Betton Moving and Transfer Company is a ripoff that mistreats customers. Houston, Texas
I've been being mistreated by Betton Moving almost since the day they picked up my things, June 4th, 2002. I had a written estimate of $828.40 to move my things from Houston, TX to New York City, and a verbal commitment that my belongings would be delivered in 5-7 days.
When my things didn't show up for a couple weeks, I kept calling Betton himself, who promised the truck would be on its way "in a couple days." The long and short of it was that after five weeks, the truck finally got to New York on July 11, 2002, at which time, they demanded $1207.51 BEFORE the truck would be unloaded. Asked about the "stacked" fees, $150 was charged for storage. In other words, I had to pay for them to store my things because they couldn't deliver when they promised!
Never mind that I started a new job on July 1st, forcing me to buy new clothes and other new items I already owned, as my things were "in transit." Disgusted, and only wanting to finally have my things and put this ordeal behind me, I reluctantly parted with the full amount. However, after unloading my things, I was told that my box spring and mattress were not on the truck! I was told they were still in Houston, and they would have to ship them to me! And after 10 days of calling Betton to determine when my bed would be delivered, I'm still left wondering, as I leave message after message, and my calls are not returned.
So the bottom line is that I continue to get the runaround from Betton Moving, as I payed them roughly %50 higher than the original estimate, for the privelege of sleeping on my couch, and wondering if I'll ever see my bed again.
Manny
New York, New York
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Larry
Prescott Valley,Arizona,
Mover's Motto: Over a Billion Screwed
#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 21, 2002
Manny,
Your experience is typical of everyone who has ever hired a cross-country mover.
Movers send an estimator to your home to write up a contract. No matter what price he tells you, there is some fine print that says the final cost will be based on the actual weight of your possessions. The estimator assumes that you have contacted several movers and that you will hire the one with the lowest price, so he gives you an estimate far below what he knows it will really cost. Once they have your goods in their possession, you don't get them back until you pay up in full in cash.
There's not much you can do when a team of big sweaty guys says, "Pay up or kiss your stuff goodbye." The cops won't get involved because it's a civil matter and since you are new in town you don't have an attorney. And what good would an attorney be in New York when your stuff is on its way back to Texas?
I'm guessing that you are single and moved about a one-bedroom apartment of stuff. This would account for the delay in getting your things to New York. The mover is not going to send a half-empty truck 1500 miles; he will wait until he has a full load going in that direction. They should have told that up front but didn't because they know it would have cost them the sale.
It's hard to say why your mattress did not come with the rest of the load. Ask yourself what that mattress is really worth. If and when they show up at your door with the mattress, you can bet they will charge you for storage, mileage, and delivery. Go buy yourself another mattress and start getting a good night's sleep. Then when they show up demanding $500 for your lumpy old mattress you can laugh in their face and slam the door.
In all honesty, though, $1200 to move from Texas to New York is not unreasonable. (We just recently hired a mover to haul our furniture 3 miles and it cost us $500.) The lying and cheating that went along with your move are not acceptable but is standard practice in the moving industry.