17 Jun 2023 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
In February of this year, 2023, our house was sold with a closing date of May 5th and my wife and I made arrangements with Chase Moving and Storage of Essex Junction to have our household goods moved to Texas from Vermont via Wheaton Moving and Storage, and paid their required 30% ($4277) deposit toward the move. In mid-April there was an issue in the sale of the house that was no fault of our own which terminated it and the house was returned active listing. We immediately told Chase (Kevin) that we would have to reschedule to which he stated that it would not be a problem and to let him know when new pack and pick up dates were available.
We contacted them today, 6/13/2023, and provided them with new dates. After receiving the new quote, we were told that by changing the dates, we had forfeited the $4277 deposit from the “previous” contract and another 30% deposit would be required. This “date-change” forfeiture was never mentioned when we paid the deposit or when we advised that we needed to change the dates but there was a clause hidden deep in their Move Booking Paperwork that we overlooked which states: “LIQUIDATED DAMAGES: We will collect a non-refundable retainer fee equal to 30% of your estimated charges at the time of booking any services with Chase Moving and Storage”. This statement provides no specifics and one assumes that loss of deposit would apply in your cancelling the contract, not just changing service dates.
Clearly, we made a terrible (and very expensive) mistake in hiring them, but have now hired a reputable and highly-rated Moving and Storage company in Burlington which did not require a deposit at all. If you feel the need to hire Chase Moving and Storage, make sure you understand, because they will not tell you, that you will forfeit your 30% deposit for any changes whatsoever to your pack and pick up dates, apparently, no matter what the reason. We contacted Wheaton Moving and Storage’s corporate headquarters for their input and were told someone would contact us, but they never did, so apparently, they condone this practice.
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