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All Cities Real Estate Services Aka U.S Van Lines Of Texas Had to pay for 11,000 lbs of household goods but only had 8,800 lbs (this was a non-binding contract) also was told I could pay the balance of the charge on my credit card upon delivery. NOT THE CASE Crandall Texas
Prior to moving from Winter Haven, FL to Robinson, TX, I went on the internet to see if I could locate a reputable mover (big mistake). After requesting for information, I as inundated with offers through emails and phone calls from various movers or brokers or both wanting our business. After talking to several of them, I finally decided on one. One reason was because they were located in Texas and the second was because the voice of the young salesperson (Tamra) on the telephone sounded so sweet and innocent. She also sounded to me to be an honest and sincere person (so much for my judgement). After receiving her emails with quotes for various different weights (pounds) I finally locked in with her for our move. During our conversations Tamra had told me that we would only be charged for the actual weight of our household goods. If we were under the weight limit then we would get 26 cents per pound taken off of the total charge. So I told her that we had 11,000 lbs. I knew that we did not have that much weight but since we would only be charged for the actual weight (so I was told) then I felt it better to be under that over because I have heard of people being over their weight limit and being charged excessive amounts for the overage. In addition, I was told by Sherry (a supervisor) on the day that I paid the deposit on my credit card that I could also pay the balance due on my credit card upon delivery. NOT SO! I have tried to get these people to reimburse me for just $200.00 but they would only take off $25.00. The way I figure it 8,800 lbs from 11,000 lbs is 2,200 lbs difference and at the price I was quoted 26 cents a pound that amounts to $572.00 that I was charged extra for but they would only take $25.00 off. I was also told that Tamra did not have the authority to tell me that. That being the case, then they need to provide proper training for their personnel. I DID NOT sign any papers whatsoever with this company other that the Bill of Lading for our pickup and delivery of our household goods. They DO NOT have a signed copy of my Rights and Responsibilites nor the Terms and Conditions, as required. They have nothing that I signed other than the Bills of Lading. I obtained the weight ticket from the driver upon delivery which showed 8,800 lbs. I DID NOT have a binding contract and I was told that I would be charged only for the actual weight of our household goods. Please note that while I was quoted 26 cents per pound for a credit difference that is not the price I paid per pound for the shipment of our household goods. Credit per pound is apparently alot less than actual weight charges. I talked to numerous people there (several times too, I might add) because to me, I thought I would be receiving a credit of $572.00 and I don't know about you but to me, that is alot of money. That is why I called them so many times. Wouldn't they do the same if they thought that they were going to get a credit of $572.00? Most of the people I talked to there seemed to agree with me about the charge but could or would do nothing. Brandi, said it was up to the driver (Curtis) who should be the one to reimburse me and that he didn't want to do that. That being the case then I felt both Curtis and All Cities Real Estate Services of Texas or U.S. Van Lines of Texas should agree to split the difference. I requested that they reimburse me just $200.00 instead of the full amount of $572.00. But they refused to do that. I also asked for the owner's name and was told that the owner was Robert Johnson. I asked to speak with him but he was not there (so, I was told). I also asked to have him call me back but of course he didn't. When I called back a day or two later I told someone there that he (Robert Johnson) needs to "man up." I locked in with All Cities Real Estate Services of Texas who is apparently a broker for their own company, U.S Van Lines of Texas and then the driver shows up with an Atlas Van Lines truck. GO FIGURE! I hope that FMCSA investigates this operation and fines this company "big time" as they are apparently not following proper procedures, especially where their paper work is concerned. To me, this is a boiler room operation. This is not entirely so much about the money as it is about being lied to. I just don't want other people out there not to fall victim to the same scam. Stay away from All Cities Real Estate Services of Texas and U.S Van Lines of Texas. CONSUMER BEWARE!!!!
Eddie
Robinson, Texas
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
2001jaguar
Robinson,Texas,
U.S.A.
Follow up to Consumer's Comment
#8Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
1-17-08
Jim, appreciate your comments once again! To answer your question - No, they did not break any items. Therefore, there was no need to file a claim for damage.
Also, Jim, as I mentioned in my original complaint, whether I paid more or less than the $4,400 you quoted as being a reasonable price for such a move is irrelevant regardless of how much I paid. Its the principle of it! I was quoted a flat fee for 11,000 lbs of household goods, when the actual weight of my household goods was only 8,800 lbs. Based upon the 400n Tariff as stated by the salesperson (Tamara). I do not like being lied to. If I were told to begin with that I would not be entitled to any refund or rebate if my household goods weighed less than 11,000 lbs then I would not be filing a complaint. I was told that I would only be charged for the ACTUAL WEIGHT of my household goods and that I would be entitled to 26 cents per lb credit for every lb less than 11,000. I was lied to!
2001jaguar
Robinson,Texas,
U.S.A.
Follow up to Consumer's Comment
#8Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
1-17-08
Jim, appreciate your comments once again! To answer your question - No, they did not break any items. Therefore, there was no need to file a claim for damage.
Also, Jim, as I mentioned in my original complaint, whether I paid more or less than the $4,400 you quoted as being a reasonable price for such a move is irrelevant regardless of how much I paid. Its the principle of it! I was quoted a flat fee for 11,000 lbs of household goods, when the actual weight of my household goods was only 8,800 lbs. Based upon the 400n Tariff as stated by the salesperson (Tamara). I do not like being lied to. If I were told to begin with that I would not be entitled to any refund or rebate if my household goods weighed less than 11,000 lbs then I would not be filing a complaint. I was told that I would only be charged for the ACTUAL WEIGHT of my household goods and that I would be entitled to 26 cents per lb credit for every lb less than 11,000. I was lied to!
2001jaguar
Robinson,Texas,
U.S.A.
Follow up to Consumer's Comment
#8Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
1-17-08
Jim, appreciate your comments once again! To answer your question - No, they did not break any items. Therefore, there was no need to file a claim for damage.
Also, Jim, as I mentioned in my original complaint, whether I paid more or less than the $4,400 you quoted as being a reasonable price for such a move is irrelevant regardless of how much I paid. Its the principle of it! I was quoted a flat fee for 11,000 lbs of household goods, when the actual weight of my household goods was only 8,800 lbs. Based upon the 400n Tariff as stated by the salesperson (Tamara). I do not like being lied to. If I were told to begin with that I would not be entitled to any refund or rebate if my household goods weighed less than 11,000 lbs then I would not be filing a complaint. I was told that I would only be charged for the ACTUAL WEIGHT of my household goods and that I would be entitled to 26 cents per lb credit for every lb less than 11,000. I was lied to!
2001jaguar
Robinson,Texas,
U.S.A.
Follow up to Consumer's Comment
#8Author of original report
Thu, January 17, 2008
1-17-08
Jim, appreciate your comments once again! To answer your question - No, they did not break any items. Therefore, there was no need to file a claim for damage.
Also, Jim, as I mentioned in my original complaint, whether I paid more or less than the $4,400 you quoted as being a reasonable price for such a move is irrelevant regardless of how much I paid. Its the principle of it! I was quoted a flat fee for 11,000 lbs of household goods, when the actual weight of my household goods was only 8,800 lbs. Based upon the 400n Tariff as stated by the salesperson (Tamara). I do not like being lied to. If I were told to begin with that I would not be entitled to any refund or rebate if my household goods weighed less than 11,000 lbs then I would not be filing a complaint. I was told that I would only be charged for the ACTUAL WEIGHT of my household goods and that I would be entitled to 26 cents per lb credit for every lb less than 11,000. I was lied to!
Jim
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
All I can tell you is this.....
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, January 11, 2008
I'm confused, and I've pretty much seen it all with movers. If they quoted you a flat fee of 11,000 lbs. - then it sounds to me that it didn't matter what the weight was, and I have heard of scam movers doing this. What they do is say, "well, give me your inflated weight and we'll bill you based on that" with the theory (from the scam mover's perspective) that customers underestimate the amount of stuff they have. And believe me, if you had the equivalent of 15,000 lbs. you would have been contacted and told you will have to pay more, whether you pay 110% of the estimate and then be billed subsequently, or do what a scam mover would do and that is to collect the entire amount at destination, which is against the law - but the law is never important to a scam mover. That's why it's always a good reason to have a mover see your items before a move - so the mover will be on the hook when they screw up, and not you.
What I will tell you is that the final pricing they gave you is far more complex than you are making it, and what they're representing to you. I am not disprespecting you in saying this - please understand. There are charges for packing labor and transportation, which are generally established by the tariff filed with the DOT, packing materials which are set by the mover, possible accessorials like shuttles based on weight and distance, fuel surcharges based on the number of transportation miles, and any other destination related charges. Since they all have different calculations - trying to assign a price per pound is not possible because weight difference would not affect the labor used, the packing materials, the accessorials, and destination services at all. Accordingly, I think her promise to you on a refund based on a price per pound was something she could never follow through on unless it was in writing.
What you haven't commented on is how the much these movers collected from you, net of the small refund. It is difficult to assess how much a refund you should be entitled to unless there is some way I can put it into context with the cost of a move of that distance with a reputable mover. If the move cost you $4400 or so, I think that's probably a reasonable cost to move halfway across the country. I do know it can cost upwards of $8800 to move from one coast to the other (regardless of direction) based on an 8,800 lb. with a reputable mover, so I will just leave it at that.
Did they break stuff and did you file a claim?
2001jaguar
Robinson,Texas,
U.S.A.
Calculation correct! Price quoted was not by the pound.All Cities Real Estate Services aka U.S Van Lines Of Texas- We had to pay for 11,000 lbs of household goods.
#8Author of original report
Fri, January 11, 2008
1-10-08
Jim, appreciate your interest in my report and the information you provided. However, I was not quoted a price of 26 cents per lb for my move, it was based upon a flat fee for 11,000 lbs of household goods. They did not quote me a price per pound. I really don't know how they calculated it but I paid much more that 26 cents per lb. It is probably more like 44 cents per lb. 26 cents per lb was supposed to be the amount of difference for the weight being LESS than 11,000 lbs (don't know what they arrived 26 cents as I did not question it.) That was the amound of refund was for LESS that 11,000 lbs that I was supposed to have received a credit for, according to Tamra, the salesperson.
All Cities Real Estate Services of Texas quoted me a set price for the 11,000 lbs which included the fuel surcharge, some materials, etc. They did not use more materials than estimated. They only used about 6 or 7 boxes and their pads, etc were included too. I realize that I am probably not entitled to a full refund of $572.00 but I fell I should not have to pay for the full 11,000 lbs.
In other words, Jim, if I had told them that I had 15,000 lbs of household goods when in actuality I only have 8,800 lbs, chances are, they still would have had me pay the full amount based upon the quote for 15,000 lbs. Thats where I'm coming from! I also asked them to reimburse me just $200.00 not the full $572.00. but they refused to do that too.
Jim
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
Calculation is Incorrect
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, January 10, 2008
Eddie, you can't take the number of pounds your shipment is, divide it by the estimate you were provided, and figure you will be getting a refund of $572.00; this is a common mistake some consumers make and some many scam movers make in misleading their customers. Why is that the case? Because not every activity in a move is based upon weight; for example, the amount of materials used in a move will not be based on weight - it is based on material usage, and if they used more in boxes and materials than estimated, you will not get $572.00 back. It will be much less than that. Fuel surcharge is based on miles. No reputable mover would give you a price per pound for a move because interstate moves don't accurately work that way.
Having just said this - this company is not a reputable mover and as you said, finding them on the internet was a mistake. The mistake is (1) scam movers are all over the internet, and (2) reputable movers don't need to advertise on the internet for our business.