Giant Van Lines rip-off! Hours Overstated! Jessup Maryland
I hired Giant Van Lines for my family's relocation from Reston, VA to Odenton, MD. I was quoted $67/hr. for three workers and a truck, three hours minimum plus one hour for travel to the origin and from the destination of the move, no extra charge for long-carries.
To begin with, the movers arrived in Reston in the morning 45 minutes late at 10:15AM with four workers instead of three. The foreman said it would be $15/hr. more for the extra worker that I had not requested, but the extra worker was called back by their dispatcher so I didn't end up having to pay this extra charge.
At noon, the workers departed Reston and we left a few minutes later. Traffic was light and it took us a little more than 45 minutes to get to Odenton. Over an hour later at 2:00PM the movers finally arrived. It was obvious that the crew had stopped for lunch, evidenced by the fast-food soda cups they were carrying.
At 4:00PM the movers completed the work and left my new home in Odenton. I was charged for 7 1/2 hours and $200 for supplies. The foreman explained the charges as six hours of work, hour for travel to the origin and from the destination of the move, plus 1/2 hour for the long-carry between the house and truck in Reston.
I contacted the company and disputed being charged for the worker's hour lunch break and the 1/2 hour long-carry charge that was tacked on. I argued with their Customer Service for a couple days but they denied any wrongdoing. They claim the truck arrived at 10:00AM, left Reston at 12:30PM, arrived in Odenton before 2:00PM (would not give a specific time), and left Odenton at 4:30PM. They deny that the foreman charged me an extra fee for long-carry. I can produce phone records from my calls to the company asking where the movers were and witnesses to prove the company is providing false information on the times.
I think the packing supplies charges were a ripoff as well. The foreman had a sheet itemizing the charges, but did not provide me a copy of this. One of the supplies charges was for 15 rolls of tape. My wife and I found 5 unused rolls and 10 rolls that were only half used, which I think is a ripoff at $3+/roll.
I think I'm going to take these guys to small claims court.
Joshua
Odenton, Maryland
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Joshua
Odenton,Maryland,
U.S.A.
Operating with revoked USDOT license
#3Author of original report
Wed, November 24, 2004
Thanks to Sharon for alerting me about Giant Van Lines revoked USDOT license. They falsely advertise that they are USDOT licensed and insured, and fraudulently wrote my moving contract as such. They performed my move with a revoked license and without a cargo insurance policy. They put my family at risk of loosing all of our possessions.
I will be taking them to small claims court for a full refund, plus court costs and attorney fees, unless they elect to settle out of court.
I have reported them to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, and Maryland Attorney General.
In August the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration fined SNS Business Opportunities, Inc. d/b/a Giant Van Lines $60,500 for operating a charge card plan without providing a tariff, or list of charges, and for failing to properly weigh shipments, prepare orders for service or prepare itemized bills. For failing to provide Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a pamphlet required for consumers that summarizes of carriers' dispute settlement programs. And for not charging its applicable tariff rate and failing to relinquish possession of shipments after being paid the estimated charge plus 10 percent.
Sharon
Alexandria,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Giant has no license, court won't get you much
#3Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 09, 2004
Small claims court won't get you much, court costs will cancel out any money you would get from them.
However, it might get you some satisfacion to wage a war of complaints against them.
First of all, Giant Van Lines had their license revoked on August 2nd, and they still do not have it back.
Call 1-888-DOT-SAFT to report them.
Here is the link to their Authority History, showing their license revocation and their license numbers, which you'll need to report them.
http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_authorityhistory?pv_apcant_id=302828&pv_legal_name=SNS^BUSINESS^OPPORTUNITIES,^INC.&pv_pref_docket=MC391156&pv_usdot_no=901353&pv_vpath=LIVIEW
Then you can call the Maryland Attorney General, and the BBB.