Complaint Review: Starving Students Movers - Seattle Washington

Starving Students set fire to my house and refuses to pay for damages.

In early January of this year, I employed Starving Students Movers to move from Seattle to Tacoma, Washington. While unloading the boxes at my new address, one of their movers set a box on my stove and turned on one of the burners in the process. The ensuing fire caused significant damage to the kitchen carpet, stove and refrigerator, in addition to smoke damage to paint and carpet throughout the house.

Upon the companys request, my landlord and I asked a contractor to assess the damage. Our contractor came up with an estimate of $5,793, and I faxed a detailed and itemized invoice to their claims department on Feb. 5, 2003.

The company then hired Mr. x, a Property Damage Appraiser, to provide his own estimate of the damage. Mr. x visited my home in mid-February and carefully inspected the property. Mr. x then met with our contractor to provide an agreed-upon estimate of the damage, in the neighborhood of $5,600. This information was promptly sent to your claims department.

Thereafter, I repeatedly called Tom of SS Mover's claims department, who first assured me that I would receive a check promptly. His tune changed to one in which your company was experiencing a cash flow problem and I would have to wait to be paid. Unhappy with this turn of events, I called the CEO, who could not have been any less helpful.

He disputed that Starving Students Movers is responsible for the damage (or refused to acknowledge responsibility). Yet, during our conversation, he repeatedly requested proof of out of pocket expenses before he would pay for damage occasioned by his movers. I asked repeatedly for clarification of his stand, without success.

Apparently he expect me to pay for all the damages and submit receipts for approval. He accused me of having NO plans to do the repairs. In fact, no repairs can be performed until I have been paid. Further, whether the work is done is irrelevant under Washington law. I should be compensated for the damage.

SS Movers'OWN AGENT, Mr. x, found $5,600 worth of damage. These ARE my (or my landlords) out-of pocket expenses, and are necessary to fix the damages cause by the company. I cannot pay this much to fix the kitchen just so I can submit receipts. I have more than adequately provided documentation to show my expenses, and I do not understand (nor could they tell me) what other documentation you require to fairly resolve this claim.

SS Movers is not dealing with me in good faith. I was amazed at the rudeness and personal attacks from the Company's CEO(including a boorish personal insult about the kitchen habits of bachelors).

My position is not unreasonable. I, my landlord, SS Mover's claims adjuster, and their damage appraisal expert all agreed that there was $5,600 worth of damage. Three months later, they apparently seek to second-guess the claim and the extent of damage without justification.

Timothy

Tacoma, Washington
U.S.A.