Complaint Review: Final Destination Van Lines

On April 6, 2010 I hired Final Destination Van Lines to move our belonging (7 family members) from storage in Springtown, Texas to Browns Mills, New Jersey. I gave them a deposit of $645.00. They charged me by the weight of 23,000 pounds (3286 cf), and in the contract it states this is door-to-door service, I was never informed that this company would be sub-contracting to other moving companies or of any other stops it will make along the way per Texas Administrative code, Title 43, Sec.18.57. On April 9, 2010 I paid Final Destination Van Lines 50% down totaling $3,225.00. The close friend of ours at the storage where we had our belongings watched the movers come in 2 moving trucks approx. 28' on April 12,2010. He watched them load our belongings and close the trucks doors. Final Destination Van Lines Contacted me while the movers where moving my items to inform me that they would be charging me for wardrobe boxes for Items that needed secured packing. I approved this as long as it was no more than $500.00. Sindy stated to me that Mike the supervisor was there supervising this move.On April 15,2010 as I was getting anxious for my things I called Final Destination Van lines to see when they would be arriving, I spoke to Luna and said she would check into it and call me back. On April 16,2010 Mike (supervisor) called me and informed me that the truck had a stop in Florida and the driver should be calling me in the next few days. I told him I was not aware of any stops and my belongings should have taken up all the space in the trucks. I didnt receive a call from the driver until April 23, 2010 and he stated that he should arrive at my door on the 24^th or the 25^th that he had a stop in Virginia.

When the movers arrived April 27,2010 (15 days after pick up) a Michaels moving and storage truck showed up at 11:30am.The papers they provided me with are those from Final Destination only. My Daughter had to pay our remaining balance of $3,080.00 and sign the papers before they would even start unloading. They unloaded the truck, which not only had our things on them but other peoples things on it; The driver also informed me that it made 4 other stops on the way. Our belongings only took up 2,300 cubic feet, which is approx. 12-18,000 pounds (per Michaels Moving and Storage). We then realized that all of our things were not all on this truck. We spoke to the driver of Michaels Moving and Storage and he informed us his company was sub-Contracted by Final Destination and he just backs his truck up to Final Destinations storage and Final Destination Employees loaded his truck while he Slept in the cab. When we called Final Destination on April 27,2010 they told us all of our things were brought to us per our 7-page inventory list (280 items). I specifically mentioned large items that were missing and they told me I needed to check the boxes they packed. These Items would not even fit in a box. When I asked, Where my very large desk was they then told me a few things were damaged in storage and we dont ship damage goods. But there was no documentation on these so-called damaged items. They also told me that after they picked up my belongings they took it to their storage and waited for Michaels moving and storage to pick it up.

          As I looked further at the belongings they brought us, I noticed they did not sticker all of our boxes as they are suppose to according to The Transportation of Household Goods, Consumer Protection Regulation 375.503. I verified this with the inventory list they provided; I have 228 boxes without stickers not including 19 plastic tubs not stickered. They charged us for 15 wardrobe boxes ($22.00 each) they packed to protect some of the belongings nor were these boxes stickered. I then recounted and double-checked what they brought me and I actually have more Items then those noted on inventory. These are my items though.

          They took furniture apart and I now have no screws for them. Things I had packed in boxes they repacked in boxes and are broke. I have a small patio table they took apart and the legs are missing. My grandchildren have no screws for their beds. 3 desk, computers, filing cabinets with important personal info (s.s.card, Titles to vehicles and birth certificates), 5 tubs of a Barbie collection, 34 tubs of Christmas items, my deceased sons belongings, family pictures (these things cannot be replaced) I have 4 pages of items missing this does not include the little things that I have not remembered yet. I have 2 other people belongings 1 with a sticker and one without. I notified Final Destination of this and they have done nothing with these things that arent mine nor told me what to do with them. I have things here not on inventory and things on inventory not here. I cannot put the few things we have here away because pieces are missing. Sindy told me that Mike was out of the office because his wife was expecting a baby any day. I asked her to have him call me since he supervised the move, I still havent heard from Mike.  I asked to speak with the owner Jami D. York and have gotten no call, they say they went and checked my storage and theirs and nothing is there, but I found out through the storage owner they left my fire pit and a $10,000 commercial coffee machine there and went back to get it and the rest of their packing blankets, But I haven't got it and nor did they tell me they had to go back to get it. I stated to them they do not have all my belongings tagged with the stickers and I will come check their inventory, I was told their insurance would not cover me to look for my belongings. After further research I find out the business address is to a house that is rented. They are in breach of contract they over charged me for the weight on what they did deliver, and this was not door-to-door service as they stated in the contract! I have called Final Destination for the last 12 days and no one has returned my calls. On May 11, 2010 Luna sent me an e-mail basically stating that they do not have time to assist me in finding my things and for me to JUST file a claim for the $.60 per pound. This is ridicuouls when my family pictures and heirlooms are priceless.