Complaint Review: Quest Moving LLC - Ft Lauderdale Florida

Jim

Thank you for the information, the scenario you describe about loading the HHG and then raising the price is exactly what happened to my son. The HHG were in his garage, and the total amount was less than the declared items on the binding estimate. ALL of the HHG that was loaded onto the movers truck came out of a 12' Budget rental van rated at 380 cf. The biding estimate was for 450cf aand was their stated minimum.

After the movers loaded the van, they claimed it was 600 cf and adjusted the price by 1500.00 + fuel surcharge, +packing tape everything was already sealed boxes or dissassemble if required. 

They then tell my son that they will not delivery unless he agrees and if not, they would file a breach of contract on him. My son is 24 years old and had just graduated from college and was starting a new job in Vancouver Wa the following week.

When the van arrived in WA about 10 days later, the driver calls him and says he is in the area and will need a shuttel van for an additional 600.00, I called quest and told them keep the load , we'll just buy new stuff, the HHG was college apartment grade stuff anyway, or return it to Sacramento and unload it where they picked it up and we'd do it ourselves. 

Amaziningly they determined that the driver would not need a shuttle van, but he would need 1515.00 in cash to unload. 

this is the exact scenario the 12 companies were intighted for.

I admit that we were duped and we did not perform due dilligence, my point is to share my story and hope someone else does not get fooled and to file a report, whether they are still in business or not.

thank you for the information you shared, we can all learn something, and I assure you, this will not happen to me or my son again.

The DOT shows their Operating Authority was revoked, which means they're likely either out of business now or will be soon.  The next step will be for the owner to fully close, and in one month - reopen with a new name, new authority, and no registered complaints.  Those people still waiting for delivery of their HHG, are in for a very long wait.....

The 12 moving companies indicted were for hostage-loading, meaning they loaded the truck, then told you what the price would be, and they would not deliver until you pay the price.  However, had they walked through the house, told you there is more stuff than what was on the inventory sheet you provided or described, and the price would be 2X or 3X higher, here is a contract or we leave....that's legal under current Federal Law.  The inital quote you would have received, would not be binding unless the mover actually sees the items - otherwise the quote is classified as an estimate.  The Carmack Amendment protects a mover in that situation from a consumer's potential litigation if the price increases before the actual work begins.  In other words, it would have been legal for the movers to look at your son's stuff, tell him the price is going to be 2X more than what you were quoted - here is a contract with the new price...and if you don't like that price, we leave....there's nothing illegal there.  If they leave, then you have to do the move yourself.  If you accept, then there is a new binding contract.

The companies indicted - in short - messed up by loading the truck first, then saying we're not releasing your items until you pay....X amount more.

To avoid all of this - stay off the internet when finding a mover.  Use it for research, but use the actual Yellow Pages (not the internet version) for a legitimate mover who is local to you.  Have 2 or 3 come out and see what you have before the move.  Let them give you a binding NTE quote.  Then decide which of the 2 or 3 you would like to have move you.  Are they more expensive?  They are more expensive than the initial quote you get from a scam mover, but less than what the scam mover will cost you in the long run.  Moving is not inexpensive; it is a manual process, there is no automation, and no 2 moves are the same.