Complaint Review: Absolute Van Lines

Lynda - I would like to THANK YOU for taking the time to write to me. Although I am not intimated by these people for I truly feel I am in the right and they are taking advantage of MANY innocent people.



When my goods were put into my storage unit, I have witnesses to verify. No pictures of the items were taken at that time, rather pictures of when Absolute Van Lines attempted to deliver the boxes in NH, they were OBVIOUSLY gone through. (Tape ripped open, boxes crushed etc.) That I do have photos & videotape of. I have photos after the fact not before, thinking it could be word against word.



Although, I do have a fax that I sent them stating a few belongings on it that they would of had to factor in to get final figures for that are amongst the missing. Is this still considered interstate theft?



When they arrived - I had the police waiting for them... the girl was drunk - not the driver. The girl from out of country was on a visa but checked out ok. Apparently they ran the other men and came back ok as the truck was valid as well. I took pictures of the truck, license plate and people there. The police dept. stated that since it was a civil matter nothing they could do at that time.



I tried to go through there insurance company. I talked to D.O.T. and made a complaint as well. This is sticky - insurance only covers 60 cents per pound. That does NOT include depreciation fee. How sad... my painting I purchased for $3000 in the 1991. Since Absolutes Van lines lack of POOR crating and shipping, a few boxes went through the canvas. For that must of been why they charged me and additional $682 dollars. Needless to say I wouldn't get hardly anything to even replace the value of my pots and pans.



I have made MANY complaints here are few that I touched base with, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, D.O.T., Illinois Dept. of Trans., Attorney Generals, FMCSA, AMSA,BBB, Dispute Resolutions, consumer affairs and the best for last, THE Rip-off report.





Lynda - I would like to THANK YOU for taking the time to write to me. Although I am not intimated by these people for I truly feel I am in the right and they are taking advantage of MANY innocent people.



When my goods were put into my storage unit, I have witnesses to verify. No pictures of the items were taken at that time, rather pictures of when Absolute Van Lines attempted to deliver the boxes in NH, they were OBVIOUSLY gone through. (Tape ripped open, boxes crushed etc.) That I do have photos & videotape of. I have photos after the fact not before, thinking it could be word against word.



Although, I do have a fax that I sent them stating a few belongings on it that they would of had to factor in to get final figures for that are amongst the missing. Is this still considered interstate theft?



When they arrived - I had the police waiting for them... the girl was drunk - not the driver. The girl from out of country was on a visa but checked out ok. Apparently they ran the other men and came back ok as the truck was valid as well. I took pictures of the truck, license plate and people there. The police dept. stated that since it was a civil matter nothing they could do at that time.



I tried to go through there insurance company. I talked to D.O.T. and made a complaint as well. This is sticky - insurance only covers 60 cents per pound. That does NOT include depreciation fee. How sad... my painting I purchased for $3000 in the 1991. Since Absolutes Van lines lack of POOR crating and shipping, a few boxes went through the canvas. For that must of been why they charged me and additional $682 dollars. Needless to say I wouldn't get hardly anything to even replace the value of my pots and pans.



I have made MANY complaints here are few that I touched base with, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, D.O.T., Illinois Dept. of Trans., Attorney Generals, FMCSA, AMSA,BBB, Dispute Resolutions, consumer affairs and the best for last, THE Rip-off report.



With that being said any suggestions from this point??

Ali,



I am truly sorry that you encountered such problems on your move. Please note that not all trucking companies are like this, however bad ones are out there and you found one.



There are several steps you can take to try to secure a positive outcome to this situation.



First of all don't be intimidated by these people. In all of my years in the trucking industry I can assure you that if they have represented themselves as being a major carrier, they are not. I do not believed I have ever seen one of their trucks they may be a agent for a larger company but I would guess that they have less than 20 trucks.



Next get together all of your paper work, photos, anything you have to prove that they did in fact steal from you. Do you have positive proof? Yes? Good. This my friend is called theft of an interstate shipment. This is a federal crime. If you can prove it pursue it, simple as that.



Next when they showed up demanding more money, drunk, ect. That would have been the time to call the police department and have the drivers tested on the spot, but since that didn't happen what you can do is compose a letter, giving details, time, dates, truck number, trailer number, what you saw and send it off to the Illinois Department of Transportation. give them a few days and then call them. You want them to go in and audit these folks and audit them they will. Worst case they will fine them and lock the doors.



You have proof of the theft, file a loss with their insurance company. Don't let them lie to you and tell you they don't have cargo liability, if they claim they do not, be sure to tell the D.O.T. this information. It is illegal to operate a class 8 motor vehicle without insurance.



So now you have the Federal Bureau of Investigation talking to their drivers, the D.O.T. Talking to the office and you talking to the insurance company.



If these steps are not productive for you, let me know as there are more than these ways to make a company do what is right.



Best of Luck!

Ali,



I am truly sorry that you encountered such problems on your move. Please note that not all trucking companies are like this, however bad ones are out there and you found one.



There are several steps you can take to try to secure a positive outcome to this situation.



First of all don't be intimidated by these people. In all of my years in the trucking industry I can assure you that if they have represented themselves as being a major carrier, they are not. I do not believed I have ever seen one of their trucks they may be a agent for a larger company but I would guess that they have less than 20 trucks.



Next get together all of your paper work, photos, anything you have to prove that they did in fact steal from you. Do you have positive proof? Yes? Good. This my friend is called theft of an interstate shipment. This is a federal crime. If you can prove it pursue it, simple as that.



Next when they showed up demanding more money, drunk, ect. That would have been the time to call the police department and have the drivers tested on the spot, but since that didn't happen what you can do is compose a letter, giving details, time, dates, truck number, trailer number, what you saw and send it off to the Illinois Department of Transportation. give them a few days and then call them. You want them to go in and audit these folks and audit them they will. Worst case they will fine them and lock the doors.



You have proof of the theft, file a loss with their insurance company. Don't let them lie to you and tell you they don't have cargo liability, if they claim they do not, be sure to tell the D.O.T. this information. It is illegal to operate a class 8 motor vehicle without insurance.



So now you have the Federal Bureau of Investigation talking to their drivers, the D.O.T. Talking to the office and you talking to the insurance company.



If these steps are not productive for you, let me know as there are more than these ways to make a company do what is right.



Best of Luck!

Ali,



I am truly sorry that you encountered such problems on your move. Please note that not all trucking companies are like this, however bad ones are out there and you found one.



There are several steps you can take to try to secure a positive outcome to this situation.



First of all don't be intimidated by these people. In all of my years in the trucking industry I can assure you that if they have represented themselves as being a major carrier, they are not. I do not believed I have ever seen one of their trucks they may be a agent for a larger company but I would guess that they have less than 20 trucks.



Next get together all of your paper work, photos, anything you have to prove that they did in fact steal from you. Do you have positive proof? Yes? Good. This my friend is called theft of an interstate shipment. This is a federal crime. If you can prove it pursue it, simple as that.



Next when they showed up demanding more money, drunk, ect. That would have been the time to call the police department and have the drivers tested on the spot, but since that didn't happen what you can do is compose a letter, giving details, time, dates, truck number, trailer number, what you saw and send it off to the Illinois Department of Transportation. give them a few days and then call them. You want them to go in and audit these folks and audit them they will. Worst case they will fine them and lock the doors.



You have proof of the theft, file a loss with their insurance company. Don't let them lie to you and tell you they don't have cargo liability, if they claim they do not, be sure to tell the D.O.T. this information. It is illegal to operate a class 8 motor vehicle without insurance.



So now you have the Federal Bureau of Investigation talking to their drivers, the D.O.T. Talking to the office and you talking to the insurance company.



If these steps are not productive for you, let me know as there are more than these ways to make a company do what is right.



Best of Luck!