Moving Relo Will Estrem, Vladimir Pylyk, Ron, Alex Dishonest, bait and switch moving company that uses scare and intimidating tactics on women to "pay up or else" once they have your items. La Mirada California
On August 28th 2019, I have contacted Moving Relo company to arrange moving my furniture and boxes from Manhattan, NY to Marina del Rey, CA. My entire interaction and the price quote were done with Mr. Will Estrem. We had a detailed conversation discussing all aspects of the move such as lack of elevator, number of flights of stairs to my apartment, the street block where I lived and the items and size of everything I needed to move.
I was completely transparent with Mr. Estrem and was charged additionally in the provided quote for things like number of stairs in my walk-up building, elevator in a new building, fuel surcharge, number of items to be wrapped etc. After verbal agreement was reached everything was written down in the contract with the total of $1,593.50.
On October 8th 2019 two men showed up at my NYC apartment to load the truck. As per my agreement with Mr. Estrem everything was packed as per specifications Mr. Estrem and I went over prior to that. Once, all items were loaded into a truck, one of the packing men handed me a pick-up slip and a list of my items, however the final price was now $2,671.00, $1,077.50 more, which nearly doubled my initial quote!
The new price of $2,671.00 was completely outside my budget and I would never hire or consider this company knowing that beforehand. It caught me completely off-guard and defenseless as at that point everything was already loaded in their truck. Everything on the “new” price quote was much higher and sometimes more than double in price!
Things like number of stairs in NY apartment building, elevator in Marina del Rey building and the fact I lived on a busy street was all of the sudden given a much higher price quote than agreed with Mr. Estrem! Also, some items in the “Additional Goods” section were double counted as they were already included in the original price quote.
Once I asked about extra charges, one of the men, Alex said not to worry and that the signature on the pick-up slip doesn’t matter and the amount will get adjusted later, I just need to call the company’s office. I was very uncomfortable signing the “new” price quote but felt I had no choice since I had to move out of my apartment the next day and all my items were already loaded into the truck.
Weeks leading to my delivery in California, I tried multiple times to contact the company on both New Jersey and California locations to understand the extra charges, however got nowhere. I was told this is the real number now and if I want my items, I better have cash in hand for the extra balance at the delivery.
One of the absurd reasons I was given for extra charges was that the number of stairs between floors in my building was more than 7 stairs between each floor and this is what apparently was quoted in the initial price. I lived in a standard building with a standard number of stairs and moreover, this information was never mentioned to me at any time prior to that.
Another extra charge was due to the fact that they could not find parking near my NY city apartment because they came with a large rather than a small truck, for that I was charged an additional $250, which was never mentioned to me either at any time prior. Other additional charges had similar explanations, that absolutely had no reason behind them and were never discussed nor agreed with me.
I felt extremely vulnerable and exposed as Moving Relo exploited the situation and knew that I had no choice but to go along with their demands and pay new price. The company’s previously pleasant attitude quickly changed to rude, aggressive with a lot of pressure to deliver the funds in cash and cash only or else I am not getting my items!
There were absolutely no adjustments done as promised and Moving Relo representatives were not interested in hearing any of my reasoning or questions why the price is now so much higher. All of multiple conversations I had with Moving Relo representatives summed up to “either I pay up the balance in cash or else I am not getting my stuff”. They knew they had all the leverage on me and used it blatantly and ruthlessly.
I felt they were trying to intimidate and scare me, which worked as I started to get extremely worried about my items not being delivered. By the end of the promised delivery day different Moving Relo representatives started called me every hour threatening that if I don’t bring funds in cash, I am not getting my items. As a result of these aggressive calls I came down with a nervous breakdown and was sobbing uncontrollably. I was physically shaking by the ruthless and predatory way this company operates.
At the time of delivery, I was worried sick and without any other option available to deal with the situation, I paid Moving Relo representatives in cash the amount outstanding before they agreed to take a single item of the truck. After I inspected everything, I had an arm chair and some dishes broken which I pointed out to them. I felt completely taken advantage of and wrote on the delivery slip that I will be disputing the new amount as Vladimir Pylyc from Moving Relo recommended doing after paying the new price balance in full at delivery.
I have followed that advice and emailed several times to Will Estrem as my representative, which were all ignored and never answered. I would like to report this company to prevent others from similar situation with this truly despicable firm and to recover $1,077.50 charge that was so dishonestly added to my initial contract. Please kindly file my complaint and let the innocent public know about the predatory nature of this company.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim
Anaheim,California,
United States
You Aren't Very Bright
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, February 20, 2020
The fact you had a budget of around $2,000 on a move from NY to CA is one of the stupidest things I've ever read on this website. I don't always say consumers deserve something like this happening, but you did. This has nothing to do with you being female and they took advantage of you. This has to do with absolute sheer stupidity on your part.
I was completely transparent with Mr. Estrem and was charged additionally in the provided quote for things like number of stairs in my walk-up building, elevator in a new building, fuel surcharge, number of items to be wrapped etc. After verbal agreement was reached everything was written down in the contract with the total of $1,593.50. The fuel cost from NY to California alone is more than $1,500 and had you done any research on this alone....tells me you did none before you decided to contact a mover. Most moves from NY to CA even with the smallest loads are around $4,000....
In addition, if you contacted the mover via telephone, there is no way the pricing provided was binding. In other words, that price was completely meaningless. The only way it would have been binding is if (a) the mover saw everything prior to the move, and (b) the stairs down to the street.
Once I asked about extra charges, one of the men, Alex said not to worry and that the signature on the pick-up slip doesn’t matter and the amount will get adjusted later, I just need to call the company’s office. I was very uncomfortable signing the “new” price quote but felt I had no choice since I had to move out of my apartment the next day and all my items were already loaded into the truck. Since the original price quote was useless, the actual price of the move was the new price. It doesn't really matter what the detail says.One of the absurd reasons I was given for extra charges was that the number of stairs between floors in my building was more than 7 stairs between each floor and this is what apparently was quoted in the initial price. I lived in a standard building with a standard number of stairs and moreover, this information was never mentioned to me at any time prior to that. Hey Moron, this is referred to as a long carry. Long Carries have been a part of an interstate moving tariff since the beginning of time. In fact, any carry longer than 7 stairs period would be considered a long carry and subject to extra charges. Again, had you done any research at all, you would have known this. The only absurd person here is you.
Another extra charge was due to the fact that they could not find parking near my NY city apartment because they came with a large rather than a small truck, for that I was charged an additional $250, which was never mentioned to me either at any time prior. Other additional charges had similar explanations, that absolutely had no reason behind them and were never discussed nor agreed with me. Again, parking is a valid charge to a shipper when moving from NY anywhere. It's also pretty standard in other states as well. And yes, you agreed to all of this. Don't say you didn't - you did. One of the perils of not doing your research.
I felt extremely vulnerable and exposed as Moving Relo exploited the situation and knew that I had no choice but to go along with their demands and pay new price. Since there was no old price, there is no such thing as a new price. The mover didn't exploit you because you had to move that day. You chose to do no research before a move, so you chose to be ignorant.
There were absolutely no adjustments done as promised and Moving Relo representatives were not interested in hearing any of my reasoning or questions why the price is now so much higher. All of multiple conversations I had with Moving Relo representatives summed up to “either I pay up the balance in cash or else I am not getting my stuff”. They knew they had all the leverage on me and used it blatantly and ruthlessly. Well, the only adjustments the mover could do was adjust the price down. I'm almost certain they would have wanted to charge you much more than the $2,600 they did charge you, but they are prevented by law from adjusting the price upward.
Now, had they said we won't deliver until you pay them $4,000, then that would have been illegal and you could sue them. And yes, it is standard to pay the mover IN CASH at time of delivery. Why? Because people like you would either write a check that bounces, or dispute a credit card payment for a legitimate service performed. And you would do that. That's why you now pay in cash. Understand?
As a result of these aggressive calls I came down with a nervous breakdown and was sobbing uncontrollably. I was physically shaking by the ruthless and predatory way this company operates. They were 100% certain you would not pay cash at time of delivery. I don't blame them for badgering you based on all of your whiny complaints.
After I inspected everything, I had an arm chair and some dishes broken which I pointed out to them. I felt completely taken advantage of and wrote on the delivery slip that I will be disputing the new amount as Vladimir Pylyc from Moving Relo recommended doing after paying the new price balance in full at delivery. There is a process for you to follow when there are items broken. Movers are required to provide you valuation for your move. However, that valuation does not go into effect until AFTER you pay the entire move in full and do not dispute the amount at any point. However, even if you dispute, there is no recourse for you. You signed the contract for $2,671 and that's what you owe.
The amount for $1,593 was never valid and the moving company is not bound by it. Insofar as the valuation, the mover will provide you valuation at $0.60 per pound, which in your case might be one hundred dollars maybe....
You can report the company, but there is nothing wrong or illegal they did and no one you report to will do anything. You have no recourse except for the broken items. It isn't the mover that's the issue in your case. It's you the consumer. You are not going to get any money back and the law actually prevents you as the consumer for suing the mover and binding the mover to that price of $1,593 you stupidly relied on.
No, I don't work for this moving company.....