Complaint Review: Across USA Moving & Storage

Across USA Moving & Storage performed my interstate move from Texas to Nevada. The original quote I received from the company was for $1352 on 7/13/08. I never signed a release waiving my right to an in-home estimate and was never informed that they would provide one. The movers arrived on 7/23/08. They forced me to sign three documents before they began packing my belongings. After they began loading, they brought in boxes for my box spring, mattress, and TV. I told them I didn't want boxes, but they said boxes were required for insurance purposes. They also replaced 3 of my own boxes with new boxes because, in their opinion, my boxes "were not sturdy enough". I was not given an option to decline the new boxes.

Finally, after loading, the movers added some figures up on the documents I had signed when they arrived, and told me I would have to pay a total of $2626, per the bill of lading. This included $308 for packing materials that I did not ask for, and $142 for labor to pack said boxes.

Also, my salesman, Marco, never explained that packing of my bed or TV would be required "for insurance purposes". He stated that my quote was accurate, unless I added items / cubic feet. In speaking to Donna on July 25th, she stated that I could've refused packing materials. I told her that I told the movers that I didn't want the packing materials, but was told I had to accept them. The only items I added over the original quote were a computer chair, a small stool, and a vacuum cleaner, which hardly seems to explain the 200 additional cubic feet that was added to my estimate.

Per FMCSA regulations and Section 17 of the Bill Of Lading, I should have been provided the completed estimate before my goods were loaded on the truck. This did not occur; if I had known that the new estimate was for 552 cubic feet for $2070, or the full cost of labor and materials would bring my quote to $2626, I wouldn't have agreed to the move. I called and asked for the office supervisor who said there was nothing he could do to help me, since everything was already on the truck.


Kathy
Henderson, Nevada
U.S.A.