Pack Rat LLC Moving and Storage Bait and switch on quoted price .... and delivery charges Wake Forest NC
This company should start by firing their senior executives. There is no way a company can have such dishonest billing practices without their executives either knowing about it or being completely inept.
These deceptive practices were used against me when my credit card was billed. I initially received a quotation for a move from Beaverton Oregon to Blue Ridge Georgia. I was quoted a total turnkey price for dropping the container at my current residence, picking up when ready for transit, storage by month with the 1st month included and final delivery to my new residence. Approximately 3 weeks after receiving the quote ($2700 on 2-November-2018) my credit card was billed $3211.25. This is an excess of $511.25 or 19% above the quoted rate.
Upon calling Pack Rat I was notified that the adjustment was for a fuel surcharge to shipping my container. I know the cost for fuel didn't increase 19% in 3 weeks. This adjustment was plainly fraudulent.
Additionally, the quotation provided specific detail about the included pickup and delivery of the container to my new location as follows: "All transportation from your current residence to your new residence". When I called to arrange for delivery I was notified that there would be a charge of $252.00. This because the new address was 10 miles outside of the Blue Ridge, GA area. As the quotation specifically stated that "All transportation from your current residence to your new residence" was included, this was again a fraudulent charge.
This raised the fraudulent added charges to a total of $763.25 or 28%. My guess is that this company should be subjected to a class action lawsuit. Their practices are clearly fraudulent.
One additional item. This companies web site indicates that all customers are provided a link to a survey after their move is completed. This never came for my consideration - I expect because they knew I was very unhappy with their billing.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim
Beverly Hills,California,
United States
Fuel Surcharge ALWAYS Extra
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, June 17, 2019
There isn't a moving company in the world that doesn't charge a fuel surcharge separately from the moving quote because the fuel surcharge is based upon the price of fuel at the time the transportation associated with the move occurs.
When you see a quotation that says that your moving costs include "All transportation from your current residence to your new residence" does not EVER include the fuel surcharge. The reference is for the labor associated with the travel from origin to destination. The driver's labor is included. The fuel surcharge is not.
When I called to arrange for delivery I was notified that there would be a charge of $252.00. This because the new address was 10 miles outside of the Blue Ridge, GA area. So you originally were quoted a move from Beaverton to Blue Ridge, but now your delivery was now not Blue Ridge, but somewhere outside of Blue Ridge. That little factoid you are trying to make everyone either overlook, or you're simply trying to cover up, changes the terms of your entire move, which now negates the initial quote you received.
You need to tack on the additional $252.00 to your first quote because clearly your delivery was not in Blue Ridge. Again - all of this is perfectly legitimate and your quote should now be $2,952.00 plus the fuel surcharge of $511.25. One additional note: they would have been well within their right to charge you a whole lot more than $252.00 (like $1,000 or more) because you changed the terms and conditions of the entire move. They were being very nice to you - most moving companies would not have been so nice.
My guess is that this company should be subjected to a class action lawsuit. Their practices are clearly fraudulent. Clearly it isn't fraudulent since everything you just cited is considered legal by the Department of Transportation. As a result, you have nothing on which to base a lawsuit, let alone something as stupid as a class action lawsuit.
This companies web site indicates that all customers are provided a link to a survey after their move is completed. This never came for my consideration - I expect because they knew I was very unhappy with their billing. You must assume you are that important that they know who you are. Let's be really clear: You are not important. You must also assume that they know who you are and someone never sent that to you. Websites are run by servers. A server doesn't know who you are.
Interstate moving is something for which consumers need to conduct research on prior to a move because it is unlike anything else you will ever do. If you had done any research at all prior to a move, you would know this: Moving is not an inexpensive venture, no matter how hard you try to keep the cost down.
Surcharges, long carries, and the like are never included in the quote you receive in any move - whether you use a container, or utilize the more traditional method of moving. All moves are conducted in writing set to specific terms and conditions. A change in any of the terms and conditions often results in the mover renegotiating the contract - often at the detriment of the consumer.
This was a standard move based on what you wrote. You were not ripped off.