8 Jun 2022 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
Never in a Million Years!
When is a “quote” not a “quote”?
I contacted Bekins Kelowna to arrange packing and shipment of my 1 bdrm appt possessions overseas. I had my belongings in a self storage unit with Kelowna Self Storage (can I say what a fabulous business they are, honest, friendly and super efficient). I am currently a full time student until starting employment in July and am on a strictly limited budget. I advised Bekins of this and they agreed when advised that I wouldn’t be in a position to pay the $10,000 overseas shipping fee for several months. Given COVID related delays, it would be some time before shipment could be arranged.
Bekins contacted me in March and advised they could have my goods transferred to their warehouse in April, getting it packed ready for overseas shipping and storing it until I was ready to have it shipped. They quoted $1900 for packing and moving to their facility and provided a monthly storage “quote” that was close to what I was already paying. I agreed and paid a $500 non refundable deposit.
When the storage fees came in for “bulk storage “at double the quote and double what I was paying at Kelowna Self Storage for a self contained unit, I questioned this. I received an email in a berating tone suggesting I should expect this figure “given the weight of my goods”.
Who could estimate the weight of their household goods? Only someone in the moving and storage industry, and Bekins failed to do this when they provided me with the storage “quote” which was actually their minimum charge, not what it would likely cost me.
With this monthly figure, I was unable to make any contribution to my outstanding account with them, this was distressing, not a comfortable situation to be in. I contacted them and as they were not negotiable on the monthly storage fee, I asked for a quote to have my goods moved back to self storage until I was able to finalise overseas shipping. They quoted $900 to have my fully packed and securely wrapped (I am assuming) goods moved 5kms from their facility to Kelowna Self Storage. I am not in a position to pay this fee until I start work in July, so agreed to pay their bulk storage monthly fee until the end of July, when I intended moving my goods back to more reasonable self storage and make payments against my outstanding account with Bekins for packing and shipping my goods overseas.
I then got a demand from Bekins Kelowna to pay my entire outstanding account within 3 weeks or my goods would be publicly auctioned under the Warehouseman’s Act. They had added an additional $400 charge for “warehouse handling” – without any explanation – I can only assume there is an extra charge for their staff to move your goods off the truck and into the warehouse. They billed me for the next months bulk storage in advance, while advising my goods would be auctioned in the middle of the month.
I contacted the Better Business Bureau, and their only service to me was to forward aggressively worded emails from the Bekins Kelowna General Manager, Dawn. I regret not taking the time to read the previous BBB negative reviews, specifically mentioning this person who I had the misfortune to be dealing with.
I contacted Bekins Canada and they quickly distanced themselves, claiming no responsibility for the actions of their franchisees, and went so far as to request I remove my complaint from their website.
I contacted Consumer Affairs but their jurisdiction does not cover the moving and storage industry.
So I am sadder, much wiser, and much lighter in worldly goods, including many precious and to me, priceless possessions collected over the past 30+ years. I never in a million years imagined losing everything I own to a business so lacking in brains, heart and backbone.
So would I recommend Bekins for your moving and storage needs? Never in a million years!
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