Complaint Review: USA Relocation Inc

I  had begun the preparation of my move from Florida to Texas the first week in December 2009. I had narrowed it down to moving my belongings with the help of my family, or hiring a moving company to complete the hassle for me.  Upon various quotes, USA Relocation INC out of Plano, TX, seemed like the way to go. Through several phone calls and emails I was quoted $1100 with a pick up date of December 17^th, and an arrival date of December 21^st, 2009. The $1100 was based on weight, and an extra 30 boxes were added due to the fact that I was not aware of how many boxes I would have. December 9, 2009 a deposit was made by my boyfriend in order to secure the dates with a man named Lee.

Movers arrived at my Boca Raton, FL home at 10 am on December 17, 2009. The driver had told me that it was going to be about $1000 on top of the $1100 that was quoted because I had exceeded the amount on the quote. The driver had been told that the move was amounted by cubic feet.   The driver tells me that we've gone over our cubic footage allotment (our quote was by weight). Plus, he said that they had to pack up some of my small boxes and that the material and labor was over $400. I told him that was not the agreement that I was partaking in. I had immediately called Lee at USA Relocation INC in Texas to explain the situation and ask what to do, because I had been dealing with him the entire time. Lee had suggested I speak with the manager, Mike, who worked in dispatch. A direct quote from Mike at USA Relocation INC: Do not worry about the movers there, they are just drivers. Do not listen to them. Upon Mikes request, I forewent the move. At the time of completion of loading the truck on December 17, 2009, the driver requested that I paid $1442.50, and if I did not, my belongings would be put in storage until payment was received. $1442.50 was only 50% of the cost of the total move. The other 50% was to be paid at time of delivery on December 21, 2009. Mike at USA Relocation INC received another phone call from me explaining the disagreement in payment, and the excessive extra amount because I was being charged by cubic feet.  Mike told me, Pay the amount and we will work it out in the end. I wrote a check of $1442.50 and it was cleared December 18, 2009. I was packed and ready to go, trusting USA Relocation INC, and the dispatcher Mike.

Driving my car and extra belongings, I arrived in TX on December 20, 2009. Anxiously awaiting my belongings the following day, I did not receive a phone call from the movers. A phone call, again, was made to Mike at USA Relocation INC. He stated that the drivers got held up, and they would not be arriving until the time frame of December 23 December 26, 2009.  Later on the 23^rd, there was still no word from USA Relocation INC. Again, a phone call was made to Mike. Mike told us that the driver again got held up, and we would receive the belongings on December 29, 2009. Returning from Nebraska on December 28, 2009, we again awaited the movers on the 29^th. No call or no show. Mike was called, again, stating that USA Relocation INC did not have a driver from Florida, and they sub-contracted a company that would deliver on January 2, 2010. January 2^nd approached, and still no sign of my household belongings. Mike was called again, and we were told, This is not my problem anymore. No contact information was ever given to me with the driver or company information that had my items, as promised by Mike on the 2^nd. The same situation occurs day after day. Mike and Lee from USA Relocation INC refuse to answer my phone calls/emails or respond to my messages left with other USA Relocation INC associates.

January 5, 2010 I called Lee at USA Relocation INC with a blocked number. He answered and had told me that he was not aware of the situation. Through explaining myself to him he said, Let me stop you right there, I cannot help you with this matter. The person you need to talk to is Mike. Mike is actually on the phone with the moving company that has your belongings right now. I said, Thats strange, so he just called them when I contacted you? Lee said, I will give him your message, but just know he is yelling at the company that has your stuff. I proceeded to give Lee my number, again, to make the process easy for USA Relocation INC.  January 5, 2010 we contacted a phone number that was on a moving sheet of a man named Robert located in Florida. He in charge of the company that now has my belongings. However, he has never received a phone call from Mike or anyone at USA Relocation INC. I am still awaiting several return phone calls from Mike.

Through ample research, I have found the following:

         USA Relocation INC does not have voicemail, opposed to one a legitimate company uses.

         USA Relocation INC never identifies the company by name any time that I called, they say hello or can I help you?

         I am entitled to rights and responsibilities when I move.    The main item that USA Relocation INC did not follow was the rules on the Bill of Lading. The Bill of Lading that USA Relocation gave me had no information about the movers, the company, or the delivery date; all of which a moving company is required to provide at time of pickup.  Information on your bill of lading should be the same information as what was provided in your written estimate, if you received one. The driver who loads your shipment must give you a copy of the bill of lading before loading your belongings. (http://real-estate.lawyers.com/Handling-Movers-with-Care.html) I did not receive a copy until the moving company was finished loading the truck and ready to ask for payment.

         USA Relocation INC has not honored many of the commitments that were made.

         USA Relocation INC stated in the contract that my items were going to be charged by weight. They changed the contract on me the day of the move to being charged by cubic feet. My items at the time of loading the truck were never moved.

         USA Relocation INC has sub-contracted my move to another company in which they could not provide me any information on. USA Relocation INC never consented me about sub-contracting; they went behind my back and out of the agreement terms.

         USA Relocation INC states: We offer a BINDING-NOT-TO-EXCEED the estimate contract that covers all expenses up front. There are no hidden charges. All of the fuel surcharges, taxes and tolls are included. This is the best way for the customer to know exactly what your total moving costs are and offers you the comfort of knowing everything up front. I was charged for fuel.

         USA Relocation INC states: Our BINDING-NOT-TO-EXCEED estimate is designed to protect you from any hidden charges. Our proprietary moving software is designed to calculate your item's weight. This is done instead of the old system of using cubic feet to make sure the weight is accurate and also over estimated at the same time. We do this to make sure that your estimate will not go over the actual weight which saves you money. This may work in your favor after the move is complete in that if the actual weight is under the estimate you will receive money back for the over calculation.

Do yourself a favor and steer clear of USA Relocation INC !