Complaint Review: Long Distance Movers Inc. - Delray Beach fl

Denise Davis

606 N. Coalport Drive

Apex, NC 27502 

[email protected]

 

 

 

3.21.18

Diane Wilson, Troubleshooter

ABC 11 Eyewitness News

319 Fayetteville Street Suite 107

Raleigh, NC 27601

Dear Diane,

Wow, do I have a good one for you!!!  I truly hope you can help us out.  I’ve given you the full story, then a facts sheet to follow.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  I’ve been a longtime fan of ABC 11 Eyewitness News since I moved here in 1994.  I consider this area to be my hometown. I would love for you to help close down these companies such as this one that will only tarnish our beautiful state!!!

This is a story of how a moving company scammed me soooo badly, broke 5 pieces of furniture, held the furniture hostage, and now will not give me the down payment of $818.69 for a move that DID NOT occur. 

My mother, who had been living with us for the past year, decided it way waaay to cold in Apex, so decided to move to Florida.  Her husband of 54 years past 1.5 years ago and she’s just been floundering trying to find her way.  She made the brave decision to move to Florida on her own to hopefully just have peace, joy and happiness for as long the Lord sees fit.

  

I am her daughter, and with her not being technically savvy, I made arrangements for the move.  After researching moving companies on the web, and getting probably 10 different quotes, I chose Long Distance Movers, 4731 W. Atlantic Ave. Suite 14, Delray Beach, Florida 33445.  This was on March 6, 2018.  On google reviews, they had a 3.6 which was comparable to the other movers.  Majority of their google reviews were all 5’s with a few 1-2’s in the mix.  So, I really did feel comfortable going with this company.  The sales representative, Hamilton Johnson, was very personable and professional.  He made me feel secure that we were going to be taken care on from beginning to end of the move.  We spoke on the phone, and I walked from room to room describing to him what she had for the move.  Mom and I had already packed most boxable items so basically they just needed to come and take the big pieces, i.e., the couch, loveseat, bed, etc..   Let me digress here for one second…  When I was calling around to all of the other companies, they ALL asked what large furniture there was to move, and approximately how many boxes.  Having done this 10 times, I was very confident I was telling them exactly what needed to be moved or packed up by them.  All the movers I spoke with came in around the same poundage, 2,500 – 3,000lbs.  So, when they said 3,320lbs. for a quoted price of $1,987.56 which equated to .38 cents/lb., I felt very good about this price; which by the way included gas, packing material, etc...  He told me that they always liked to quote on a higher poundage, vs. lower, so not to over promise, under deliver.  He even told me that once the truck was weighed, that I would more than likely be looking at a few hundred dollars coming back to me.  Great I thought, “Such an honest guy…”. The movers were scheduled to arrive on Monday March 12, 2018.  They said that the truck would be in Florida no later than 4-5 days. 

 

On Sunday evening, March 11th, (the night before the move), at approximately 9pm, I received an unexpected call from an individual by the name of Eric who said he was the moving coordinator for Long Distance Movers (LDM).  He repeatedly told me that EVERYTHING had to be in boxes, and that I had to bubble wrap or blanket the china cabinet myself and any glass items.  He said he wanted to review the items again to make sure the quote given was indeed accurate.  Initially, I thought, wow, they are on top of this to have a person now at 10pm on a Sunday night coordinating the move.  Then, as more conversations continued that night, I REALLY got the feeling something was up.  All this nonsense of EVERYTHING had to be in a box, and even totes labeled with my name he said had to go into a box.  My stomach sank as I clearly felt I was getting ready for a set-up but couldn’t quit figure out what it was going to be yet.  But from that point on, I kept looking for RED FLAGS.  (Documents from Eric White enclosed.)

 

Monday morning, on schedule, the 2 movers arrived.  Now keep in mind that it was just my mother’s furniture which included a typical bedroom/bathroom, living room, kitchenette, and minimal kitchen items.  I started asking questions hoping to get some insight into what I had gotten myself into.  I asked how it is that the moving company is in Delray Beach, FL., yet they have people here in NC to do the moving.  He then told me that LDM was not the actual moving company, that they are just moving brokers.  So basically, the down payment of $818.69, was merely a finder’s fee for LDM’s.  They get the job then push it out into the web and see who wants to take the job of actually moving the furniture.  The 2 movers were from American United Vanlines out of Durham.  OMG, this is classic bait and switch.  I went to my laptop and quickly did a yelp review search on American United Vanlines.  Yet again, my stomach sank as I read absolutely HORRIFIC things about this company – HORRIFIC!!!  **Just wait until you read these reviews!!!

 

I immediately called the original company and was put into customer service voicemail.  I left a message.  I called back again and spoke to Annie who is actually quit famous on the Yelp reviews.    This Annie, hopefully, gets paid A LOT for what she has to go through.  I told her my ordeal and disbelief and she said that she would speak to her supervisor and get back to me.  I wanted to cancel the move.  I absolutely would not take the chance of what I read happen to me or my mother.  The reviews speak of stolen items, broken items, arriving at the wrong state, being two weeks late, etc... I couldn’t imagine them losing my dad’s ashes or my mother’s wedding rings.    

 

After the furniture was packed and put in the truck, the 2 guys came back into the house to tell me that A)   They need all cash  B)  They DO NOT price by pound, they price by Cubic Feet.  AAAHHHH, so no wonder EVERYTHING had to be in a box, because boxes take up far more cubic feet than say just the tote, or just the lamp.  The lead mover, Juan Sosa, went on to say that the originally quote was way off because since they priced by CF, and not Lbs., it would be $3,151.52 not $1,987.  Not including the deposit of $818.69 I had already given to LDM.  So actually, between both companies, the price would have been $3,970.21 to simply move 2 rooms, a small kitchenette table and 4 small chairs, and a bathroom.  Wow, they really saw us coming!!!  Thank God it was the day of our little snow storm, but the banks closed early due to inclement weather.  I was only able to get $500 from my ATM.  The truck and the 2 men left with their $500. 

 

The next morning, when the fog cleared, I called American United Vanlines who now had the furniture in their Durham warehouse.  I told them that I wanted to come and get my furniture and cancel the move.  We went back and forth, and finally after threatening to bring the Durham police with me to pick up the furniture, he said fine, come get your stuff, but I’m not giving you your $500 back because the guys did put the furniture on the truck.  At this point I just wanted the furniture back.  I went to the local UHAUL dealer down the street in Apex, rented a 20 foot truck, and drove this beast to Durham to pick up my furniture!!!  I felt like such a bad _SS!! LOL.  It gets even better!!  I had been speaking to a man by the name of Eddie who said he would meet me at the address on the invoice.  I get there, and there is no moving company anywhere to be found.  It was a totally different company.  I call this Eddie back and he says that it’s the navigator’s fault.  He then tries to tell me where to go.  I drove around for 15 minutes trying to find this place.  I pulled over called again.  I had to threated him with calling the police once again.  He told me to call this other guy Al.  I called.  I told him to stay on the phone with me until I arrived.  I finally found the place and he did meet me at the gate to let me in.  Four men proceeded to take my furniture out of the truck and into my UHAUL truck.  They had to take their blankets back so as they were unpacking the items, there was a broken floor lamp, they dropped the armoire on its’ side and put a large hole in it.  The 4 ft. plant stand was broken, as well as my mom’s 4ft. jewelry box (which by the way, her sleepnumber bed and jewelry box and a few other pricey items had already been put into a crate INSIDE the warehouse- perhaps those where the items to appear on craigslist the next day, - who knows!!!  I slowly drove the truck back home. 

 

I ended up finding and paying two honest men $1,200 to drive the UHAUL truck to Punta Gorda Isles, and unload the truck.  I called LDM to tell them I had cancelled the move and wanted my deposit back.  I was given the Customer Service Manager, Annie, to speak with.  She listened to me then told me she would speak with her supervisor and call me back.  She did call back the next day to tell me that they did nothing wrong, so they are not giving me my money back.  I had kindly spoke to her many times thereafter.  She refuses to let me speak to upper management or the owner.  I called again yesterday, 3.20.18.  She said the best she could do was to give me $200 for my troubles, and that was it.  I did not accept because I am not giving up until I get ALL my money back.  That is where you come in.  Please help me and my mother Diane.  I really don’t know what else I can do and really can’t afford to hire a civil attorney to sue them!!!  

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Denise Davis

 

 

Company/Contact

Situation

Contact Info.

 

Long Distance Movers, Inc  (LDM)

Movers I originally spoke with about move.  I have spoken with the Customer Service Manager/Receptionist Annie, many many times.  She will not transfer me to upper managerment.  She did mention that Todd Lewis would give me a call.  He never called.  I'm not sure who Tod is. 

4731 W. Atlantic Ave.,Suite 14  Delray Beach, Fl. 33445  877-224-1030  MC: 925061  US DOT: 2815421

 

LDM/Hamilton Johnson

Spoke with Hamilton, scheduled move pickup on Mon. 12th.  Quoted  $1987.56 for move.  This price he said included packing,wrapping large furniture, gas for move.  We had told him we had already packed up items that went into boxes(only). Price was based on weight.  He quoted approx. 3,320lbs. which is .38 cents per lb.  Never said he was broker, or that move would be done by 3rd party.  Never said gas was not included, we'd have to pay for movers wraping/protecting furniture and large items.  

877-224-1030 X463, [email protected]

 

LDM/Eric White

Called Sunday night before the move saying WE needed to pack, wrap, bubble, and box EVERYTHING ourselves.  During initial call with Hamilton, all large items they would be packing i.e., bed, armoire, china cabinet,etc.

[email protected]

 

American United Vanlines/Juan Sosa(mover)

Movers arrive and start wrapping furniture and moving boxes to truck.  Thru conversation with Juan find out they are from American United Vanlines (Durham), not LDM originally scheduled.

919-924-6207

 

American United Vanlines/Juan Sosa(mover)

After everything had been loaded on truck, he gives me invoice for move that is $2,002.65 more than original quote given by Hamilton from

919-924-6207

 

AUV (American…)

Went to go get my furniture at address on the invoice.  Confirmed address with owner Al.  He said that truck is located at 706 Ellis Rd. Durham, NC.  I thought I was going on a witch hunt.  Once I arrived this address and found no AUV, called back again.  Al refered me to Eddie, the main owner.  Called Eddie.  He said that the navigator always sends people to wrong address.  What?  I saw the address on the building which was not his moving company.  Shady?  Yes!!  I told him to stay on the phone with me until I found the correct location.  Al met me at the gate, and let me inside.  I have to say that once I got there, I was so distraught, that I did not get the address, but I can get it for you.  I remember where it is located. 

Al -877-2032405   Eddie - 919-519-1813  Address on invoice - 6216 Westgate Rd. Suite A  Raleigh, NC 27617

 

 

 

 

 

Long Distance Movers

I did additional investigating and found the OWNERS of this company:  Russell Law, Frank Lucido & Anthonio Lucido.

Couldn't find numbers for them

 

Long Distance Movers

I found 3 different addresses for this company.  This address is the google search address:  4731 W. Atlantic Ave. Suite B14  Delray Beach, Florida 33445.  I found other addresses online:  2385 NW Executive Center Dr.  Boca Raton, Fl., then; 6164 Petunia Rd.  Delray Beach, Fl.  33484.  I went on to call a neighbor at the address 4731 W. Atlantic Ave. Suite B14.  They said that it does not have a sign naming the company.  He's only seem a few people in the small office.  I am assuming this is the call center.  I bet there is Annie, Hamilton Johnson, and a few other sales crooks.  Not even sure if Hamilton is his real name.