- Report: #137136
Complaint Review: Nationwide Van Lines - Van Nuys California
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Nationwide Van Lines
15823 Stagg Street Van Nuys, 91406 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-544-5095
Web:
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Nationwide Van Lines Scam Artists Van Nuys California
I placed a phone call to this moving company on 03/09/05 to get a quote on their rates. A person named Fred stated it would be $71.50 per hour if paid by credit card or $65 if paid in cash. I asked how long would it take to move a 3 bedroom home with minimal furniture e.g. 1 king size bed, living room set, dining set, fridge, washer & dryer, plus 30+ boxes of variable size. I was informed that with 2 movers on hand, it takes an average of 4-6 hours. Approximated total amount was stated to be $390.00.
I agreed to set a date on making my move on 03/19/05.
On the day of the move, at around 9:00 am, movers from Van Nuys, CA came to my house. One of them went over the paperwork with me prior to beginning their work. It was only then that they informed me that there would be an 8% surcharge for fuel fee, and that they charge extra for travel time. But since the storage facility was only 5 minutes away, I didn't think it would be so bad. After the paperwork was signed, it was only then that they handed me an informational booklet regarding movers. Since this was provided to me on the exact day of the move, I did not have time to go over the information it contained.
Unbeknownst to me, per California Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin, this information should have been mailed to me after a verbal confirmation was made, 3 days or so prior to the move. Had this been done, I would have been able to read up and learn more about how to go about hiring movers. I foolishly trusted their verbal quote and was unaware of the various other charges they conveniently failed to disclose to me over the phone. I was not aware that a written estimate could have been provided to prevent them from inflating their original quote at the end of the move.
They took a total of 12 hours to move my stuff into storage, a far cry from the average 4-6 hours they originally estimated it to be. This entitled them to overtime plus all the other extra charges they never told me off until the day of the move. Being in the predicament that I was in, I had no choice but to settle the bill with a heavy heart.
In the process of moving, my purse, which contained $600 in cash plus all my credit cards and identification card was stolen out of my locked car. I made sure to hide my purse slightly underneath the front passenger seat, covered by an unfolded umbrella so it wouldn't be too visible, out of plain view. The theft took place while I stepped away from my car to check on the movers. While they continued to move, I stayed behind by my storage unit, which is located indoors, on the 3rd level. I was away from my car for approximately 45 minutes. In the meantime, the movers were downstairs in the parking lot, a few feet from my car, supposedly working. When I returned, my purse was gone. Scenario: a) There was not a whole lot of activity taking place that day within the storage facility since it had been raining. b) Only authorized visitors with gate codes are allowed in the premises. c) An unused moving van which belonged to the storage facility was parked to the right of my vehicle. The parking space to the left of my car was vacant. Fact: a) Movers knew I had a lot of cash in hand since I stated earlier that I intend to pay @ the $65 rate, which to them would = cash. b) They knew I wasn't carrying my purse with me when I went up to the check on the storage unit. c) This gave the thieves a 45 minute window of opportunity to take my purse.
Not only do I feel duped, but very violated as well for my purse being stolen. Nationwide Van Lines told me that they will be sending me "professional" movers, not day-laborers that you hire off the street. But you know what, I think the day-laborers would have made for better workers. They sent me 2 shady characters that wore enough tattoes and hickies to leave a poor impression on any employer. I hope someone of authority investigates this company and inevitably shuts them down.
Melissa
Duarte, California
U.S.A.
I agreed to set a date on making my move on 03/19/05.
On the day of the move, at around 9:00 am, movers from Van Nuys, CA came to my house. One of them went over the paperwork with me prior to beginning their work. It was only then that they informed me that there would be an 8% surcharge for fuel fee, and that they charge extra for travel time. But since the storage facility was only 5 minutes away, I didn't think it would be so bad. After the paperwork was signed, it was only then that they handed me an informational booklet regarding movers. Since this was provided to me on the exact day of the move, I did not have time to go over the information it contained.
Unbeknownst to me, per California Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin, this information should have been mailed to me after a verbal confirmation was made, 3 days or so prior to the move. Had this been done, I would have been able to read up and learn more about how to go about hiring movers. I foolishly trusted their verbal quote and was unaware of the various other charges they conveniently failed to disclose to me over the phone. I was not aware that a written estimate could have been provided to prevent them from inflating their original quote at the end of the move.
They took a total of 12 hours to move my stuff into storage, a far cry from the average 4-6 hours they originally estimated it to be. This entitled them to overtime plus all the other extra charges they never told me off until the day of the move. Being in the predicament that I was in, I had no choice but to settle the bill with a heavy heart.
In the process of moving, my purse, which contained $600 in cash plus all my credit cards and identification card was stolen out of my locked car. I made sure to hide my purse slightly underneath the front passenger seat, covered by an unfolded umbrella so it wouldn't be too visible, out of plain view. The theft took place while I stepped away from my car to check on the movers. While they continued to move, I stayed behind by my storage unit, which is located indoors, on the 3rd level. I was away from my car for approximately 45 minutes. In the meantime, the movers were downstairs in the parking lot, a few feet from my car, supposedly working. When I returned, my purse was gone. Scenario: a) There was not a whole lot of activity taking place that day within the storage facility since it had been raining. b) Only authorized visitors with gate codes are allowed in the premises. c) An unused moving van which belonged to the storage facility was parked to the right of my vehicle. The parking space to the left of my car was vacant. Fact: a) Movers knew I had a lot of cash in hand since I stated earlier that I intend to pay @ the $65 rate, which to them would = cash. b) They knew I wasn't carrying my purse with me when I went up to the check on the storage unit. c) This gave the thieves a 45 minute window of opportunity to take my purse.
Not only do I feel duped, but very violated as well for my purse being stolen. Nationwide Van Lines told me that they will be sending me "professional" movers, not day-laborers that you hire off the street. But you know what, I think the day-laborers would have made for better workers. They sent me 2 shady characters that wore enough tattoes and hickies to leave a poor impression on any employer. I hope someone of authority investigates this company and inevitably shuts them down.
Melissa
Duarte, California
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Melissa
Duarte,California,
U.S.A.
Nationwide Van Lines Van Nuys California
#2Author of original report
Fri, October 21, 2005
I appreciate your response to my complaint. I'm certain you take great pride in this family owned business you oversee. I could only wish that nationwide business owners such as yourself would put as great of an emphasis in selecting the employees that represent them as a company. I also must say that a few of the information you've provided in your rebuttal were grossly incorrect. To begin with, you have conveniently failed to address the issue of the "low ball quote" tactic your employee Fred had given me when I initially called. In hindsight, he didn't appear to be very forthright and honest about how your company really charges for the services.You also conveniently failed to address the fact that according to California Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin, an informational movers booklet guide should have been mailed to me after a verbal confimation was made, 3 days or so prior to the move. This pertinent information would have prevented moving companies, such as yourself, from inflating their original quote at the end of the move. Here are also a few things I need to state for the record. 1) A police report was filed the very next day. Feel free to check with the Azusa Police dept. The officer who took my statement was Eddie Flores. My case # is 2005-1770. 2) I never asked for my money back. I simply requested a fair and honest rate charge. 3) I personally requested to view the surveillance tape that very same day but was told that unfortunately there were no cameras aimed at where my car was parked. 4) My purse was with me for almost the entire time *except* for that 45 mins "window of opportunity" when I stepped away from my car, and my purse was tucked away slightly underneath the passenger seat under an umbrella. My question is, since the purse wasn't in plain view, how could anyone have known that it was underneath there, unless the culprit saw you with a purse one minute and noticed you walking around without it the next. 5) It's a blatant lie that you went to Public Storage to view the surveillance tape since their office was already closed by the time your movers finished with my move. 6) How did I pay for the move if my purse was stolen? My *brother* came to my aid and reluctantly paid for the services with his credit card, at a higher rate even since we couldn't come up with the cash. And just for the record, I do not have a sister. 7) Why were you not contacted directly about this? *I* personally sent a letter out to your office in March 2005, to file a complaint. I never got a response up until now and only thru this website. And just so you are aware, I also sent letters of complaint to the Better Business Bureau and to the California Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin. Like I said in the beginning of my response, I'm sure you take great pride in your job and your company, but I don't think some of the people who work for you share the same ethical values.
Alan
Van Nuys,California,
U.S.A.
THIS IS A FALSE REPORT AND NOT TRUE
#3UPDATE Employee
Tue, October 18, 2005
After reviewing the complaint and looking at the contract the customer states they were "dupted" It should be known that the customer signed a moving contract alomost 7 times agreeing to the terms and price of the move. The move was contracted on an hourly basis and the customer was charged in acordance to the contract that the customer agreed on which is in acordaance with state laws and the MAX 4 Terif. In her complaint she complaines about the lenghth of her move however she failed to tell you that her drop off was done in the poring rain were the movers worked tirelesly without a break. Her Public Storage was on the 2nd floor and required an elviater to unloed. This is way it took so long to unloed. The distance was well over 1000 feet from the truck. Under the law we could have charged her a "Long carry charge and a charge for flieght" which we did not. The customer states her purse was stolen? after the move when she was trying to get her money back we went to the public storage and revieiwed the survalance tapes of that night and it showed that the customer and another lady (she said was her sister?) were the only two people going to and from her car.This is why no police report was filed because when we told here we reviewed the tapes she stopped saying our movers broke into her locked car and stole her purse. 2) The movers claimed she had heer purse with her the whole time... 3) If her purse was stolen then how did she pay for her move. We hold services like yours with the highest regard since they aid the public in avoiding the pitfalls of bad buisness practices. However you have faild the public by just printing information and taking it at face value without contacting us to see if there is any truth in this claim. You did not contact us asking you just printed "Scam artists " without varifing any of the facts. We would like for you to not only post this rebuttle but provide us with a mailing address that valudates the ligetimacy of your orginasation so we may forward you all the pertanat contracts related to this move. After you see the contract we would like you to at least change the heading and remove the word "sacm artitst" since this in fact is false. We are a family owned and operated buisness who has been serving the public leagly and without blemish for maney years. If only one person takes this to be fact without knowing the facts then this is harmful to a comapney that strives to offer the best service it can. Please contact me directly sincerly, Alan Goodman Claims manager.
