Atrans - A-Trans - A-Traf Moving And Storage Atrans - ATraf Moving And Storage Lied about Cost, Is Late On Pick up and Deliveries, And Has Horrible Customer Service - Passaic New Jersey Lied about Cost, Is Late On Pick up and Deliveries, And Has Horrible Customer Service - Passaic New Jersey Passaic, New Jersey
After researching online I got a quote from Safe Load Moving and Storage for $1200 to move our things from PA to TX. We had about one bedroom apt worth of things. The estimate came out to 300cf, which seemed about right. Safe Load Moving was the dispatcher, and also has terrible customer service (never replied to emails), but Atraf/atrans were the actual movers.
The day of the move (Saturday), they showed up 4 hours later than they had told me the night before. They moved everything in a decent amount of time, but then demanded a tip. I went with him to the loaded truck, and we agreed on 300cf, which was what the original estimate was. They told me it would probably be delivered the following Saturday or early Sunday.
The Wednesday before delivery was scheduled, they called to tell me that my final cost would be $2400, double what they originally quoted me and what the movers estimated on the loaded truck. He also told me my things took up 600cf, which is ridiculous. Seeing no alternative I agreed.
I tried calling on Saturday to find out actual move time, and no answer or even voicemail for me to leave a message. I emailed Safe Load Moving & Storage and as usual received no response. Then the next day, Sunday, still no movers, still no contact from anyone. I called again and this time got voicemail and left a message.
Today (Monday morning) still no movers, so I called again and got an answer. He didn't give me a chance to say anything, just roughly asked for my name and put me on hold. Then he got back on and told me the dispatcher was calling me "now". I hang up and waited and received no calls.
Currently still waiting on delivery and hope that any others planning a move avoid both Atraf/ atran and also Safe Load Moving & Storage. Total liars and cheats.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
Don't Expect it Tuesday Either....
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, June 28, 2011
Unfortunately, you did the worst possible thing by contacting a mover online; in fact, you really didn't contact a mover. You contacted a broker, who sold your move to Atrans. The reason Safe Move is not interested in contacting you, is that they don't have to. Their responsibility ended when they sold your move, and they're going to get a commission for selling your move. In reality, scam movers live online hoping to sucker in people with a low price for a quote. Here is the truth:
There is no such thing as a cheap move...
If you received a quote in cubic feet, you were scammed. It doesn't matter how many cubic feet your items are because the scam companies will loosely pack your items in the truck so they take more space in the truck. You thought it made sense that your items took up 300 cf, right? So if the 300 cubic feet were packed with solid oak furniture, vs. say...IKEA...do you think it's cheaper to move solid oak or IKEA? I hope you said IKEA. Therefore it doesn't matter how much room something takes in the truck - it only matters how much the stuff weighs. Do you see now that you were scammed from the very beginning when the mover told you the move was going to be quoted in cubic feet because it allows (1) the mover to pack the truck as loosely as possible, and (2) avoid having the truck reweighed, which is your right to have done free by the mover. Sounded like it made sense to you back then. Doesn't make so much sense now?
So what is the next step in the process:
1. Expect the items to not be delivered tomorrow: Scam movers are allowed under Federal law to deliver your goods as much as 30 days from date of pickup. Why are they waiting? Because they're hoping another truck is on its way to you. If they say the truck is on its way, expect them to say...our truck broke down.
2. Expect items to be damaged - lots of it: Your items are being handled to excess in someone's storage facility waiting for a truck. When you signed the contract, you agreed to valuation at $0.60 per pound (in all likelihood). If you end up with a claim satisfaction that is completely unacceptable to you, unfortunately you don't have a choice. Federal Law protects the movers from paying out only what is in the contract...nothing more. Can't sue and if the mover pays out...no arbitration.
3. Don't be surprised if someone other than Atrans delivers: If Atrans doesn't have another delivery to Texas, they will find someone to do it. That will likely cost them to do that, and you can bet you will be absorbing that cost as well.
I understand much of this is may be quite disturbing to find out at this point. It is also unfortunately... very legal. If anything positive happens from this point, I would count your blessings. The lesson is not simply to not use this mover (in case you also didn't know, many scam movers shut their doors and reopen under a new name, so simply saying this mover is bad or that mover is bad...is pointless), the lesson is to NEVER find a mover online. Find a mover with a brick and mortar building near you with well-known names, and you know what they are. If those movers are too expensive for you, finding someone to do it cheaper and be reputable is impossible because a reputable mover makes about 5% profit on every move. Disreputable movers make more because...they're disreputable for more reasons than you think. Moving is not an inexpensive venture and choosing a mover based on price, or choosing a mover who doesn't see your items before the move...will cost you a lot more than it should in terms of your items well being, your sanity, your blood pressure, and your wallet. Best of luck to you.
matt
Texas,USA
Still no Delivery
#3Author of original report
Mon, June 27, 2011
After calling multiple people, the office manager finally called me back and told me it is scheduled for Tuesday, two days after the last expected delivery date. When I asked him why, he got extremely defensive and could not give me a reason. He put me on hold then told me "dispatch" would call me back. He had told me this before and I have never gotten a call from dispatch.