Complaint Review: Swift Moving and Storage

In late May, I used the internet to find a moving company.  I received emails from multiple moving companies that were offering estimates.  One of the moving companies was Swift Moving and Storage.  
JC/Juan Carlos Martinez of Swift Moving and Storage offered to move and store my furniture.  I was hesitant but decided to try it.  JC emailed me an estimate of $310.50 for 2 men and a truck.  The move was scheduled for 6/17/17 at 9am to 10am.  The movers did not show up until 12 noon, after several calls to JC and several excuses about traffic.

The movers packed my furniture into the truck.  The offered to carry a TV stand to my current residence.  When I tried to pay with a credit card, I was told the balance due was $718.68 and insisted I pay with cash.  The charges included $69/hr., 7 hours, $160.00 for 2 storage crates ($160/month storage), $35.00 for materials/blankets, and $40.68 for sales tax.  I went to the ATM and got the cash to pay.  I asked the movers how I would handle the monthly storage payment.  I was told to contact JC.

Approximately a week later, I started calling JC to inquire about how to make monthly payments.  JC told me to allow a couple weeks and I would receive a email from him with a credit card payment form.  I waited and did not receive anything.  I called JC again and he emailed me the credit card form.  He wanted me to email it back to him but I did not want to because he did not have a secure email.  I told JC, I would meet him and give him the credit card form.  JC gave an address to a storage facility in Silver Spring and said this is where my furniture is being stored and we can meet there at 6pm for the payment.  On the day of our appointment, JC stood me up.  I called JC and he apologized and was on the other side of town and could not keep our appointment.

Several more calls were made to JC, some calls were answered, some calls were not answered, and some time passed.  I left messages when I called until his mailbox indicated it was full and would not allow me to leave a message.  I started sending the SMS text with my phone number for a return call.  Eventually, I did speak to JC and made another appointment to meet at the storage facility in Silver Spring.  Again, JC stood me up but this time when I called he did not answer the phone.  Twice I called and spoke to a woman by the name of Gail.  The second time I spoke to Gail, I told her that I was done playing games and chasing JC to give him money and I wanted my stuff.  Gail asked me for payment.  I told Gail, when I see my stuff you will get your money.  Gail said ok and asked when I wanted to meet.  I told her 10/7/17 at 10am and asked if she would be there or JC.  Gail said JC would be there.

JC did not show up at 10, I called JC, could not leave a message, sent an SMS text, and he called back.  JC was insisting on payment prior to turning over my stuff.  We spent hour’s haggling over my furniture and payment.  Eventually, I called the police.  Hour’s and 4 police officers later, JC took me to another storage and gave me my furniture.  Needless to say, my furniture was stored with other people’s furniture, not in two crates.

Talk about a move from hell.  Today, I paid this con-artist/JC $397.42 (witnessed by the police) a ransom and he tried to insist that I owed him more money.  I told him to mark my receipt paid in full or give me back my money and I will go to a lawyer and request that I not pay anything and hold JC responsible for my attorney fees.

Swift Moving and Storage needs to be shut down and JC needs to go to jail and lengthy community service for the disservice that he is doing to the community.