moving scam
Raj
Submitted this review about
National Movers
Review made Live: 6/27/2015 9:48:00 AM
Got scammed by this moving company. I was in touch with a person named Natalie from national movers since March. . She told me she would be the contact person and seemed trustworthy. Gave me a low ball quote and sent over a binding quote with a max not to exceed.
Day of move two movers show up asking for price for double the quote for the same inventory list. Would not stick to the binding quote. It seems National Movers subcontracted with another trucking company . which does not respect it’s own binding quote . Tried callingNatalie, she disappeared and was transferred to voice mails. I sent the truckers back. Then they blackmailed me that they have my credit card numbers and will charge me $500 in addition to the deposit I had already paid that will be forfeited. I was told initially that they have some DOT approved software and the quotes are accurate . This is scary : if the software overestimates you dont get the money back since the space is reserved on the truck . If underestimates you cannot turn back since they will charge deposit + 500$ extra for turning them back
Then I get a call back for the trucking company that they will send a better crew the next day in morning - I explained I am leaving town in evening. They do not show up. They show up twelve and half hours later well after I already left the city. Hispanic guy shows up who was totally abusive telling my wife husband has already signed a contract.My wife was in tears. Two people show up and asked basically the double quote as the day before. My wife signs-up on the dotted line. Now the folks dont even know what they are doing . They pack liquid ant bait and used cockroach baits with the clothes. Simply wraps cellophene paper around the office furniture does not even check the drawers to pack what is inside. shoes packed with library books . As a result items fall off my office drawers and are missing .
I suspected this is a scam so last min I ask my wife to UPS me the financial documents since cannot trust this bag with the company.
Now I get a call from company that delivery can take upto 21 business days when initially I was told 10 days for distance less than 1000 miles. Jennifer asks for extra 1500$ for 10 day delivery. I refused and called my credit card company to put up fraud alert. Called DOT and dallas Police. Dallas police say its a civil case and thus get a lawyer to investigate this first .
Then one day I get a call from trucker that they want to charge me a redelivery fee when they havent even attempted delivery. I tell them I have renters policy anyway so I am not paying anything and will report this as stolen.
Next I start getting threatening calls from company to pay up. I told them deliver and I will pay . Finally they agree to deliver .
Delivery they dont even have any process. When I moved in past with mayflower or united we inventoried and labelled each box. This company does not have any process. They simply unloaded the boxes and have no process of tallying the bill of lading - some items are missing .
I decided to investigate this company :
website says national-moving.com based in multiple cities with main address in Dallas .
I drove to Dallas since was curious : Its a warehouse . Some dude is running this company in a basement there is no exclusive office for national movers.
I called the AAA office to verify if this was really a AAA accredited company. But they could not find a company on their list either. Natalie has disappeared.
Called aarp - company is not approved either
The DOT transportation number is shared with several other transport companies and does not belong exclusively to this company .
Even the final receipt is from orange van lines and not national - was told this is a 'sister company'
No exclusive physical office though website claims multiple cities
I do not know if I will get my stuff, ever. Never go with an internet quote. Always have an in-person estimate from a reputable moving company like United or North American Van Lines who have their own physical offices and trucks so at least you have due process. These internet companies subcontract with truckers and its not binding for them to accept their own quote and no rules of law as cross state lines and no physical office.
Their pattern is all the same
Sweet talking rep who misreprents the quote and delivery times/estimates.
It seems these internet companies basically low ball the price initially to get your credit card numbers and authorization., then bid for truckers going along that route, and then when they show up its too late , you are trapped . Then the company holds your stuff up for ransom money.
