Allways Moving & Storage Ripoff, ransom, imcomplete move, DO NOT USE Chandler Arizona
My family made the mistake of using Allways Moving & Storage and if you read this report, you can avoid the corruption we encountered.
Ads states, "Trucks For Any Size Move." Well, as long as everything you own fits into a 24' truck because that all they claim to have and that's all I saw during my two-hour standoff and ransom negotiations.
Ad states, "High Quality Service Without The High Prices." The given rate was, in fact, good; $65/hour for three "Experienced & Trained Crews" (that darn ad again;). As you will discover (read on), this was just the advertised rate, not the rate requested once 75% of my household goods were aboard their truck and they left my home.
...and the story goes like this:
We had packed everything in our home prior to the AM&S showing up; mostly in ~2 cubic foot boxes from work. We had an 1800', single-story home; three plus den; fully loaded.
Movers show up and state their truck is not large enough for our home. Calls to company HQ to find no larger truck exists. Manager takes small attitude while on phone (I could charge you $250/hour for a larger truck if that's what you want). Just considered it poor management training and proceeded with move. Advised driver that we'd just have to do two moves.
Driver provides an estimate of move; I am thinking it's for entire move and the cost seems reasonable. He then requests payment in full, before he leaves my home with the first of two loads. I inform him that this is not how it's done here and that I was going to pay by check (as noted during reservation).
Driver has issues with "helpers" and talks to HQ about getting new crew. No new crew to be found. Driver loads just the easy-to-get items, mainly all the boxes and some beds. No appliances, large furniture, nothing real heavy.
Suddenly I'm told he's done loading and that I have to follow him to HQ...and he's off. I lose him on roadway due to traffic lights and have to call and get my own directions.
Once at HQ, I'm told that I must pay the entire amount, up front. Their estimate indicates nine (9) hours of work. They took 3.5 to load and I would guess far less to unload. Local PD are called in and I'm advised this is a Civil Matter. Pay the ransom or take it to court and wait to get items. Local PD hears agreement to unload this single load for amount far beyond reasonable.
And, so we're off to my new home. We arrive at 3:25 pm and I'm told by the driver that he's only working until 4:00 pm. Contact new town's local PD and they convince driver (after an hour of discussion) to unload but only into my garage.
That's it. I spent way too much money for way too little service. Had to grab a relative and a U-Haul and load the big stuff myself the next day.
Between the BBB, Attorney Generals Office, all postings I can muster, and small claims court, we're remaining confident we'll see justice served in the end.
Unless you're in for all this much excitement, DO NOT USE THESE FOLKS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Move gone wrong
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
You Picked a Scam Mover
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, October 17, 2007
There were a number of clues indicating this was a scam mover:
1. $65/hour rate for 3 men will not get you anyone experienced. It will get you 3 people from a Home Depot parking lot who have never done a move before. The rate for experienced movers is a bit more than $100/hour for 3 experienced men.
2. The promise of getting a move of that size done in one day. Generally, that would be a 2-day move given what you provided.
There were many things you posted that are a standard part of this industry, and are not considered as rip-offs. For example:
1. Payment before items are unloaded. Generally, payment needs to be made and generally not by check; if you paid by personal check - they did you a favor cause many don't anymore. If he didn't take your payment when he asked you for it - they did you a favor. Reputable companies take credit cards and they're charged before load, not after everything is unloaded.
2. Additional charge for another truck - this company had to rent a truck for your job. Often, a reputable company has to do that (very rare) and when it does, you will pay to have the other truck, plus the labor time to get the truck.
There's very little you're going to be able to act upon in court with regards to a local move. You agreed to the rate charged and if they worked those hours plus had to get another truck..... I don't know what you'd sue them for based on what you've provided. I understand what you expected; you believe that for what you paid, you should have received full service. However, the men did perform work and they billed you in accordance with the rates provided and the information they provided you. Accordingly, they performed in accordance with their agreement.
Here's something you should always remember. Moving is not an inexpensive venture; you will pay about the same amount in the end, whether the mover bills you at $65/hour for 3 men or another mover bills you $110/hour for 3 men. The difference is that one will take longer than the other to complete the move because the men aren't professional movers at that rate, and the other will do it faster and with less damage because they are pros. If you're looking to do a move on the cheap - do the move yourself and don't consider using someone to do a move for you.