Advanced Moving Systems Transworld Moving Ripoff Business from Hell Sunrise Florida *EDitor's Comment
I obtained quotes for moving and storage from an AOL moving service, so I thought it was legitimate. I got a call from "Transworld Moving" and a salesperson named "Ashley Judd," who swore it was her real name. I exchanged email and phone calls with "Ashley" over the course of two weeks while I got competitive bids from other companies.
I sent her my entire bill of lading from a move six months earlier with United Van Lines (which were stellar), and I had exactly the same furniture and belongs for this move. United had charged me $5,600 to fully pack and move me. "Transworld's" estimate for the same belongings was $3,686 for moving me from Knoxville, TN to Atlanta, GA, and $297 per month for storage with one month free. I thought it was a good deal. My move date was set for Sept. 29, 2002.
When the date arrived, the trouble began. The mover didn't show up. I got a call at 11 p.m. that night from an independent contractor who said Transworld contracted with him for my move (without my approval). He had NO information about my move -- not the original quote, amount of belongings, storage agreement, NOTHING. He showed up with a truck that was too small for my things.
AFTER he and his buddy loaded my furniture on the truck, I was told it was going to cost $6,500 -- almost double my estimate AND that they didn't have a storage facility! I stood with the driver while he made arrangements with a Public Storage facility in Knoxville, TN and later confirmed that my things were actually delivered there.
However, Advanced Moving Systems has the only keys. And now they are demanding $8,000 to move me and $1,500 per month for storage costs. When I asked what it would take to get my keys (to end this nightmare and move with a reputable company), they said $3,060. I asked for confirmation in writing.
THEN they sent me a "LATE NOTICE" saying I owed them $3,060 for storage within the next 10 days or they would put a lien on my things and begin selling them! Mind you, my only written agreement says I'm not due to pay them anything until my things are DELIVERED.
These guys are foreigners who don't speak much English, rude beyond belief, and truly scam artists with no regard for our laws. I have been amazed beyond belief already, yet it just keeps s****.>
They have possession of literally everything I own and I am fearful of what may happen. This clearly is a scam they are perpetrating against everyone who contracts with them. All of our reports filed on this site and with the Better Business Bureau are remarkably similar. They have it down to a science and our government is letting them get away with it! It's quite literally a CRIME! Someone please help!
Kerri
Atlanta, Georgia
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Advanced Moving Systems
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
Click here to read other Rip Off Report list of other Moving Companies
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on National Moving Network and other various transport companies ripping off the consumer
2 Updates & Rebuttals
JUST AS IMPORTANT TO POST ON RIP-OFF REPORT, ATTORNEY GENERAL & MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BBB
#30
Wed, December 04, 2002
Listing your complaint on many Government links sometimes are no better than the BBB and are most likely just a waste of time, giving you false hope. Many government sites (like the BBB) just collect all information from you, the consumer, but never make that information available for all to see, so consumers will NOT be educated as to what exactly they should be looking out for. By these agencies not letting you see these complaints, making them public, you never know how bad the company or individual rip-off really is.
On the other hand, many government agencies have and do come to the Rip-off Report for information. We have been assisting many government agencies for some time now, including the FBI and Attorney General offices from around the country..
Now that all these Rip-off Reports are out in the open for everyone to see, in a way, this embarrasses these agencies into doing something when they see so many reports on a Company or Individual, because they are now out in the open for all to see. Unfortunately, many (not all) Attorney General Office's and government agencies will not move against a rip-off unless you are well connected, or there is going to be some sort of publicity on the rip-off. By reporting your experience on the Rip-off Report, is the next best thing to getting your story on TV or in a newspaper. Most national TV networks and many local TV stations from all around the country also come to the Rip-off Report for information they will not get from the BBB, Attorney General office's or any other government agency.
Rip-off Report has instigated many local and national stories, resulting in help for victims' world wide, in one way or another. Most government agencies will never even bother with rip-offs unless it involves $50,000 or more. Now that government is cutting back even more dollars for these types of programs, this number will even get higher and we can expect even less to get done, by even less people to work on all these rip-offs.
Additionally, by filing a Rip-off Report, you might be contacted by us notifying you to contact a law firm that has shown interested in your case. We get requests now every week; bringing victims together with lawyers willing to sue the company they field a Rip-off Report on.
ED Magedson
EDitor@ripoffreport.com
Kay
Blacksburg,Virginia,
suggestions
#3Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 03, 2002
This company is notorious and should have been shut down long ago. You should try contacting Bob Butterworth, Florida's Attorney General. He is well aware of the problem his state has with scam movers, particularly this one, which goes by many names. Since your move was not in the state of
Florida, he can't really help you, but your complaint needs to be on file. Also, you should complain to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (part of the DOT). They've fined this company before, but the fines have probably
been ignored. They need to know that the company is still operating and scamming. Consumers may file household goods or other commercial motor carrier complaints on FMCSA's nationwide complaint hotline at 1-888-368-7238 (1-888 DOT-SAFT).
You might also try contacting the insurance company of Advanced Moving and making a claim for the total loss of your belongings. Insurance information is as follows:
primary insurance: NATIONAL UNION FIRE INS. CO. OF PITSBGH. PA
policy number: ARF 6885092#1
Attn: RIMA DEMARAIS, DBG LEGAL SERVICES
Address: 70 PINE STREET
NEW YORK, NY US 10270
Telephone: (212) 820 - 4820
cargo insurance: UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS LONDON
policy number: CAR0200023
Attn: LEBOEUF, LAMB, GREENE & MACRAE
Address: 1875 CONNECTICUT AVE.,NW
WASHINGTON, DC US 20009
Telephone: (202) 986 - 8000
good luck.