Complaint Review: Freightcenter - Palm Harbor Florida

Contracted with FC on June 20th to ship a mower from Atlanta, GA to Dallas, TX. I chose UPS Freight for a rate of $406.58 and declared a weight of 360 lbs. After I had booked online, I shortly received an email from Freightcenter customer service center stating:

Dear Customer,

We have booked shipment 11935054 and have scheduled the pickup for 06/22/2018. I did want to let you know that UPS Freight will not take machinery uncrated, so in order to keep you at the price you agreed to we had to change the carrier over to Saia Motor Freight. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Customer Service

Prior to booking UPS Freight, I noted that the rate for Sais was cheaper, $374.48. I emailed FC to inquire if I would receive a partial refund since they switched to Saia as the rate was cheaper than UPS freight. FC replied stating the class had changed and the new amount for Saia was $571.24, however, they would not going to charge me more than the $406.58 which was the original booking price. Here is the email:

Michael,

The freight class that was chosen when you booked this shipment changed from Class 92.5 to Class 175. This caused the price to increase. Saia priced this at $571.24 with the class change which was much cheaper then original carrier. The original carrier also wouldn't take the lawn mower uncrated.  So in order to keep it at the price you booked it at we changed the carrier to the cheapest carrier that will take the lawn mower uncrated on a pallet. We didn't charge you more then $406.58 which is the original price you booked it at. If you have any questions please feel free to reply back to this email or call us at 8007167608 ext 2011  Thank you

Once the shipment arrived at my destination, I noticed they had used UPS Freight all along, despite being told they would not take it since it was uncrated. Addtionally, I received an email on June 29th stating my shipment was overweight by 260lbs and I owed an additional amount of $547.71! I have shipped this same mower on two different occassions and never had a problem with my declared weight.

Immediately upon receiving this information, I went to a local certified CAT scale and had the mower and pallet weighed, just as it had shipped. The weight came to 340 lbs, 20 lbs less than I had declared. I took photos and secured the certified weight documents.

On June 30th, I sent this information along with the various photos and documentation to start a formal dispute regarding the weight of this shipment. Freightcenter responded by email on July 2nd to inform me they had filed a claim with UPS Freight and that it could take 30-120 business days for resolution.

On July 13th, I called UPS Freight directly to inquire upon the status of my dispute. I was informed at that time there were no claims in regard to the shipment in which I was inquiring, FC had not filed anything! On this same day, I faxed UPS Freight directly, the same information I sent to Freightcenter.

On July 27th, I called UPS Freight to inquire upon the status of my dispute. I was informed this shipment would be adjusted to my original declared weight of 360 lbs. and I could expect to see this final resolution notice within 3 days.

Aug 2nd I received an email from FC staing my dispute had been resolved in my favor, but I still owed a balance of $207.61. The next day I inquired about an itemized invoice or receipt of charges which was never provided. This same day, my credit card was charged without my authorization of the amount of $207.61.

When inquiring to FC I was told they failed to cancel the UPS Freight truck and the amount of $207.61 was for using UPS Freight instead of Saia. What happened to the original amount of $406.58? The rate for UPS Frieght was now $614.19! How the rate increased more than 50% is unknown to me but this is a very familiar scam they have used on many others.

FC was the broker for this transaction and booked UPS Freight as the carrier, after telling me UPS Freight was not an option since my mower was uncrated. They proceeded with this company as the carrier without telling me of additional charges and expect me to bare the cost. 

In 2011, FC entered into a Voluntary Complaince with the Florida Attorney General for these same practices. Avoid at all cost. Unethical company that continues to commit fraud! I will continue my complaint with the Florida Attorney General, BBB and Dept of Transportation until this matter is resolved. I have passed all this information on to my attorney and will proceed until my money is refunded.e