Move My Car - Southerland Transport Ripoff Cheated me out of $395.00 and had phone did-connected so I couldn't get in touch ANDERSON California
IN DECCEMBER 2003 I WAS QUOTED $395.00 FOR MOVE MY CAR AKA SOUTHERLAND TRANSPORT, INC TO TRANSPORT MY CAR FROM INDIANA TO MISSISSIPPI. I SENT THE $395.00 MONEY ORDER ON JANUARY 16, 2004. TO DATE I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. I CALLED EVERY DAY, I E-MAILED AND PHONED EVERY OTHER DAY, ONLY TO GET THEIR VOICE MAIL. NOW I CALL AND NO ONE ANSWERS AT ALL. I CALLED TODAY AND THE PHONE HAS BEEN DIS-CONNECTED. IT'S GOING ON TWO MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE MY CAR. BUT AM OUT OF $395.00.
I HAVE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA (THEY DON'T GET INVOLVED WITH THIS KIND OF COMPLAINT). I CONTACTED THE BBB WHICH I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YET. I WISH I HAD SEEN THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE I SENT MY MONEY TO THESE SCAM ARTISTS.
Louvonzelle
Michigan City, Indiana
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Kay
Blacksburg,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Southerland owner arrested, suspicion of mail and wire fraud by a federal grand jury.
#2Consumer Comment
Sun, March 07, 2004
The owner of this company has been arrested. Here is the story quoted from a Sacremento newspaper:
Jim Schultz
Record Searchlight
February 13, 2004 2:07 a.m.
SACRAMENTO An Anderson businessman who ran an Internet-based auto moving company was indicted Thursday on suspicion of mail and wire fraud by a federal grand jury.
The 12-count indictment could bring Bill D. Southerland a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Stegman said Thursday.
Southerland, who has pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges, is due to be arraigned and possibly have a trial date set on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento.
The 62-year-old man is accused of defrauding customers who enlisted his company, Southerland Auto Transport, on the Internet to transport their vehicles. His Web site operated under a variety of names, including MovingMyCar.com. He remains in custody without bail.
According to the indictment, customers would send money to his Anna Road-based business believing their vehicles would be picked up for a specified price within seven to 10 days.
But, it said, Southerland failed to perform as promised and refused to refund some or all of the customer's money, claiming it to be a nonrefundable deposit. The indictment further alleges that Southerland engaged in "bait and switch" tactics by offering below market rates to lure customers.
But once customers complained that their vehicles were not moved, it said, his company would tell them to pay more money to "upgrade" the pickup priority.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Southerland engaged in tactics designed to prevent customers from complaining to law enforcement or the Better Business Bureau.
He did so, it said, by threatening to charge an extra $150 to $200 above the $200 nonrefundable deposit if customers filed such complaints.