Complaint Review: Trans Global Moving - Davie And Lauderhill Florida

I hired Trans Global Moving to move my goods (200 cu. ft) from Richmond, California to Atenas, Costa Rica.

I had many conversations with Lisa Setton at Trans Global and everything seem fine until May 22, the day of the pick up.

I was led to believe that my total would be $2600. When the truck arrived to pick up the goods, they first measured the goods and came up with an additional 160 cu. ft, which I argued because I had measured my goods and it was only 21 cu. ft over. The remeasured and agreed.

Then they started to wrap some of the items ie 2 portalble TV's, 1 curio case, 1 double door frig, a table, and a bar. They put cardboard around the items and then shrink wrap around that. After they finished he said "That'll be an additional $750 for wrapping" - I argued that too - and agreed on $552 dollar only because they said they would just leave my goods if I didn't pay.

I tried to contact "Lisa" at this moment, but she was not available, so I had no other choice but to go forward. They were also to wrap the 9x12 rugs "air tight" due to ocean transport and storage becaue we all know that rugs will mildew and take on the smell of the air. They were going to wrap the rugs in their warehouse because they ran out of wrapping.

The ruggs arrived in Costa Rica - not wrapped and they were mildewed and had the oder of a dirty dock. They were not rolled they were folded in thirds with a little piece of plastic wrap around the middles - the ends were open to the air......

I had asked "Lisa" that my shipment to shipped thru the Pacific port of Caldera, Costa Rica, to avoid overland shipping to Miami and then into Lemon on the Carribean coast. She argeed, saying that was where it was going anyway.

Well, after about 3 months I started checking on my shipment. I called Lisa first and she told me to contact "Sarah" at Global Ocean. Sarah checked and after a few days she told me that it as sitting at the dock in Long Beach California and that it had to be shipped overland to Miami because Caldera does not accept less than container loads.

So there again "Lisa" cost me 3 months of my stuff sitting in Long Beach open to people and to dock air and bugs (which were in the rugs and boxes). About a month later it arrived in Miami and "Sarah" kept me posted on the delivery date - which ended up being October 3 2006.

Now the problems start, ABC unloaded the goods and I was 6 boxes short, I had many boxes of broken stuff - it looked like the boxes that I had labled, Fragil, Glass or Breakable were tossed across the floor because they had dented sides and ends. I had a framed print that was a keepsake - measured 24" x 42", in a medal/glass frame. Isaac's Transport charged me an extra $50 (which he put in his pocket) to wrap the picture correctly to prevent any damage - well when it arived it had 2 food prints across the box - needless to say the glass was broken and the class pieces completely distroyed the print.

After seeing the condition of the boxes I asked them to unwrap all the items that I paid to have wrapped by Isaac's Transport. Unpon their unwrapping, all three guys said that the items were not wrapped correctly. I had damage to every wrapped item. The frig has 4 dents in it, bar has damage, the curio cabinet had both back panels of mirror shattered, the table had a leg broken off, the leaves for the table had the dents, and damage, the CD case was busted at the top, the curio also had a broken bottom leg. The two portable TV somehow made it undamaged.

"Lisa" at Trans Global said I didn't need insurance. She said it's so expensive and everything is baically insured when the other carriers have the goods. She said the only thing that would happen would be the boat would sink. I wish it had!!! It would have been easier.

After the goods were unloaded here in Atenas, I noticed that what was suppose to be in the box was not. I used all apple boxes (top fits completely over the bottom). I had my own inventory of what was in each box (with pictures for each box) and I had each box numbered. When I received the boxes, I was amazed at the condition they arrived. Tops were on the wrong boxes, at least 20 boxes that rattles from broken dishes or something breakable, a Christmas tree box, was stuffed with old papers and the tree was taken out.

I had contact with "Sarah" about the damages and missing boxes and I told her I had a list of all the missing boxes, the contents of the boxes; told her I took pictures of the broken items, pictures of the damaged items, etc. She complimented me on my detail and asked that I forward her pictures of all the damages, (including before pictures of the box contents), pictures of the damaged furniture items and the before pictures. I even sent her a list 75 CD titles/artist for 1 of 5 boxes of missing CD's. (I received 4 boxes)

Now I am told that there is nothing they can do because I didn't have insurance and they put all the blame on Customs.

I want everyone thinking of using Trans Global / Global Ocean Freight to think twice. I was misled from the beginning by Lisa and she of course denies this statement. I told Lisa "you and say what you want and then say you didn't say it" that's just words. I have contacted another family here in Atenas who used Lisa's company from Sacramento area and they also told me they had misleading conversations too - they ended up missing boxes and also had damages....

I cannot believe either that they wouldn't make any commment on the wrapping problem and offer that money back to me. Also, Isaac's men that picked up the goods put their elbow thru a large diningroom window. They were to contact me to pay for the replacement - but they never did that either.

I am out approximately $8000+ in damages and missing goods. I had a part of an expensive chandelier broken, in a missing box were some fan blades and shades for ceiling fans - those fans are now no good either. I could go on and on about this..but I won't.....I will probably have to take legal action. I am retired and have time and means to do so. I feel that this was a big rip-off! PLEASE BEWARE!

Howard

Atenas
Costa Rica