Complaint Review: High Strength Movers

I contacted Gary by phone on 6.13.2013 regarding my imminent move from New York to Texas and was informed by him that I needed to email a list of the items that I needed to move and I would be charged accordingly. I then emailed the list to their office. (Exhibit A). The next day I was contacted back and forth by Tanya, who I specifically told what the scenario was concerning my finances. She quoted me a price based on 500 sq. ft. which we agreed it was going to be $1890. (Exhibit B)   

(6.26) When the movers came, I explained all of this and was assured they would let me know if I went over the amount that they wholeheartedly assured me that everything fit into the required space. There was a dresser left over, I was ensured that if they returned for the dresser would not go past $50 extra. After unloading the truck that same night, the clerk called me from one of the movers’ phone telling me that they might charge me for wrapping the mirrors. I then redialed the movers and stated that if the cost that they quoted me for returning for the item was going to be more than they told me they were not to return for it. They assured me it would not.

(6.27.13) I received a call from Tanya saying that she had gone to the storage facility and the furniture took up 800 sq. ft. of space and she was going to charge me an additional $600. I disputed this considering that prior to the men leaving they assured me that it fit. I explained that I was unable to pay for this. She then stated that she would allow me to pay the original balance and that she would send me a promissory note to complete paying the remaining balance. I neither agreed nor disagreed as I felt this shouldn’t have happened. I was also assured by Tanya and Laura that I would receive my shipment between 2-5 days.

(6.28.13) I called to find out what was the situation re- my shipment. I spoke to Laura who I was complaining to regarding what had occurred. She then told me that my belongings took up 900 sq. ft. and that they were giving me a discount  and that I would pay the $600, which meant that my balance was now $1500- she stated that she would call Gary (the owner). Upon him calling, I found out that my shipment had yet to leave NY and that he was charging me an additional $500 which now took my balance to $2000, an extra $1000 that I didn’t have. They told me that shipment would leave that same weekend.

On Saturday (6.29), Gary called and told me that I would receive my shipment by July 4^th. He then put me on hold, but failed to retrieve the call or call me back after. Later that day, I called and spoke to Jamie, re: July 4^th, which she stated that she had no information but promised to call me back. No returned call to date. She also assured me that if they had told me that I would receive my items on July 4^th then I would regardless if it was a holiday or not.

After several follow up calls, I was told on Friday the 5^th, that they would deliver sometime the next week but that if I didn’t have the additional money that they had charged me, then my belongings would go into a storage facility in Texas until I was able to pay.            

The day the movers came, 7/12/2013 I had to go to post office to buy a money order to pay the delivery man, because prior to this all the documentation was incorrect and I wanted to have evidence of my payment. I was unable to get one so I had to pay him in cash. Gary then told the delivery man that he was to charge me a delay fee because I left to get the money order. When the shippers unloaded my things, upon inspection, I realized that quite a few of my things were missing and some things were damaged. To name a few , my bed’s upholstery (my bed is now placed on the floor), my dining room table top (which was brand new and the payment was still in process) , my daughter’s  mirror for her room was cracked, my television’s bracket was still left in NY because of the company’s movers. I was also missing pots and pans and other kitchen appliances and utensils. I later realized that the original documents that I signed were forged. The values were changed, scribbled out, crossed out, and corrections were made with “white-out”. (Exhibit C).  There were also papers a part of the agreement/contract that I hadn’t signed. When I asked the mover about how I would get my stuff back or how I would be reimbursed for my property as well as the damages, he said that he was not in a position to disclose that information because he had no idea what had to be done. He contacted Gary and was instructed to do a walk through to verify what items were missing which he did and also signed to. (Exhibit D) Granted the fact that my price had been doubled, I paid the fees that he asked for in order for me to receive my items because I have a family to maintain and I refused to have my children continuously sleep on the floor at nights. My personal belongings were also damaged; boxes were also missing filled with appliances such as my irons. My newly purchased deep freezer was dented numerous times and my like-new microwave was broken. To date, I have not been contacted by the company to discuss what actions are going to be taken place to get my things back and now I have to be the one that has to repaying for everything I’m missing with funds that I do not have. I don’t have pots to cook dinner, nor do I have plates to eat out of.  I am very upset over this entire situation as my family has been reduced to eating off the floor despite my being grossly overcharged for a service that I didn’t receive.

I feel as if this a travesty of justice because I have to be paying the cost of something that I already paid for and the company has to date not made any effort in trying resolve this situation. I have no idea where my items are and it has been a month later.  Please inform me of how to file a claim for my missing items. I also think I should be refunded the additional costs that I was charged. Today is September 27, 2013. My items were picked up over three months now and I am under the impression that this company is stretching this situation out so I will not be able to file a claim.  I was told by Gary on September 12, 2013, that he will reimburse me for my inconvenience and my missing items.  On September 16, I called & was informed that they were trying to ship my table top which was found approximately 2 weeks prior to this, and to date have been given no timeline as to when this will occur.  I was also told by Gary on September 16, that by the end of the next business day they would have a definite answer from him regarding what will be the next step and to date no communication has been received from him.