Complaint Review: Shleppers Moving and Storage

I was advised by my sister, to try using a moving company my brother-in-law worked for; Shleppers Moving and Storage. I agreed to use them, and two weeks in advance, set a date of November 28th, 2016, when their rep came by my house and quoted me $400 for the move. I told him that was low, seeing it was always around $1000 to move my things, when I did it myself. I was excited to not only save money, but not have to move the items. He reassured me everything was fine and the quote was solid. He agreed on the 28th, and told me they would get me a time. I called to get that time, but never got a response back (trusting this was family and everything was going to follow through). I finally received a call, morning of the 28th, that they were out front! Regardless, I was eager to move, and went ahead with buzzing them up. 

In walked three movers, none of which were my brother in-law. It turns out he was called onto another move. I let these three strangers into my home, which was one of the worst mistake I  have ever made. During the corse of my move they took twice the time they said. I had friends tell me they saw them by their truck, not doing anything. They finally got my things down to the truck, and we went to my new home. 

There, I found that my stereo had been broken. That was after they smashed a lamp into the ground. It was not until later that I found the goose down, feather, couch that I got from Restoration Hardware was damaged, and one of my finer rings had been stolen! I was too busy dealing after the move, with the fact they asked me for $1000 for their service, and that’s outside of the materials they tried to charge me for; boxes they took back, tape they used, and plastic I had provided, but they used their own. Yup, $1000 for a job that I  was quoted $400. I told them I would give them $700. They got their boss Jesse Heeber on the phone, and after a lot of arguing, he agreed to $700. I paid in cash, and they left. I received no quote, no paperwork, and no Bill of Landing.

I called Shleppers Moving and Storage, here in LA, and spoke with Jesse. Over the course of a month, he reassured me he was going to handle this. He kept telling me to call him back, and then would not answer. Then, he stopped answering my calls and texts. I tried calling the office in New York. They got me on the phone with Rob. He told me he was going to handle the situation. I never heard back from him. 

Now, after looking over the internet, I have found that this is common practice for this company. I have found rampant complaints of over charging, surging, stealing, and more. It’s terrifying!!! Who knows what else they took I have not discovered yet. Worst is, I didn't look at reviews myself! I hired them. Now I see why reviews matter. 

Now, I am trying to file a claim with my own insurance, but they need a Bill of Landing. They need paperwork. Something this company knew I would need. I am out of options, and left screwed over like everyone in all the reviews I’ve read since this happened. Including an interesting one, by a former employee, who states that this kind of stuff is encouraged! How does a scam and set-up, like this thieving company, keep getting away with this?