18 Apr 2023 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
Avoid this company at all costs! I hired Modern Movers to move my furniture and boxed goods. They were rough handling the boxes and took items that I told them to leave. But the worst part was their refusal to take responsibility for damage caused by their defective equipment. My goods had to stay in their truck for 4 nights due to the fact that they were too busy to deliver on the day I wanted. They also charged me for storage during that time. This was a local move, and during those 4 nights we had rain and their truck leaked. When my goods were delivered many of the boxes were soaking wet and had collapsed. I immediately called their office and advised them of this fact. When I unpacked the wet boxes I found that many items were broken. I took photos of each broken item as well as the collapsed boxes and filed a claim for $2,500. They sent me a check for $36 stating that since I didn't purchase extra insurance I wasn't entitled to more. Needless to say I wasn't satisfied as the damage was caused by their failure to maintain their equipment, not by insufficient packing. After several months of corresponding back and forth I decided to take them to small claims court. The court process was fairly easy and did not involve me hiring a lawyer. When we got to court I explained the situation to the judge, who seemed to agree with me. The owner of the company tried to say that I used the wrong boxes and that's why they collapsed. The judge stated that water and cardboard do not mix. Then the owner referred to the original contract that I signed. In the small print at the end it states that they have no responsibility for damages caused by almost anything!!! I'm sure this is standard wording of any moving contract, but I believe the company should have a moral obligation to reimburse me since the damage was obviously due to their negligence in not maintaining their equipment. Since I signed the contract, which I did not have a choice on if I wanted my goods moved, the judge ruled against me.
Read more