit card to pay a $1500.00 down payment. The day of the move, a 26 foot truck shows up with some other company's name on the side. The driver informs me that the initial estimate was wrong and that weight was now going to be estimated at 12,000 lbs. but that it doesn't matter because I would be charged the actual weight, not the estimate. The driver then insisted that I pay them another $1300.00 before he would start moving my belongings. He also stated that I had to sign a new contract that would void the first contract I, and Teddy Alejandro had signed. As it was the day of the move, I had no choice. I asked to see the weigh ticket for the empty truck. The driver said there were no scales around so he didn't weigh the truck but that I could see the weigh ticket at delivery. As I was moving from Wyoming to Missouri, my goods were taken to Denver, off-loaded, stored, then 10 days later, put on another truck with 2 other people's goods and delivered to my new house. With 2 other people's stuff on the truck, there was no way to verify any weigh ticket to verify the weight of my goods. The delivery driver then insisted that I pay them an additional $4000.00 in cash or certified funds before they would start unloading my goods. If you add it all up, I paid over $6800 for a move I was quoted a "guaranteed not to be higher than quote" of $3884..80. Each time the company demanded funds, it was at a time that my move and my goods were being held hostage by company. I was obviously under duress on the day of the move and day of delivery when the company demanded more money. I was able to pay the monies extorted from me only because I used my back disability pay I had received just the month before from the VA and Army. All I have to say is, anyone doing business with Colonial Van Lines, don't fall for the "guaranteed not to be higher than quote." It's a lie and once the packers show up, they will have you sign another contract, that voids the first one. This is a classic 'bait and switch'.
