Millennium moving company showed up at my home at 227 Sycamore Ridge Rd in Laurel, MD. 20724 to pick up and load my furniture and other household goods. When I initially contacted the company for an estimate I was asked what I had and went room to room and gave them a verbal list over the phone. I was quoted $1075.00. When movers arrived they filled out the contract with me and began loading my belongings on the truck.
When they finished loading the boxes the estimate changed, the cost went up to over $2500.00 but was negotiated back down to $1650.00 when the driver and mover contacted the office and person in charge. I had to pay half of that balance by cashiers check or money order at that time and the rest upon delivery in Charlotte North Carolina. When the furniture left my person it was wrapped and taped. My leather sectional and my sofa and love seat. My tables and glass was wrapped and all of my electronic equipment was either in boxes or wrapped in bubble wrap by myself and my fiance.
I had a total of 80 plus boxes which are listed on the inventory sheet along with various other items that were not in boxes because they were either too big or strangely shaped. The whole while they loaded the truck we checked and watched the way my furniture was loaded. It was to satisfactory standards and boxes were neatly stacked and furniture was the last to go on the truck. After my moving truck left I received a call from my mortgage broker telling me that I would not be closing on the 26th of June 2002 which was two days from the date I moved.
I called Millennium Movers and spoke to who was supposed to be the boss Ron Yoramyemuda. I explained my situation to him and he informed me that I could store my furniture free for the first 30 days and it would be $150.00 per month after that and it was to be paid with my balance upon delivery of my things.
I agreed to those terms and he said when I am ready for my furniture to give them at least 7 days and I could have it on the date requested. When I contacted Ron again which was on or about August 11th 2002 to request my furniture I spoke to a customer service rep by the name of Karen who was also the person that gave me my estimate, She said that the dispatcher was not in and she could not make an appointment for me until tomorrow.
The next day she and Ron told me that my furniture
would be to me by no later than Saturday August 24th 2002, this was three days later than my request for Wednesday August 21st 2002. When I asked why because I gave enough notice according to his initial terms Ron got rude and hung up the phone on me. I had my lawyer contact him and he again promised my belongings to me by the weekend but had then change it to Sunday or Monday the day after.
When we heard nothing from the company on Monday we called them and Karen from customer service told me Wednesday and that the driver would contact me to tell me what time they should be arriving. When I asked why and where my furniture was at this point I was told very rudely at a storage in Maryland and If I wanted to pick it up he ( RON ) wanted $250 dollars because the first storage price was a mistake. Then when I tried to find out what storage facility it was in I was hung up on again.
When I spoke to my attorney again they told me to try and be patient to get my things when they came and really t here was nothing I could do about this at the time and that if my things were damaged or they tried to charge me any more than what was agreed upon to call them back. By Wednesday we had been in our apartment for a week with no furniture and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of our things. When we heard nothing we contacted the company again and they said the driver was on the way and would be calling me in the next two hours or so to tell me what time they would be arriving. I requested the cell phone number of the driver and called them.
When I spoke to them they were all the way in P.A and explained to me that they would not be getting to me until at least Friday, that they did not have my furniture as of yet and that they were going to pick it up in a warehouse in New Jersey. They had no knowledge of why my furniture was in New Jersey and had no knowledge of how it got there. These were not the same to movers that picked our things up.
At this point I spoke strictly to the driver and mover Aaron Brown. Aaron explained to me how he didn't even work for this company and how he was doing his boss at USA Star Van Lines a favor to help Millennium get caught up on their deliveries. He also explained how so many other customers were as angry as myself. I accepted the fact that my things would not be to me until Friday and just hoped that my things were safe in New Jersey.
On Friday August 30th 2002 at approximately 3:30pm the movers finally arrived and the office tried to charge us additional fees for extra storage. When we said no Ron finally agreed after arguing with my fiance to release our things and we paid them only the $975.00 owed to them.
The $825.00 balance plus one month storage of $150.00. When the movers opened the truck our furniture was thrown on. It was piled grossly on top of each other. My leather sofa and other living room suite was no longer covered as it was when it left or my tables. The glass was broken furniture was nicked and scratched as well as dirty tables were destroyed. Along with major items missing. The boxes were in the back of the truck and they had been opened and closed back up. They were bent out of shape and there are 28 boxes missing.
When we realized what was happening we called Charlotte / Mecklenburg county police and they tried to reason with Ron. This is how we got his last name he gave it to the police officer and spelled it. Ron was also rude and nasty to the officer and would not even consider reimbursement of any monies paid. The officer stated to us when he hung up the phone that he has spoken to that same man before about 4 months prior for another citizen who had been wronged by the company.
The officers name is Officer Pickler. The complaint number for the call is 20020830-150300. The officers clearly saw the damaged good and witnessed the things missing and told me I had to file a civil suit and contact the police in Plantation, FLA. We took pictures while things were coming off the truck and I also wrote
out a statement and had both movers sign and date it along with myself when everything was off the truck.
When we began to go through the boxes we found out our things had been rambled through. We also realized how much more was missing. When we did we contacted police here in Charlotte again who came back out and took another complaint. But still there was nothing they could do because the crime was not committed here in Charlotte. He instructed us to call the Florida police in Plantation and file a report and contact the attorney generals office and Better Business Bureau.
At this point I want to press charges and do whatever it takes so that this doesn't happen to anyone else. I also want to take to company to court to be paid for the things this so called insurance does not cover. I feel violated and I have been to every extent robbed blind. Me and my family will have to suffer the consequences of the heartless crime forever. There are things that were taken that were irreplaceable and of great sentimental value as well.
This has been reported to the FBI and is currently under investigation by Agent Bill Schureck who has been on this for some time. It is also being followed prior to my complaint by officer Steve Para and Steve Geller of the Plantation police department. I am hoping that justice be done in the pursuit of this case and that it be public knowledge by way of news and media so that this doesn't happen to another innocent family.
I was 39 weeks pregnant and in no way should I have been going through all this stress. I have contacted the Attorney generals office in North Carolina and they forwarded the complaint on to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who has for weeks not responded to my complaint or my many messages to a man named James Dubose who handles these matters at 202-493-0359.
I need to understand why nobody is helping me. I am a tax paying citizen and should be protected by laws in each state against this kind of criminal violation.
Everyone is passing the buck in this matter. I fear that I may never receive any kind of compensation or restitution in the matter and this ordeal has caused myself and my family a great deal of pain and suffering.
At thispoint I am at a great loss and I have to start over again as far as my home is concerned. We don't have one coat between two of us and they even stole
my nine year old daughters leather coats. My clothing, boots and everything of value have been taken.
I spoke to a worker at the storage in New Jersey where my things were stored who reported to me that the company closed the account out on September 6th 2002 one week after they brought me my things damaged and stolen. I was told by the storage company rep that they left empty boxes, broken glass, stuffed animals and clothing in the unit and did not receive their full security back. Also another worker said they had boxes spread all around going through them instead of loading the truck on the September the 6th so I believe they left my things and went back for them later.
Enclosed is a detailed list of things that are missing so far that we have noticed. I am hoping that someone can help me pursue this in civil court as well as help save others from this heartless act. Please help me!!!!!!!!!!.
Sincerely,
Karshan R. Allen
Charlotte, North Carolina
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