Complaint Review: National Moving Network - Access Van Lines

Dan Saffer contacted me at work after I inquired about long distance moving companies online back in August of 2003. He was very attentive to my needs and proceeded to give me advice on how to get my inventory list together. Meanwhile, he gave me an estimate on the weight of my belongings based upon information received from me via telephone.

Once I gave them the $500.00 deposit" to secure the date and to process the contract, I no longer heard from Dan or anyone else at National. One week prior to my move date, 9/29/ I tried contacting Dan via email and phone to give him my "actual" inventory list so that we could finalize the estimated dollar amount.

Don't be surprised. He did not call me back. The night before my move, 10/3, I began dialing every number at the office and was told that Dan Saffer was not my contact anymore because my file had been transferred to Sandy Doeger of "customer care".

I asked Sandy what the name of the moving company was and where was the location of the storage facility that my belongings were going to be taken to for a one month period before shipping to Georgia. She did not know and said she would call me back. Needless to say she did not call back and I began dialing all numbers again.

Finally, she said that the moving company would call me that evening to confirm "everything". They (Access Van Lines) did not. The next morning No one showed up to move my belongings and no one called.

When I called Access Van Lines I was told they had me schedule for 10/5 (sunday) and that they weren't sure what storage facility they were going to. first, I live in a co-op building where you can only move on Wed and Sat.

I had gone over this extensively with Dan over the 3 to 4 weeks. Second, they sent my contract after my 72 hour deadline to cancel or make changes to update the date or pick up time. I received the contract Wednesday night for a Saturday move. Lastly, per the contract, "once you secure your move with a refundable deposit, any changes such as dates, addresses and inventory can be made without any penalties up to 72 hours before the move date".

Per Access Van Lines, the contract received from National, clearly stated a window of 10/4 to 10/5 and so they booked 10/5. When I found out the company had been reported in ripoffreports.com, I called customer care to cancel my pickup/delivery and request a refund.

You know what they said. Refunds or cancellations are allowed up to 72 hours before the move date. Long and short of the story, after searching for more than 3 weeks I still got scammed. Isn't there anything we could do? Like a class action lawsuit or something? Sincerely, Stuck in Brooklyn.

Sandra
Brooklyn, New York
U.S.A.