Complaint Review: DC Pro Moving & Storage

I contracted with DC Pro Movers for 4 hours of service, which included 1 hour of travel time plus additional fees (fuel surcharge, etc).  The total estimate was 354.75 with my living social coupon. I only needed my furniture moved to my new apartment 2 blocks away.  My apartment is a 2 bedroom and I asked for less that 20 pieces of furniture to be moved plus any heavy boxes.  The estimated hours on their website for a 2 bedroom apartment is 4-6 hours for a full service move. Since I required little to no packing services, 4 hours was the minimum charge.  Luna was my moving specialist.  The movers arrived at 3:20 pm, I had asked for a 2:00 - 3:00 pm arrival time because of the freight elevator reservation.  Two movers showed up with a 10' truck.  Benny, one of the movers, looked at my furniture and complained that customers "do not tell the truth" and that that company told him that it was not a furniture move and more people, bigger truck, and lots of other stuff was needed.  He argued in his native language to his supervisor while less than 3 feet from me. While I did not know what was being said, it was clear that Benny was very upset with this job.  Benny would not elaborate on what type of move he was told, but I told him that I wanted the furniture out.  I complained to the supervisor, Avi, and was told that DC Pro Movers would move my furniture to my new apartment and if they had room, the heavy boxes would be included.  He also offered to have someone come out to help with the remaining boxes on Saturday (or after, sometimes he said “Sunday” instead of “Saturday”).  I told him I just wanted the furniture moved, plus any heavy boxes as per my quote.  During my conversation with Avi, I learned that Avi was person on the phone that Benny was complaining to earlier.  Avi told me that he would have Benny apologize to me for complaining and accusing me of not telling the truth.   Avi also instructed me not to talk to Benny and that we (Avi and I) would talk on Sunday.  I found out later that he was unavailable until Sunday because of Sabbath.  It took Benny and his helper 6 hours to move less than 20 pieces of furniture from my apartment on the 8th floor to the loading dock using the freight elevator.  We drove the 2 blocks to my new apartment and they began to unload my items.  I bought them pizza and soda.  At 10:51, Benny proceeded to tell me that I now have to pay $1092.47 in moving charges for a move of less than 20 pieces of furniture and 3 boxes, which included nearly a $256 charge for packing materials.  The price did not include my living social deal either ($100 off).  We were going 2 blocks!  They did the move in one trip.  I told him that I was to talk to Avi and that I was not signing anything without speaking to Avi first. He explained Avi could not be contacted due to the Sabbath and if I did not pay, they would hold the rest of my furniture on the truck.  DC Pro Movers had my dining table top (the legs to the table were in my new apartment), queen platform bed headboard and box spring (the mattress and bedframe was in my new apartment) and sofa sleeper.  I offered to pay the price I was quoted, $354.75, but Benny said he could not accept this money.  I had a copy of the quote on my cell phone.  I called the Arlington county police.  The police arrived and told us both it was a civil matter. Benny left with my items still in his truck.  He said he would drive around with it until he received $1092.47.

--Yelp; Dittmar2—

-- Craiglist:  85485

--Reddit 16Cartoons@

--Washington Post Phoenix@1

--Movers debL/movers21

I contracted with DC Pro Movers for 4 hours of service, which included 1 hour of travel time plus additional fees (fuel surcharge, etc).  The total estimate was 354.75 with my living social coupon. I only needed my furniture moved to my new apartment 2 blocks away.  My apartment is a 2 bedroom and I asked for less that 20 pieces of furniture to be moved plus any heavy boxes.  The estimated hours on their website for a 2 bedroom apartment is 4-6 hours for a full service move. Since I required little to no packing services, 4 hours was the minimum charge.  Luna was my moving specialist.  The movers arrived at 3:20 pm, I had asked for a 2:00 - 3:00 pm arrival time because of the freight elevator reservation.  Two movers showed up with a 10' truck.  Benny, one of the movers, looked at my furniture and complained that customers "do not tell the truth" and that that company told him that it was not a furniture move and more people, bigger truck, and lots of other stuff was needed.  He argued in his native language to his supervisor while less than 3 feet from me. While I did not know what was being said, it was clear that Benny was very upset with this job.  Benny would not elaborate on what type of move he was told, but I told him that I wanted the furniture out.  I complained to the supervisor, Avi, and was told that DC Pro Movers would move my furniture to my new apartment and if they had room, the heavy boxes would be included.  He also offered to have someone come out to help with the remaining boxes on Saturday (or after, sometimes he said "Sunday" instead of "Saturday").  I told him I just wanted the furniture moved, plus any heavy boxes as per my quote.  During my conversation with Avi, I learned that Avi was person on the phone that Benny was complaining to earlier.  Avi told me that he would have Benny apologize to me for complaining and accusing me of not telling the truth.   Avi also instructed me not to talk to Benny and that we (Avi and I) would talk on Sunday.  I found out later that he was unavailable until Sunday because of Sabbath.  It took Benny and his helper 6 hours to move less than 20 pieces of furniture from my apartment on the 8th floor to the loading dock using the freight elevator.  We drove the 2 blocks to my new apartment and they began to unload my items.  I bought them pizza and soda.  At 10:51, Benny proceeded to tell me that I now have to pay $1092.47 in moving charges for a move of less than 20 pieces of furniture and 3 boxes, which included nearly a $256 charge for packing materials.  The price did not include my living social deal either ($100 off).  We were going 2 blocks!  They did the move in one trip.  I told him that I was to talk to Avi and that I was not signing anything without speaking to Avi first. He explained Avi could not be contacted due to the Sabbath and if I did not pay, they would hold the rest of my furniture on the truck.  DC Pro Movers had my dining table top (the legs to the table were in my new apartment), queen platform bed headboard and box spring (the mattress and bedframe was in my new apartment) and sofa sleeper.  I offered to pay the price I was quoted, $354.75, but Benny said he could not accept this money.  I had a copy of the quote on my cell phone.  I called the Arlington county police.  The police arrived and told us both it was a civil matter. Benny left with my items still in his truck.  He said he would drive around with it until he received $1092.47.

Update (2/23/2014):

Avi (DC Pro Movers) offered to drop my remaining items off between 3:15 and 3:20 pm today (Sunday).  I explained to Avi that he needed to be there by 3:20 pm because I could not wait.  I also explained to Avi that I had no intention on paying the $1092.47.  I reminded him of our conversation on Friday, when I told him that if his movers (Benny +1)  could not do the job in 4 hours that they needed to leave immediately.  Avi told me that they would do the job in 4 hours and his workers stayed.  Now, Avi is telling me that his kids need to eat and he had to pay his employees.  I told him that I offered twice to pay the estimate amount on Friday (one of those times was in front of the police) and Benny declined the offer each time.  Benny wanted $1092.47 or he was driving off with my furniture.  Once Benny left with my furniture, that offer expired.

Either way, Avi was late.   He showed up after 4:00 pm and I had to leave for my appointment.   Avi called several times and also sent various text messages.  One of the texts he sent me said that he (Avi, DC Pro Movers) was breaking into my home.  He then sent a follow up text a few minutes later to say that he meant the "police" were breaking into my home.  Do not deal with him.  Just don't.  He is the owner of DC Pro Movers.  If you do a reverse search on his number, a company called "DC Movers" also comes up.  So far his companies have addresses in Silver Spring, MD; Arlington, VA; and Washington DC.

Update 2/24/2014 @ 9:11 PM EST:

Avi called and offered to deliver my furntire for $500.  I told him I will pay less that what I offered on Friday to Benny (the estimate).  Benny turned my offer down.  He hung up. 

The following are the list of Items moved on Friday:

1 Queen Mattress, Box Spring, Frame and Headboard

1 Daybed with 2 mattresses

2 Dressers

1 Hutch/desk unit (kid’s room)

1 Armoire (just moved to the loading dock)

2 Sofa Table (1 was just moved to the loading dock)

1 Chair and ottoman

2 bookcases

1 chest

1 coffee table

1 TV stand

1 Dining Table w/4 chairs

4 heavy boxes

1 small file cabinet

2 smaller bookcases

1 laundry basket