Complaint Review: Nationwide Relocation Services

On Sept. 18th 2002 Alex Almonte of Nationwide Relocation Services in Fort Lauderdale, FL contacted me stating he received a request from me for a quote on a move from Houston to Seattle for a 1 bedroom apt. not fully furnished. We agreed with a signed contract of $1590.81 for the move, with $598.16 put down as deposit and remainder to be paid when items were delivered. The said movers were to be Action Moving and Storage. Pick-up date was to be Sept. 24th, the 25th at the latest. I received my first phone call on the 23rd from Action stating pick-up would not be made until the 26th.

To make a long story short this has been a nightmare. I needed to leave Houston no later than Sept 25th to make the 4 day trip to Seattle. I had a friend available in Houston to be at the apartment when the things were to be picked up. All companies involved have had my cel number, my friends cel number in Houston, my boyfriends cel number. Between Sept. 25th and Oct. 3rd I had made uncountable phone calls to Nationwide dispatcher Randy and Action Moving Dispatcher Teri that had been either ignored with no return call or directed in circles to contact this person or that, even to call the truck driver Andy myself, to have my things picked up. I was told one day after another that my things would be picked up only to have no phone call for pick-up. I would have cancelled with them all together but Nationwide Relocation had my $600 deposit that would not have been refunded and they assured me every day it would be picked up the next.

By Oct. 1st I'd had enough and requested a refund of the deposit from Nationwide. I was AGAIN assured my things would be picked up. I have a faxed statement from Teri at Action Movers, forwarded to me by Randi at Nationwide that if my things were not picked up my Oct. 2nd at midnight the move would be free. Teri from Action called my friend at 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 2nd wanting someone to be available for pick-up between 5 and 5:30 p.m. that same day. I had a one hour notice. She stated they could not and would not do it any later than this. My friend was there between 4:45 & 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 2nd. They did not show up and no one called him or I anytime after that for pick-up. On Oct. 3rd they called at 10:30 am and picked up my things at 12:30 pm. No mention of them trying to contact us on Oct. 2nd to pick up the items. The original pick-up date was Sept. 24th.

On Oct. 3rd Teri from Action and Randi from Nationwide told me my move was now free, and Randi told me to contact accounting and my deposit would be refunded. Great Right? Wrong. I contacted Nationwides accounting department and was told they would not refund my deposit stating that was their fee. No where on the contract does it say my down payment was their fee. It says it is a deposit for the move. Once my things were on the truck I was told by Julie their "customer service" rep they could help me no further. It was obvious they were done talking to me. Once my things were picked up they said they had done their job and although I have a written statement my things would be picked up by Oct. 2nd or it's free, they refused to refund my money.

Despite the fact I was told by them my money would be refunded and they did not honor that. I would like to know what services they provided, besides a quote from a mover, that justifies charging me $598.16. I made the phone calls to the movers which was picked up over one week late. It is now October 25th and I still have not received my belongs. I have paid the balance in full.

Please beware of Nationwide Relocation Services located in Fort Lauderdale. They gave me a quote for a move and charged $600 dollars for that quote. It is my opinion that they are scammers and work with moving companies that are scammers as well. It is Oct. 25th and I still don't have my belongs and they are in the hands of a different mover other than Action movers because they did not want to keep there word of a free move. They subcontracted a different mover without my consent and threatened to not make delivery and put my things in storage at my cost if I did not pay the balance that Action Moving should have been responsible for. These are the kind of moving companies Nationwide Relocation Services provides for their customers and once they have their "fee" you are not made aware of, they want nothing more to do with you.

Veronica
Issaquah, Washington

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