Complaint Review: Precision Moving - Platinum Moving - West Palm Beach/ Philadelphia Florida

Below is the history of my experience with Platinum Movers, as well as the company, which contracted Platinum, Precision Moving.

On April 23, I contracted Precision Moving to move me from 354 East 87th Street in Manhattan to 1039 Clinton Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. My quote was $585 with a $117 deposit due immediately; the deposit was collected from my Citibank card on April 27th.

As the new tenant moving into my Manhattan residence needed to move in about 1:00 p.m., I specifically requested, and was assured of by Precision Moving, a move-start between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. I was informed that a few days before my move, I would receive a call from the dispatcher to confirm a more accurate time than between 8 a.m.and 11 a.m.

When I did not receive a call by Wednesday, April 28th, I called Precision Moving to inquire about my moving time. Mike Dever at Precision told me, that a dispatcher should have called me by now and Mike was sure the dispatcher would call by the following day. When I did not receive a call by late Thursday afternoon, I called again and got the same answer, that a dispatcher should have called me by now and Mike was sure the dispatcher would call, but someone would contact me by early Friday.

When I still hadn't received a call by Friday afternoon, the day before my move, I again called Precision Moving. I was handed over to Tom who identified himself as the manager. Tom said I was on the list to be called and that my time was confirmed for an approxiamately 3:00 p.m. pick-up. I informed Tom that 3:00 was not acceptable since the tenant taking over my Manhattan apartment was moving in at 1:00. Tom told me I could call the dispatcher to see if a 2:00 pick-up was possible, but a morning pick-up was no longer possible.

When I called the dispatcher, he informed me that they were Platinum Movers and were not affiliated with Precision Moving. The dispatcher, Anthony, told me Platinum Movers were essentially clean-up movers who took on last minute jobs when the original mover over booked and that Precision Moving had hired them to move me.

When I called Precision Moving back to voice my displeasure that I had been contracted out to another mover who could not accommodate my timing needs, I was told that although he wished he could make me happy, there was nothing Precision Moving could do. I asked if he could waive the "stair" surcharge of $75 per flight (my move involved three flights total) as that didn't fall under the hourly rate. Tom said he couldn't do that. When I asked why Precision Moving did not inform me that they were subcontracting my job, they did not have an answer.

On the morning of my move, Saturday, May 1st, I again called Anthony at Platinum Movers to ensure that he had my cell phone number so I could confirm when the truck was on its way. When there was no answer at Platinum Movers, I called Precision Moving to inquire as to why no one answered and that I wanted to make sure Platinum Movers had my correct phone number, Mike Dever at Precision Moving told me he was sure Platinum Movers had my cell phone number, but he would contact Anthony, the dispatcher, to make sure.

Later on in the day, I also called Mike at Precision Moving to make sure Platinum Movers would deduct the $117 deposit I had already paid to Precision Moving. Mike assured me it was all taken care of.

When I had not heard from the Platinum Movers' dispatcher by 2:15 p.m., I called to inquire about the status of my pick-up. Anthony, Platinum Mover's dispatcher, told me he was very glad I called as Precision Moving did not give Platinum Movers my cell phone number and that they left me a voicemail message at work hoping to reach me. (I did not receive the message until Monday, as it was a Saturday). I asked Anthony if Mike at Precision Moving had given Anthony my cell phone. Anthony said, no, Precision Moving had not called him to confirm my cell phone number.

Anthony then gave me the truck crew's cell phone number to get a status on when the moving truck would be at my apartment. The crew chief informed me his previous job was running behind and it looked like he would be at my apartment closer to 4:00 p.m.

The two-member moving crew for Platinum Movers arrived at my apartment at 4:45 p.m., however, they waited to begin loading the truck until a 4-car length spot opened up in front of my apartment building, despite my request that the crew park as close as possible and begin loading the truck while a space opened up. This wait took approximately 45 minutes, of which I was charged approximately $90.

The moving crew began moving my possessions with no organization or assistance, moving everything by hand without hand-trucks, dolleys or any kind of organized assistance, which would have made the move more efficient. Also, in the move a lamp was broken and another was dented. The cost to repair and replace the lamps was approximately $50.

Anticipating the new tenant would be moving in at the same time I was moving out, the night before the move, I had neatly stacked my possessions in my living room so both moving companies could work at the same time if need be. Platinum Movers' crew spread my possessions throughout the living room, in the hallway outside my apartment, in the building foyer, and on the building steps, making it impossible for the new tenants' movers to begin their job.

The new tenant's movers also arrived behind the 1:00 scheduled time, but did arrive at approximately 5:30 p.m. Because of the method Platinum Movers' used to load my possessions, their late arrival and refusal to begin the move immediately upon arrival, the new tenants' movers had to wait one hour to move into the building, a cost of $80 per hourly rate, which I eventually incurred. (I have two witnesses to the move at the pick-up site.)

Platinum Movers had fully loaded my possessions onto their truck and were ready to go at approximately 7:00 p.m. When the moving crew arrived at my new residence in Hoboken, NJ, they again drove around looking for a parking space for over half an hour, despite my request to park as close to the building as possible and begin moving me. When Platinum Movers finally agreed to park, they again began moving my possessions with no organization or hand-truck assistance.

Approximately halfway through the unloading of my possessions, the crew chief, although pleasant, he still informed me that I had to pay the bill in full in order for the crew to finish unloading my possessions. After showing up late, refusing to park right away and loading and unloading without any kind of organization, the crew chief also informed me that if the move went later than 9:15 p.m., he would have to charge me a late night surcharge. He also told my two roommates and I that the move would go faster if we helped unload the truck and perhaps the late fee would then be avoided. (In Hoboken, I have several witness available, as well.)

When the crew chief presented the bill of $916.80, I inquired as to why 1) I was charged for time spent looking for a parking space and 2) why the deposit was not deducted from the bill. I asked the crew chief to contact his dispatcher, as well as Precision Moving to find out why the $117 deposit was not being deducted from my final bill.

When neither the dispatcher at Platinum Moving, nor Precision Moving could be contacted, the crew chief told me that the rest of my possessions would not be unloaded from the truck and I would not be allowed to reclaim possession of the remainder of my goods, unless I paid the bill in full, including the already paid deposit. When I told the crew chief that I was not paying $916, I was again told if I did not pay in full on the spot, I could not have my possessions.

As a side note, the next day I discovered that a few of my possessions had been left behind in my old residence; items which I had specifically identified as items to be loaded onto the truck. I needed to rent a car to pick-up those items.

My estimate from Precision Moving was in the amount of $587. I anticipated this increasing by approximately 10%. However, the total cost for all related charges netted out at $1,349.

As a side note, below is the breakdown of total costs incurred as a result of Precision Movers' subcontracting to Platinum Movers and Platinum Movers incompetence.

Deposit to Precision Moving: $117

Cost to replace and repair lamps: $50

Cost to rent car to pick-up left-behind item: apx. $100

Cost to reimburse new tenant for inability to move in as a result of Platinum Movers lateness: $80

Bill from Platinum Moving $916

Tip to movers: $80

Total: apx. $1,349

When I tried to contact Precision Moving to reclaim my deposit and to discuss my bad experience with the Platinum Movers, I was either told to call back when Bob, the owner of Precision Moving, would be in the office, or I was asked for my phone number and told Bob would call me back. To date I have not received a response from Precision Moving.

I tried to dispute a portion of the final bill ($389), through Citibank as I used a Citibank card to pay for both the deposit and the final bill. Citibank gave me a provisional credit, but revoked the credit and closed the case because "the amount signed for matched the amount billed"; this is despite the fact that I sent an accompanying letter to Citibank explaining that had I not signed the client, my goods would not have been released to me. I am currently "disputing the dispute", and have filed a separate claim for reimbursement of the $117 deposit.

Meagan

Hoboken, New Jersey
U.S.A.

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