Complaint Review: Leadership Logistics LLC - Los Angeles CA

I hired US National Movers to move my household goods from CA to GA in the beginning of June 2018.  They quoted me $2,240.08, half due then ($1,017.10) and the other half due upon pick up, in the form of a cashier's check.  I decided at that time that it was more cost effective to move my apartment instead of selling my furnishings, as I would not be able to refurnish a 1-bedroom apartment for $2,200.  I was scheduled to be picked up on June 26th or 27th. I spoke with US National Movers a few days before the scheduled pick up date to take final inventory of my items to be moved.  Apparently, my bed was not listed initially and the person on the phone, Justin, told me that he would take care of the bed but the additional boxes would bring my total up and I owed an additional upfront amount of $112.22, which I paid at that time.  I informed Justin that I could not pay much more because I was not working with a large budget.  He did not comment, just processed the payment information.  Upon the movers arrival on the 27th Jose, the representative from Leadership Logistics, informed me that with the boxes I had, it appeared the total given on the estimate was slightly low. 

He told me that in order to measure it correctly, he needed to put everything on the truck because the boxes between the living room and bedroom (of the 1-bedroom apartment) were spread out, so I agreed to allow them to load the truck.  He also advised that we take care of the paperwork right away so that he could join his crew in loading the truck.  As we completed the paperwork, he let me know that the total would be about "950 more."  At that time, I was disappointed in having to spend another $950.00 but knew that it was still within my means to pay. While we were sitting at the table signing paperwork, I inquired about them possibly packing my dining room table and 4 chairs as I was not able to find a box big enough for the glass table top.  Jose let me know that they could pack the dining table for an additional $150.00, which I declined because I of my budget.  After we finished signing and completing the paperwork, Jose joined his crew in loading the truck. After all my items were loaded, Jose let me know that the total was actually less than the "950" he quoted earlier, it was only "550." 

He then took out his phone to do some calculations and to my surprise, said the new total would be a whopping $5,131.80!!!  I told him that "I did not have $5,000 to give them" and he responded with a raised and stern voice, "your stuff is already on the truck so I'd have to charge you anyway!!!" When I asked about the additional “$950” he quoted, he let me know that he was speaking in terms of cubic square feet and not dollars, which as a consumer, I know nothing about. Not knowing what to do or think at this point, because I had to move, be out of my place, drive from California to Georgia to secure my new apartment and start my new job, I reluctantly wrote him a check and gave him my credit card for half of the additional charges.  After thinking about how they attempted to extort over double my original estimate, I decided that I would not pay them out of duress, so I put a stop payment on the check and charged back the additional amounts on my credit card. 

At this point, I feel as though they have stolen all of my belongings which include clothing, shoes, furniture and every personal effect I own. I am not savvy on the moving business but I do know when I have been duped and the bait and switch has been performed. I just hope and pray someone can assist me in recovering my items as I do not know where they are at this time. Upon trying to contact the initial contact company, US National Movers, I was hung up on, and the movers, Leadership Logistics are still trying to collect and charge me for storage that I was told would be free for 30 days, which apparently commenced on the day they picked up my belongings.  I now have received a letter from their attorney.