25 Jul 2019 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
Contracted move from Mass to Georgia.
Cost estimate was done 2 separate times. Pictures included Estimate was around $10,000. The move was scheduled for 9a-12p on Sat 9/23/18. By 12pm no movers showed up and no phone calls. We were unable to contact anyone at 1st Call.until around 2pm. A dispatcher informed me the truck has brokendown and likely unable to arrive. I informed the dispatcher that I was upset that no one called me of the, nor was there any way to contact 1st Call. The Dispatcher promised the truck would be there possibly sunday, definitely Monday and he would call me. He did not call. The truck did not arrive until Tuesday 9/25 after 2pm ( more than 48hr from contract guaranteed time). The first thing the movers said was how much they suggest I give them for a tip. The next conversation with the movers was informing me that the newly recalculated move would cost around $14000. It was like a hostage situation. My closing was less than 24hr away so I was stuck. (plus they already had my down payment upfront).
The movers were very efficient. They worked beyond midnight till around 2am, Wed 9/26. They informed me that they were done and were closing up the truck to leave when my wife noticed that they had left half of our storage room items behind. The Truck was not full. I had to have an argument with the shift boss/manager to get them to finish the job. They did. and then left. But they left a lot of cut up tape and padding boxes that we had to clean up in order to have the house ready for the scheduled closing.
Furniture delivery was also a disaster. The promise from the original salesperson was that delivery would not take more than a week. While I was now stuck in Georgia in a house with no furniture, after multiple phone calls to !st Call Relocation, they kept changing my delivery date. I did not get my furniture until 10/20/18. When it was delivered most of my Henredon dining room chairs (which were wrapped in blankets by the movers) were damage with mold and severe water staining. When removed from the truck the blankets were wet. This was pointed out to me by the movers (a different team) because they wanted to let me know that they did not do this. The truck must of had a hole in the roof and during the month long stay in the truck, it rained and led to ruining the set. The following day I unwrapped the 65" LED TV that they delivered and the screen was cracked.
After unwrapping and emptying all of the boxes I contacted 1st Call to file a claim. They told me I had 60 days to file. I sent pictures of the damaged items. They said they take up to 120 days to respond. I waited. I called back in June and after a very rude and condescending person that lectured me on what I would be reimbursed for (Now is when I was told about the $0.60/pound reimbursement for damages) and it calculated out to about $350. Note; never was the insurance coverage on the move told to me to be based on weight alone. It was always feferred to as a value based amount. Replacing the TV cost me $1800. I found the same dining room chairs used on Ebay and that cost me $1400. Anyhow I was told a check would come to me on June 15 ("checks get sent out on the 15th"). June 15th has passed and so has July 15th. I have never received any checks. I am now currently trying to call 1st Call Relocations. I have probably called their main office, sales and consumer help numbers more than 20 times. Someone once picked up the phone and immediately hung up. Otherwise no one has answered the phone at any of the advertised phone numbers. I get an answer machine; It instructs you to leave a message. I always do. To date no one has called me back. I always call from the same phone number and leave my name and account number in my messages. Worst business experience I have ever had. I have recently found similar complaints as mine on the BBB website. Someone should be able to hold them accountable and shut down this company. It would also be.
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