Complaint Review: HAWAII CAR TRANSPORT - Honolulu Hawaii

*HAWAII CAR TRANSPORT*

Shady, Shady, Shady!!!  But wait, first things first......... I am a private Hawaii resident (not a company) just recently retired and had never used this auto shipping company before, Hawaii Car Transport.  i made some checks and noticed the short reviews were pretty good though I did not check thoroughly enough because this company sounds legit, right? WRONG!!  I have had cars shipped TO/FROM Hawaii before and for the most part they have all been pretty good and some have had small discrepancies/complaints which were usually addressed quickly and without much pain, until i came across this company here, Hawaii Car Transport!  "OMG" to the tenth power!!!  

This was by far the worst, worst, worst car shipping company (or any company) I have ever had to deal with and for me to make this complaint on a Tuesday morning, at 3 am tells you something about them.....Highly Unprofessional is the nicest thing i can think of without getting "nasty", but his has been bothering me for days now and i must tell this story.  

OK, I would like to think most of us out there are pretty smart, for the most part and know when someone or something is trying to take advantage of our situation.  After dealing with Hawaii Car Transport for several months, I honestly felt like they were taking advantage of my vulnerable situation because THEY CAN....and there really is no re-course when you already PAID the full amount prior to shipping your car.  Basically, they know they have you by the BALLS and theres nothing you can do about it except complain...and by the way this company's clerks like that because they know that if you do, they CAN & WILL hold up your car even further to retaliate and aggravate you.  Well here's the funny part, as stated above, I am now retired and have lots of time to write this compiaint and even though it will not benefit me,  I am hoping that it will alert people to avoid this shipping company completely and put them outta business. I will explain further below.

Please, DO NOT get "fooled" by the name and plumeria flowers on this website.  This company has nothing to do with the "Aloha Spirit" and I do not even think they are from Hawaii.  Yes they have an "808" pre-fix to their phone number but anyone can do that.  This is a "mainland" company that steals the Hawaii trademark name to "sucker" residents into going with their crappy company.

Here are the facts:

Nov 15, 2017- i contacted Hawaii Car Transport to see if they could ship my car from Hi to Florida and they said they could, cost about $2200. OK.

Nov 28, 2017- In the morning hours I took my car to Hawaii Car Transport lot in Mapunapuna to be shipped.  Upon arrival I was told by the lot attendant that the lot was  owned by PASHA Hawaii (another shipping company) and there was an auction to be held that morning.  They said I would have to bring my car back after 4 pm.  I asked why my shipping company did not tell me that and the attendants only said "I DUNNO.."

Nov 29, 2017- i again took my car back to the lot in the morning hours and the lot attendants had me park.  When I went up to the window it said PASHA Hi and i asked where was  the sign for Hawaii Car Transport and the nice lady said they didn't have one and they "sub-out" with them.  OK, no sign, no problem but then the nice lady asked if i had an appointment and i said NO and that i was informed to just bring my car there.  The lady said no we typically need an appointment but would try and squeeze me in since I was already there.  She also added that THEY, Hi Car Transport, are always doing that sending customers without an appointment.  

While waiting for them to inspect my car I called HI Car Transport and explained the situation and my turn-away the day before and the unfriendly calltaker said very gruffly "LOOK, YOUR SUPPOSED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, THATS WHAT YOUR EMAIL SAYS TO DO!"  i then told her I was looking at the email on my phone as we spoke and asked where did it say that, there was only 2 sentences and that important detail WAS NOT THERE!!  Apparently after looking over her own documents she said very unapologetically well we must not have the same email.  I said "OBVIOUSLY we dont" and said just forget it they were here to inspect my car and ended the call.  The calltaker at no time made any apologies.

My car was then taken by the inspector on that date, Nov 29, 2017.  i was then given paperwork and it said the estimated date of arrival for my car in Florida was Dec 21, 2017.

Dec 25, 2017 (Christmas Day) I arrived in Florida and no car yet, 4 DAYS after the estimate time of arrival 'ETA'.  In between Nov 29 and Dec 25 I may have had one email stating my car was on the way but no phone calls and/or messages.

Dec 27 or 28, 2017 i called HCT and asked if my car was en-route to Florida and when was the delivery date, the calltaker said it was en-route but the computer was down and not sure where car was.  She said it could be at Long Beach Harbor lot awaiting transport to Florida by trailer.  I told her it was already a week overdue and she very brashly stated "SIR THIS IS THE HOLIDAYS AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE DELAYS, SO THERES NOTHING SHE COULD DO TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS..." She did not apologize, she sounded irritated for my call and complaint and did not seem to want to listen.

I told her I understood it was the holidays and i understand there will be delays, but if they could please rush it as I had no car until then.  The calltaker did not appear to even care and showed no sign of emotion and/or understanding even when I explained that were living with family and is difficult without a car.

Jan 5, 2018- Still no car, no emails, no phones calls, no messages on either text or voicemails.....I then called HCT and asked if my car was coming as it was already Friday and 2 weeks overdue.  The calltaker this day displayed a "MAJOR ATTITUDE" and said because of holiday delays nothing could be done.  She said the new estimated date of arrival ETA was on Jan 12, 2018.  I again informed her it was already 2 weeks overdue and she said that that was just an estimate and they were not bound by that date very sarcastically.  This female calltaker had no remorse or sympathy and did not help any to make me feel better,  I only felt worse after our conversation which made me go and check the contract I signed.

After looking over the contract and checking the small print, I found the part that said the Estimate Date was only approximate.  That was true but it also said they would make a "Good Faith and Reasonable Effort" to make good on that Estimate Date of arrival.  it also said HCT was not responsible for rental costs hotel costs or any other re-imbursements made resulting from that estimated date.  So, no liability on them, understandable but what about that Good Faith and Reasonable Effort part, was that being made?  None in my opinion, ecspecially since I had to wait yet another week.

Jan 12, 2018- Still no car, no emails, no phone calls, no messages of any kind.  i called HCT and asked where my car was and the female calltaker said they ran into transport problems and awaiting a vendor to transport.  I told her this was UNACCEPTABLE, now 3 weeks overdue and still no car, AND, it's still sitting at the car lot in California!!   Whuuut, how is this good faith and reasonable effort to get your automobile by the date promised.  Calltaker said the new date of arrival was on Jan 17, 2018, again very brashly and unapologetically.  When I asked why no one called she said it was my responsibility to call not theirs!

At this point, I really felt stressed, living with family, no car of my own and tired of waiting.  I  had no re-course so I asked to speak with calltaker's supervisor, she said None Available, BUT she could have one call me back.  NO ONE EVER CALLED BACK!  This was expected but i felt betrayed and vulnerable, and felt there was nothing I could do except wait patiently.  I was already tired and realized there was no re-course whatsoever because I already fully paid for it and they still had my car and could easily delay it even longer, so I basically just "bit the bullet".  At this point I was becoming desperate and wanted to rent a car because i wanted some kind of freedom and was willing to pay for it.  But, did not because it was too expensive.

Jan 17, 2018- Came & Went, still no car, no emails, no messages of any kind.  I allowed it to pass, again "PATIENCE"  I said to myself quietly.

Jan 18, 2018- Morning hours, Again I called HCT and asked where my car was?  Calltaker said on the way should be there this afternoon.  I said to myself "Really, this time?"  i was not sure and it was almost a month since the date promised.  She said the guy would call me when he got in town in the afternoon, i was surprised this time that she did not give much of her usual saracastic and brash tone.

Hoooooray.......Finally my car arrived at about 4pm.  When i saw the trailer i approached and saw my car waiting outside of the trailer facing me.  The front tires were turned completely to the extreme left and the front driver's side tire almost completely flat.  The other front tire about half way deflated and because they were both nearly to the rim looked as if the car's front end was dipping.  I  asked the driver of the trailer why my tires are both nearly flat and he only said "I DUNNO MAN, I ONLY PICK THEM UP AND DROP THEM OFF."  I looked onto the trailer at the other cars and mine was the only one in that dirty, filthy condition.

Also, my car is jet black but it's color appeared in a heavy, thick powdery grey/brown full of soot, dirt and grime covered from bumper to bumper so bad all 6 windows could not be seen into the inside of cabin.  I never seen my car so dirty and so filthy, my poor car looked even more broken than me!  No joke, luckily there was a gas station nextdoor and I was able to clean the windows to drive home and put air in the tires and gas in the tank.

After getting home i thoroughly washed my car and noticed that the front bumper, driver's side had a 2"-3" section of my front bumper cut out and pushed back in probably from someone trying to park it and the front end hit something on the trailer or ground.  I didn't take the insurance because I already had my own insurance on the car for damages and it wasn't major but just one more thing this company got over on me.  I am not going to even try and make a claim on this, it will be useless and a waist of time because Hawaii Car Transport is a dirt-bag company and wont honor there committments and obligations.  Naturally, they did not send me a service review or any other kind of customer survey because I would have sent this email instead.  

The bottom line here is Professionalism, none whatsoever with this piece of crap company out of California, I WILL NEVER EVER USE THEM AGAIN EVEN IF IT TAKES SELLING MY CAR AND GETTING A NEW ONE!  if you value your time and your automobile, and you want to keep your peace of mind, DO NOT USE HAWAII CAR TRANSPORT for ANYTHING!!!!  Take care people and beware this company.

Note:

I am currently in the process of filing a complaint with Hawaii/California/Florida "BBB" and Dept of Consumer Affairs against Hawaii Car Transport for terrible business practices and failure to honor their obligations.  Also, will possibly try to seek restitution for the damages to my car should they be more than i thought.

Aloha