18 Oct 2018 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
Caution Caution! Paid 4000USD for moving our household goods from TX, USA to the Netherlands, Europe in February 2018. Initially they answer prompt and professional but that changes quickly.
After weeks waiting and several emails from us Denise at Johnson advised us of a customs inspection in the US. This was on March 22nd, Then they sent us on April 16th an invoice of 2700USD regarding this inspection we were responsible for, and with a very arrogant approach of Ayal Shany, also calls himself Alex Smith, probably of the scams Mr. Shany has done before, they forced us to pay quickly even if you don't have this money available. The inspection was finished April 2nd. They sent us this invoice 2 weeks later than the release of the customs inspection and then threaten to pay quickly otherwise additional charges will occur.
After paying the customs inspection charges the container arrived 2 months too late at port of destination and now they will not release the container because they want us to pay for another 11.000USD!! these charges according to Ayal/Alex at Johnson are because of my late payment of the customs inspection charges. It took me weeks to explain them that 2 weeks of late payment could never cause those charges. After contacting Sam Bassin, so called president of international moves, he was also not willing to help and confusing with his explanation, by saying for example: if you had paid for the customs charges immediately, we would be in this position. Of course I would be still in this position because the charges are for 62 days! not only for my 14 days of delay. Besides, as a normal customer you don't know how the shipping process works and which charges can occur. Now they changed their information and indicate those charges are demurrage and detention charges related to customs inspection. At this time, container storage and demurrage charges start to build up at destination port as Johnson will not release the container.
What is even worse, they act like they are on your side by saying they do everything they can to negotiate or reduce those charges, just pay upfront and any deducting will be refunded. Of course you can believe this ''refund'' will not happen and they act like everybode has thousands of dollars to just go ahead and pay for. After weeks and weeks emails explaining that they sent me the invoice too late MR Bassin sends me an email that their hard work resulted in a deduction of 14 days of charges, 14 days charges for the mistake that they made! that is not a deduction, but a correction!
They are good in sending you important information too late so other charges are already start building up and you have no time to act.
It seems they intentionally delayed the container before and after the customs inspection to create extra charges and then blame the customer on delaying the payment too late! 62 days as result of a customs inspection is ridiculous. They probably take commission from those charges or it is a non existing invoice while we contacted the steamship line and they don't know anything about this invoice. When I made a complaint on BBB.org the answered that in summer time there is a high volume om containers in queue. Well I did not know February and March were summer months.
Who will believe that a customs inspection in the US will change the agreed service of 4000 usd to total of 17000 usd? Costs will rise each day the container is at the terminal and they are not replying to emails anymore or are very rude. We have already paid 7000usd and have nothing, they threaten us with auctioning our goods if we don't pay for those 11000usd. This business is a scam, they don't advise you in time of costs they already know so they can force you to pay quickly. This is a scam moving company who will keep telling nonsense and lies to you in order to take much more money from you in exchange for your ''life'' Now we even have to make more charges by hiring a lawyer.
Wow, while I am writing this review I can see on the right all the negative reviews and there is only 1 positive reviews and guess what, it is Mr Ayal S, employee of Johnson Storage and Moving who is writing a positive review of his own company!! how good is internation move was to London blablabla. I really don't understand how this big company is acting like a scam moving company without license. This Ayal Shany, from Israel contacted me also by Whatsapp and very arrogant as he could be, he also had a profile picture with very insulting text.
Charges now already increased to 15.000usd they are ridiculous.
Will do everything I can to get reimbursed for the emotional damage our family is suffering.
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