national moving network/progressive van lines moving scam, hold belonging hostage pay three times original amount consumer fraud ripoff north miami Florida
They give you an extremely low ball bid on the phone and tell you how professional they are, and what good hands you are in, and how much you are going to save with them, they are convincing and seem very professional, DO NOT trust them, once they have everything you own on their truck, they have you right where they want you.
Wham! they hit you with the new inflated price, and if you don't pay! They hold everything you own hostage for ransom, so to speak.
They get your signature on a blank contract before they load your belongings onto the truck, then they add additional money to the contract in the form of packing, boxes, wardrobes etc.... in our case, the quote went from $3785 to OVER $10,000 they will only accept payment in the form of a cashiers check, certified check, money order, or cash .... BEFORE they will unload EVERY BELONGING YOU OWN.
To date they still have NOT delivered everything this 60 something year old woman owns!!! That's right you read that right STILL NO DELIVERY, and EVERYTHING SHE OWNS!!!
They change company names, locations and telelphone numbers quite frequently. They will dissappear with your belongings and there is no legal way to stop them currently. Every law enforcement agency I have spoken with, including the FBI, has stated this is a civil matter.
However, it is my belief this is an interstate extortion scheme, as well as operating a continuing criminal enterprise, through intentionally deceptive and unfair business practices. This may go beyond "caveat emptor" or, let the buyer beware!!! It is my belief this is OUTRIGHT THEFT.
They claim they have a signed contract, but any third grader can figure out if a contract is altered in any way after it is signed, it is NO VALID CONTRACT, but all the legal facts being on your side will NOT get your belongings OFF THE TRUCK!!! And neither will the Sherriff, the Police or the FBI, they all claim interstate transportation of your goods is a civil matter not within their jurisdiction, and to hold all your belongings hostage in order to extort additional monies from you is also a civil matter not within their jurisdiction, and if you don't pay, they will keep all of your belongings, and increase your bill as a result of what they refer to as additional storage and the bill continues to increase until you do come up with the money, if you don't they keep everything you own.
Funny, interstate transportation with the intent to extort monetary or pecuniary advantage sure sounds like theft/extortion to me which i believe is still a criminal act last time I checked.
If you, or anyone you know has been a victim of this crime, please contact us in Florida at:
lynda
vero beach, Florida
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Patty
Boston,Massachusetts,
Not even close to the truth
#3UPDATE Employee
Wed, May 01, 2002
The shipper mentioned in the above complaint has not been truthful with the facts surrounding her move. From what was written it was her son who wrote the complaint not the shipper herself. The son was not present at the origin, but other family members including her daughter where at all times.
This shipper was informed of the charges she was incurring for her move prior to moving anything. By her admission to the mover she should have called back when only 7 boxes where listed to be packed when she reqeusted a full service move of 10,000 lbs. from National.
Progresive informed the shipper of the additional costs associated with her move when they arrived and where advised of the actual packing that had to be done, which she and her family members agreed to.
Upon completion she was left with a Bill of Lading which stated the actual cost of the full packing, additional stops, and line haul. She was informed that the only additional fees would be from the actual weight, which would not be available until they weighed the truck after loading.
These items where to be delivered to a storage unit at destination, which was left out of the complaint also. This shippers items have been delivered to the storage of choice at 110% of her original estimate. To date this shipper has not returned repeated calls for a mailing address. Progressive Van Lines did not hold this shipment from this customer, it was the shipper who delayed the delivery.
kay
blacksburg,Virginia,
your complaint makes a difference
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sat, April 20, 2002
Lynda,
Please make a complaint to the Attorney General in your state. Florida recently passed a bill that makes it illegal to hold a customer's belongings hostage. also, you can complain to the FMCSA, part of the Department of Transportation.
Consumers may file household goods or other commercial motor carrier complaints via FMCSA's nationwide complaint hotline,
1-888-368-7238 (1-888 DOT-SAFT). To further protect consumers, a commercial complaint form is now available on FMCSA's website at
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/. The form may be mailed or faxed to: FMCSA, 400 Seventh St., SW, MC-PA, Washington, DC 20590. The fax
number is 202-366-3375.