Complaint Review: SWIFT VAN LINES - Hyattsville Maryland

We browsed their website (www.swiftmovingservices.com) and saw The Angie’s List Logo for the #1 moving company in the DMV metro area. We then saw the Better Business Bureau Accreditation Logo located at the bottom of their website and was confident Swift Van Lines would provide us with reliable, top-of-the-line service to support the values and ethics of the BBB Accreditation and Angie’s List.

Swift Van Lines sent me their estimate and the pricing appeared to be very reasonable. 1 Truck, 3 Men at $79.00 per hour for 4.5 hours with 1-hour travel at $79.00. The total estimate equaled $434.50.

We called Swift Van Lines (240-528-0151) and spoke to Mr. Rick Williams to confirm (Inventory & Destinations) the pricing for the entire estimated project. Mr. Williams told us he has done many moves similar to our request and it should not be a problem with the exception of possibly one or two hours more for unseen problems.

We scheduled move date 45 days in advance. During the morning of the move day we were all set and we called Mr. Williams to confirm our scheduled time. He indicated everything is on schedule. After 5 telephone calls 5 hours later Mr. Williams informed us his team will not be arriving due to the driver of the truck had to abandoned his duties for an emergency and he would not be able to move our belongings.

The next day Swift Van Lines did not arrive until 11:00 AM. Throughout the move we also noticed they stopped working for 15 minutes several times and stayed by the truck in freight parking. The head board was too big to fit in the freight elevator and needed to be disassembled. They did not have any tools to achieve the task. My fiancé gave them tools… To move all the furniture out of the Apartment took 4.5 hours.

We started to proceed to our destination location, the Move Supervisor called because he could not find the address on Google. We turned around and met him in the parking lot and pulled up the address on his phone.

Upon arriving to our new domicile, with guilt the Move Supervisor presented his work order and demanded $1,300.00 for the entire project. We were shocked and outraged! We called Mr. Williams immediately, we asked “why are you demanding so much and neglecting to compensate us for inconveniencing us yesterday”. “You are asking for double the labor cost to move us out the first location”. Mr. Williams said “I will pay you back the balance at the end of the job”.

This man wanted every dollar he could get his hands on. With no remorse or responsibility, he did not even acknowledge his agreement to compensate us. He replied “You can stay on the phone whining about something I will never give you, and I’m charging you for the time you debate with me on the phone… What are you going to do?” We told Mr. Williams we expect him to honor his agreement and show some professional courtesy. Mr. Williams told us we will seize our furniture, put it in storage and you will pay my fee and the storage fee. It felt like I was being robbed at gunpoint!

My fiancé walked in the Bedroom and called the police for assistance and direction to handle this situation. Unfortunately, there was nothing the police could do. We called him back at 6:30 PM and told him we will pay him until 9:00 PM, if they had to leave some of the boxes outside we will bring them up ourselves.

After a 30 minutes on the phone Mr. Williams only took off one hour off the invoice. I went to the bank to get the cash and the move supervisor wanted to ride so I can stop and get him and his workers some food. Not only did no work happen until they we returned, I was being charged for it.

Mr. Williams told Hector to add $75.00 back to the invoice. So it was only a $4.00 credit. The total invoice came to $1,099.00. Mr. Williams insisted upon cash as the preferred currency. Once again that appeared strange, we told him we would pay $150.00 credit card and $949.00 cash. He agreed… at the end of this dramatic ordeal we hand to bring in 75% of the boxes in our new home. $1,099.00 is a far cry from the initial estimate of $434.50.

We took the liberty to research Swift Van Lines:

1. Swift Van Lines LLC is using the BBB accredited logo on their website (www.swiftmovingservices.com) with a F Rating

2. They have a fraudulent address (1210 Dean street, Rockville, MD 20854) on your website.

3. BBB Type of Business Listing is Van Conversions & Accessories instead of Moving, Storage & Transport Services

4. According to MD Dept. of Assessments and Taxation & DOT their address is 10317 Geranium Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20783.

5. Swift Van Lines is not in good standing with MD Dept. of Assessments and Taxation http://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/ucc-charter/Pages/CharterSearch/default.aspx

6. No PG County Business License on file

7. Swift Van Lines is using Angie’s List Logo without their consent

8. Swift Van Lines is using Children's National Medical Center Logo without their consent

9. Swift Van Lines is using a credit Card Merchant Account Under a closed business “Revolution Moving & Storage LLC.”

10. Revolution Moving & Storage LLC changed their name to Swift Van lines 03/10/2016 1:54 PM

11. Swift Van Lines are using the same unsavory business practices as Revolution Moving & Storage LLC

• https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/revolution-moving-and-storage-hyattsville-2

• http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/revolution-moving-storage-llc/silver-spring-maryland-20901/revolution-moving-storage-llc-will-lose-your-furniture-parts-still-keep-your-money-s-1170801

12. According to IFTA - International Fuel Tax Association, Inc. they have not filed

13. Swift Van Lines – USDOT #2906985 http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx

It is very clear the Swift Van Lines Team has done this before and they truly believe they are more intelligent than their customers, the BBB, Municipal, State, Federal Agencies and other organizations based on their track record and business activities. They are using their business to strong arm hard working people. Let me be clear! I am not seeking recompense / payment for his promises, offenses or business activities against me or my home. I am seeking your help… I believe this type of business should be shut down or at the least let consumers and corresponding agencies know within the U.S. of their unsavory ethics and business practices.