Complaint Review: Hercules Moving Systems - Los Angeles California

We moved our 1bdr apt from CA to IL and used this company with San Leandro, CA location. It started with the estimate of $1800 for the entire move. After everything was loaded in the truck and we had no choice, having have to leave the next morning, it has been told us $3400 price. Which we didn't agree with because the contract says clearly that price has to be presented to us "prior to loading", which didn't happened. Not having much of choice after things where almost loaded, we signed. For example they charged us extra $350 for packing material. What was it? Well, even manager wasn't able to explain that, even after i told her i was there and saw what they used. Tape, couple of medium boxes and bubble wraper.

After much of back and forth with the manager Lee, she gave us $150 discount. Which didn't make much sense to us because we were fighting for sticking to the original estimate and not for a discount. There was no reason for additional cubic feet charges, as they say, because we have had sticked to the list of things we originally gave them and received estimate that make us hire them in a first place.

So we rescheduled delivery (not having that kinda money on scheduled day because our deposit ended up being higher than our entire move estimate - deposit of $2000) and 10 days later have been forced to pay even $500 more for re-delivery and sign a contract were we had to give up the rights to bring them to court (final settlement). Without that they were making clear threats that otherwise they will put our stuff in storage and charge even more and keep charging (contract said they wanted to charge us $835 more for the re-delivery that was made 10days later but gave us a discount), so basically we would never be financially able to get our stuff and they will make sure of it. And that just left us scared. To understand, they had everything in that truck, my entire family life! So we felt like we had no choice than signed if we wanted our stuff back..

The other thing is how manager Lee and dispatch Lydia were so RUDE when all we wanted was to work it out and even willing to pay what they asked for. They were not answering their phones, not returning my messages, getting rid off me on the phone saying they will call back and they never did, i wasn't able to reach them for a week and when i did and had question, even manager herself wasn't able to answer me or explain things to me. Even when i tried to tell her that her guys didn't simply follow the procedure and contract, she would get rid off me with "they say they did and i believe them!" period, simple.

The last drop for us was when it came to our re-delivery and we were ready, dispatch lady Lydia asked me for the signed contract (were i'm giving up my legal rights after) and for the entire remaining balance of $1600 to pay first and until i do so she is refusing to even talk to me about scheduling my re-delivery. I told her she doesn't have the legal right to ask that of me because the contract I just signed clearly says "remaining balance due upon delivery" but she didn't care and kept repeating herself and ended the call with me, saying "you do that and then you can call me back and i will talk to you about scheduling your delivery". Period. Finally someone didn't want to argue anymore, so they delivered my stuff 14 days later and took the payment upon delivery.

After all we ended up paying them $3600! With original estimate of $1800. And not mentioning a few things were broken but their claim department will agree on something about 60cents of refund per item or pound of damaged goods. That is not even worth the time of filing.

Summary.. this experience obviously left us very shocked and in disbelief how some companies do business and how nobody is stopping them. And it also left us thinking how they are coming up with all these numbers? Or can they just charge you whatever they decide after they get your stuff? Knowing you will agree and sign because you just want your stuff back? Doesn't that smell a little bit like a blackmailing?? Because I'm sure that's exactly how that felt..

My question is.. What can I do now??
Thank you!