28 Dec 2021 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
I contacted GHL to move my deceased mother's property from California to Maryland. In the beginning they were very attentive. They presented a very attentive and pleasant scenario. I was told me that they ONLY used a select few LICENSED and BONDED, true household moving carriers, and they would be with me every step of the process, protecting my interests and shipment. I agreed to pay MORE for their services because of all the other brokers I contacted they had the best rating on the US DOT FMCSA website with no complaints, (at the moment GHL has 2 complaints from 2021, one of which is mine).
That was where the good service ended. After I paid the deposit, I got very little service. I had to constantly call them to determine if my scheduled pick up date was still happening and as it was, the pick up was a day late. I expected a regular moving company to show up with a truck. What showed up was a beat up used U-Haul box van. There were 2 guys, one of which spoke only Russian, and the other a little English. Right off the bat, they told me that the volume I was quoted, 300 cubic feet was not enough despite having very meticulously listed all the items we were shipping to GHL. When I complained, he told me that the contract I signed with GHL wasn't valid and that I would have to use their contract. He want me to pay, UP FRONT, for an additional 500 CuFt at $4.70 / CuFT, an additional $1175 (beyond the original $653) in cash for the up front half of the cost, (the remaining 50% upon delivery).
I jumped on the phone to GHL and they rudely told me that the volume quotation was based on a very inaccurate DOT website, and that it had only been an estimate and that I should have expected to incur 262% increase in cost. While on the phone, the 1st guy guy left. About 2 hours later, another beat up truck shows up, with 2 more guys who managed to cram my mothers possessions into 450 CuFt, so it only cost me an additional $352 for the extra 150 CuFt, but then they tried to shake me down for the $350 transfer cost because they didn't bring the 18-wheeler. I refuse to pay that. By that time, GHL was not taking my calls on any phone number. That was May 21, 2021. Then my real problems began.
I had to wait until the end of July before I got my shipment. I called GHL every few days, and most of the time they didn't answer, and when they did they either lied to me, saying the shipment was on the way, or that it would be delivered this week. I spent over $400 on a storage unit a month earlier than I needed to because they lied. Finally, sick of their lies, I contacted the FMCSA and filed a complaint only to find out that the FMCSA isn't about consumer protection, but only motor carrier safety, so NO HELP AT ALL. I tracked down the actual company in Los Angeles that picked up my goods and started calling them every other day and was also lied to. They would say my shipment was being loaded today, or on the road but the truck broke down, or would be there on Saturday. They stories was always different, always conflicted with the previous one, and was always a lie.
I contacted the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services about the carrier only to find out that they had only applied for their license the day before they picked up my shipment and was neither licensed or bonded despite the assurances from GHL. In fact, that company had their application denied in October 2021, less than five months after applying. GHL lied in that this company was NEVER licensed for either moving within the state of California, or interstate.
I also contacted the Florida Dept of Consumer Affairs for help only to find out that they couldn't help and that even IF I got a judgement in a FL small claims court, I'd never collect for the same reason OJ Simpson never had to pay.
I wasn't until I call the FBI and filed a complaint about stolen property and then told the carrier, that I was suing them for Interstate Piracy that they finally got my shipment on a truck. But not a moving truck, just a common carrier whose guy was not at all careful. My goods were packed haphazardly and many items were damaged, but because of the length of time had passed since my original contract with GHL, I was unable to file a claim so I cannot get any help.
Bottom line is Global Home Logistics is NOT AT ALL set up to provide any services across the country. They took my money up front and then washed their hands of my shipment. They did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to assist me in getting my shipment delivered and often lied to me about the status. I spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of my own time. I would have been far better off renting a 1-way U-Haul and driving my inheritance across the country myself.
DO NOT USE this company unless you truly enjoy strife, anxiety, pain and heartbreak.
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