3 Feb 2023 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
BEWARE of apparent Fraud and Predatory Practices by True Blue Moving Group, LLC of Greenacres, Florida, hereafter called TBMG.
We were originally quoted a total of $4621.60 for the move what was the equivalent of a Studio Apartment (actually a One Bedroom, but no bed, chest of drawers or bedside tables). I had forgotten a couple of items and called back and got a new Estimate/Bill of Lading for $5232.50
This was in line with other estimates we had received and so we paid a deposit of $1881.00 by credit card and booked a pack up date of either the 28th or 29th of May, 2022.
We were supposed to have our total broken into three payments. Deposit, Pickup, Delivery. More on that later.
Without calling us, the packers showed up on the 27th and said that they were there to pack us and move us. Well, we were certainly not happy with that, as we had given two dates, as they had specified. The packers came up to the apartment and looked through all the rooms to “make sure they had the stuff they needed and that it looked the right amount etc.” They also indicated that we would be the first pack and load of the day, so we should see them fairly early.
On the 28th, they did not show up on time and we called the Driver/Lead. He said that they “decided to pack someone else first in another location”. We raised the roof, and they reluctantly agreed to come to us first.
On arrival, they said that someone had stolen their packing supplies and that they had to “buy more” and began the “sob story”.
After packing up and loading 80% of the boxes etc., the Driver/Lead said that we had way more stuff than was on the original estimate/bill of lading. He then said that it was almost DOUBLE what we had told the sales/scheduling person at TBMG at the beginning. He said we could agree to the increase, with a new Bill of Lading and cost OR they could unload it all on the street. His excuse was that he was only a contractor and could not fix anything. He also continued the sob story about how much work it had been and hinted that if they did not get a good tip, they would not be incented to take good care of our belongings.
I complained to the corporate office/Manager at TBMG and they said there was nothing that they could do, because the packer/mover was a contractor and not them.
We were already incredibly stressed and out of time, so we agreed.
This brought the estimate to $10,279.00!! a MORE THAN DOUBLING of the original estimate.
More predatory practices ensued at this point. The Driver/Lead went through a bunch of garbage about how much he was “taking off” of the bill for this that and the other thing, so it was so good… NOT.
Additionally, at this point, the Driver/Lead also insisted on CASH payment or a Postal Money Order and of course that is the same as cash. I called again to the corporate office and even though we were previously assured we could use credit card or a check, they said again, “nothing we can do, as the packer is an independent contractor. In the end, we went to the bank and got cash before they closed and paid over $4K in cash. I insisted on him signing the documents showing receipt of the cash.
We were told multiple times, that our shipment was going to go in a small truck direct and that this is the best way for it to not get damaged. However, we had put Apple Tracking Tabs in some of the boxes and saw that they unloaded the shipment, across the bay in Richmond, California and there it sat for over a month.
We called multiple times to TBMG and then to their consigned shipper, Movers and Packers Relocations Specialists out of New York, to pressure them to finish the shipment. We were promised dozens of times that they were “checking with dispatch” and would get back to me. They NEVER called me. I always called them.
Eventually, we were told that the shipment was being delivered on August 19th. Then the next part of the saga begins, where another “independent contractor” delivered our household goods to a storage facility where we met them.
As they opened the back of a rented truck, we see our belongings and immediately knew that they were almost totally destroyed.
In the end, it was another insistence on CASH and no credit card or check allowed. This is obviously a tactic to prevent you from cancelling charges or checks due to their gross negligence. Additionally, even after the original shipper/packer said we could keep the few, old blankets used (we insisted on this as the items were going to storage) and said he put it in the documents.
So, at the end of this sad tale, is that we paid a total of $9,611.00 plus about $1K in tips (supposedly for taking good care of our stuff!).
Bottom line: We paid over $10K to ship a studio apartment amount of household good, a total of 1316 miles. To add insult to injury, we also paid that exorbitant, predatory figure AND had over $30K in damages through their and their agent’s gross negligence.
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