Independence Van Lines

Reviews

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1. J

   Joseph

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Minooka, IL to Washington, UT

   20 Apr 20212-bedroomPaid $6,000

   Don't use this company they are crooks

   We hired them to move us across the country, and they hired another company to complete the move. The company they hired has D rating and we still haven't received our stuff even though the bulk of the money was paid to Independence Van lines. It's been over a month and they won't return our calls and they won't tell us where stuff is. DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING THEY SAY!!!

2. L

   Linda T.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Johnstown, CO to Kingman, AZ

   4 Apr 20212-bedroomPaid $800

   Horrible

   We had a horrible experience we had a scheduled move they notified us 2 hours after the pick up time that our move was pushed out 2 days their contract states deposit not refundable so even though they rescheduled and we had to make last minute changes to our move they are not liable

3. C

   Chad C.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Waterloo, IA to Cabot, AR

   3 Apr 20213-bedroomPaid $8,000

   Worst of the worst

   This is a broker that charges you for nothing. They hire the worst movers and give you cheap estimates that double at pick up. They dont do anything to get your items to you. I have been waiting 6 weeks with still nothing. The company they sent talks about their prison time and how they auction off peoples belongings.

4. K

   Kristy D.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Fountain Hills, AZ to Oak Ridge, TN

   2 Apr 20214+ bedroomPaid $2,215

   Refuses to cancel my move

   Bait and switch. Tried to go to arbitration and they are refusing and aren't certified AAA® or the ICDR. Basically just stole my money. Deposits on moves are NOT normal turns out. Run.

5. A

   Ag R.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Sunnyvale, CA to Florham Park, NJ

   1 Apr 20211-bedroomPaid $2,500

   Bait and switch moving scam, STAY AWAY!!

   TLDR: THIS IS A BAIT N SWITCH MOVING SCAM!! Do not use this company. The good reviews are all fake, trust the bad reviews with pictures. I never believed that these moving scams exist and that it could happen to us, but it did. Here is the link to the complaints with Better Business Bureau, there are so many people out there with horror stories with this company. https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/fort-lauderdale/profile/moving-brokers/independence-van-lines-0633-90415056/complaints They basically dumped all our stuff on the ground and left and are not agreeing to refund our deposit of $1120. FULL REVIEW: We were completely lied to when we hired this company. They said they are actual movers and not brokers, I never checked this on the DOT website as we were time crunched. We received a binding estimate of $2500 to move our minimal goods(1 bedroom apt.) from California to the East Coast. They outsourced the job to USA Logistics, never told us the name of the company who the job was outsourced to. USA Logistics is another moving scam, feel free to check their reviews and BBB ratings, you will be shocked. https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/sun-valley/profile/moving-and-storage-companies/usa-logistics-1216-884745 Anyways, three unskilled movers showed up at 9.30 PM at our house, started loading boxes in a hurry. After they loaded 12 boxes I asked them about our estimate and he said that we are over our estimate significantly because we had more boxes. We did have more boxes but we had also gotten rid of our entertainment center, 200 lbs worth of dumbbells, workout bench, bar stools, lamps, coffee table and some other stuff. I had clearly discussed this with the QA department of Independence Van Lines and they said that we should be ok. Moreover, I had calculated the cubic footage of my stuff and based on my estimate, our cubic footage was at 340, we were estimated for 355, so we were definitely under. After I expressed dissatisfaction over the increased estimate, I was asked to speak with their manager Ben, who was the rudest and most insulting person I have ever spoken with. I had a heated conversation with him and told him to proceed with the move, but that I will report this to the FMCSA. At this, Ben basically said that he refuses to work with anyone that threatens him and asked his guys to dump our stuff on the ground outside and leave. THESE GUYS DUMPED OUR STUFF ON THE GROUND AT 10.30 PM, MY WIFE AND I HAD TO CARRY ALL OF IT TO OUR 3RD FLOOR APARTMENT OURSELVES. The next day, I asked Independence Van Lines for my refund of my deposit of $1120 as my move never happened and they said NO. They said that we refused to pay the carrier and that we were over our estimate, which is not true at all. I have reported them to the FMCSA and have filed a complaint with BBB to get my deposit back. If they do not refund me, I will take them to small claims court and will file a case with the attorney generals office in the states of Florida and California. Seriously guys, stay away from this company. They will lowball the quote and you will feel like you are getting a good deal, but do not become a victim of a moving scam. It causes immense amount of emotional and financial stress.

6. L

   Latacia J.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Palmdale, CA to Lena, MS

   31 Mar 2021StudioPaid $1,600

   Scam company

   I paid a 600 dollar deposit and my binding contract was for march 27 to 28 they didnt call they just rescedule me to following monday time was for 10am to 2pm they never came driver i called and asked what happened they said the move they were at took longer so they said 6 to 7pm still no show i called and asked for refund of deposit the manager said no refund if i cancel im so hurt i had to rent a hotel to live cause im still waiting to get moved i beg you guys please dont use this company they will scam you i was just like you guys please when you call ask them to show proof that they are acredited and ask thier score i searched at bbb and they wasnt i wish i would have listen to the company that told me they are not a good company

7. M

   Mary C.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Phoenix, AZ to Raleigh, NC

   30 Mar 20212-bedroomPaid $7,000

   Moving Scam!

   I swear each time I talked to them they upped the price another $2000. I was supposed to move yesterday and they told me I would have to leave half my stuff here. They are refusing to refund my deposit and shady as hell through the entire things. Do not chose them! If you've had similar dealings please contact me at mary_clever@hotmail.com. we are planning on getting a lawyer, and could use your story and experience as well!

8. T

   Timothy M.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Manhattan, KS to Canon City, CO

   30 Mar 20212-bedroomPaid $3,600

   Bait and switch; then they never call back--TOTAL SCAM!!!

   Why did I not pay attention to the bad reviews? Maybe my experience will save at least one poor sucker from being sucked into this scam. Was paying for my daughter to move from Manhattan, KS, to Canyon City, CO. "Jordan" was hot to trot to get hold of me when I was paying the bill. However, once the driver arrived, they immediately claimed that the inventory was too great, and nearly DOUBLED the total price, even though the inventory sheets matched up almost exactly. By the time they load your stuff up, they can then hold you hostage for as much money as they want. My repeated calls back to various individuals at this company, Jordan, David, Joseph, Angie, etc., etc., etc. I had to literally scream at some poor front desk girl just to get some kind of lame excuse for why they charged an additional $1500.00--basically, they do it because they CAN do it. Just today, I spoke with someone named "Hellene" who was so sympathetic and promised to call back--nothing. None of them can return a phone call or an email once they have you by the short hairs. This company ended up using a different company named "American Home Relocation," which you can Google because it looks like they work out of a trailer in Carol Stream, Illinois. Just a whole crew of scam artists. Just yesterday, I called and spoke to "David" in the office--he actually told me he was too busy, and asked me to call back tomorrow! American Home Relocation is a whole other story--same smell, different nostril. I have called and texted "Dayse" multiple times, but she cannot figure out how to return a phone call or an email. So I called the office this morning, and left a message with "Monique" for "Laurie," without any call back. Then I called back and got hold of another individual named "Donte," who literally had an attitude the moment he got on the line, and told me that he had no idea when my daughter's items would be delivered and neither did anybody else in his office. Maybe the entire industry is infected with the same bug, but you should take your risks somewhere else--I can practically hear them wishing me off the phone every time I call to try to find out what is going on with my daughter's items. Please take this as an object lesson - use some other company--complete nightmare!

9. H

   Heather F.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Lodi, CA to Pensacola, FL

   26 Mar 2021Partial movePaid $3,400

   Waiting

   I was quoted $1700 for my 49 items listed. Delivery in 5-7 days. The driver loaded my “50” items and told me I was 600 cu ft over my contract and had to pay additional $1300. My items were picked up March 20, 2021, I called today March 25 and no one can tell me where my delivery is! My first call I was told it was still sitting somewhere and had not been transported yet! Third call I was told they could not get in touch with mover they contracted out to. I will be contacting again tomorrow and provide an update to review.

10. N

    Natalia Q.

    Source: MoveAdvisor · Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL

    28 Feb 20211-bedroomPaid $2,387

    Stay away from Independence Van Lines

    I would absolutely NOT recommend working with Independence Van Lines for your moving needs. I have moved a number of times, but this was by far my worst experience. Independence VL is a broker and unfortunately won’t take responsibility for abusive and unprofessional practices of the moving companies they work with. I scheduled my move from Los Angeles to Chicago through Independence VL and was asked for an initial deposit based on an estimated volume. Having previous experience with moves and wanting to avoid stress and additional fees the day of my move, a week before my move I provided an updated inventory list. We recalculated volume and I provided an additional deposit per their request. The day of my move, a company called Map Express Logistics showed up and told me the volume calculations were wrong and I had an additional 536 c.f.!!! (DOUBLE the volume on my original estimate) and they needed $4,000 more to proceed with the move. I decided to cancel my move and lost the $2,387 deposit I had already paid to Independence VL. For reference, I ended up hiring a different moving company which at pick up calculated an additional 80 c.f. and charged $300 extra from the quote they had given me. Nowhere near the additional 536 c.f. and $4,000 this company wanted to overcharge. Stay away from Independence Van Lines and their partners. Moving companies have always been known for shady practices and their partner relationships are a grey area. Go with a moving company that owns their own equipment and charges a fixed deposit at the time of booking.