Ripped Off Customer
United States of America#2Consumer Comment
Thu, April 05, 2012
I truly sympathize with the nightmare the writer is experiencing. It is truly horrible. I have read and heard so many of these stories it is unbelievable that they continue. I am a career moving sales agent who knows the industry very well from the inside. And though it is the moving company who actually commits the crime, it is the unthinkable lack of judgement on the part of the consumer that is the most surprising. I have spoken to thousands of consumer movers, many of which have ignored the responsible procedure and cost that we try deliver, but wish to simply save a few dollars by securing an "illusive" bargain. It is this consumer that goes away thinking they have beat the system. If we tell the consumer the cost of the move, they simply continue searching until they hear the "best bargain" price, and then later to find their nightmare. I have been personally rejected after pleading with consumer that the price I am telling seems high, but it is the price of your move. Rejected and scorned, I go away feeling like garbage because I couldn't convince someone of the tragedy that is about unfold for them. Now, at this stage in my career, I have resolved to say that someone who will bargain all of their worldly possession to find a "bargain moving price" has no realistic concern of the situation or their furniture, and deserve the wake up call of hunting for their belongings or emptying out their savings in a moving rip-off situation. Its sad. Is it logical to seek Toyota prices, but demand or even expect Lexus service? If you say yes then you are lining up for the rip-off, and continue to fuel the rouge moving business. It's crippling legitimate companies like ours.
Recourse? no agency, lawyer, or municipality will be as effective as you may want to believe. Their are too many loop holes and regulation that favor the moving company, not the bargain shopping consumer. That's why no one has been effective in the above story, and many stories like it.
The only agency that will really turn things around for you fast is the D.O.T. That's because they will eventually cash in on your nightmare. They will make the moving company pay dearly, and the moving company knows it. The D.O.T. disables a moving company fast, permanent, and there is no recourse. And the D.O.T. is loaded with regulations that a moving company has bound to have violated, and it only takes one violation.
Consumer threats from lawyers, police, your best friend in high places, amuses your adversary or only irritates them enough to further delay the return of your belongings, raise the price more, or damage much of it just to spite you. They will happily give you a claim form in the end for .60 cents a pound and go on to next bargain shopper.
Keep the D.O.T involved and you will receive satisfaction in the end. And notify future consumers about your stories. Maybe collectively our voices will begin to help. Meanwhile, I will continue to try to convince consumer that next to life, your belongings is all that you own in this world. Stop being so cheap when comes to taking care of it, or in the end, you will lose it. The blame rest with moving company, but the fault rest squarely with the consumer. Sincerely, newlite2011 (at) yahoo.com. Comments will be accepted.
B
Pittsburgh,#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, October 24, 2002
You have Mono Courier 437068, it's actually called a Motor Carrier Number, it'a a # the D.O.T assigns you, and that would be MC437068, carriers are required to show this number somewhere on there truck. So if the truck has not delivered your items yet, look at the MC # on the side of the truck. To check out the company you reported go to www.safersys.org, and type in the MC Number. It should tell you if they are licensed and bonded, and insured. I hope this helps.
Emily
Washington,#4Consumer Comment
Wed, October 09, 2002
I have also been the visctom of Michael Schneider. My roomate and I moved from Indianapolis to DC around the same time as Lila. We went through all the same isues, the price doubling, the non speaking English movers, and the awful Michael- who I have nothing nice to say about. FOr some reason Michael did decide to deliver most of our belongings, why I am not sure. The movers were five days late, and once they arrived they demanded the rest of our money, but forbid us to look inside of the truck, fortunalty, we have very nice police in our area, who arrived on the scene and scared these horrible scam artists. Good thing because they came with half of our couch. They supposibly had to drive back to YOUnkers, NY to the storage unit to retrieve all of our things, and would return the next day. TO our amazement they did return, and brought us everything- with one minor problem. They gave us someone else's luggage, not our own. I have been trying to find the person's luggage that I have, and have had no luck, Michael could care less, and I desperatly want my luggage back. I know it seems trival to all of you, that have nothing, but I can help you as another victim on your side. I do have Michael's address in Sunrise, FL along with the name of the supposide storage unit. I would love to get this guy, if not for my self, but for other people. The fact that he is making so much money off others makes me nauseaous, I want to catch him. Let me know how I can help.
.
.,#5Consumer Comment
Mon, October 07, 2002
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Kay
Blacksburg,#6Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 06, 2002
I haven't found any information on SIAA. Do you have any other information on them, such as an address or DOT number? You might try checking
with the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) but they generally help movers and not consumers.
You can also contact the FMCSA and ask for that information. In case you didn't know, Schneider actually owns the company that you booked your move through--movingcompanies.com.
He just uses that site to book moves for his fraudulent companies. You might also call Steve Defazio in Florida. He has been investigating scam
moving companies: 954 356-7891-office and 786 236-0147-cell and 954 356-7592-fax. there is also another number I can give you but I need to do
that in private.
Gather as many victims as you can find. My scam movers were finally arrested on the basis of sheer numbers of complaints. and it's also not a
bad idea to contact the Sunrise police department.
Lila
Venice,#7Consumer Comment
Sat, October 05, 2002
First of all, Kay how can I thank you enough....
Your information has been SO helpful and I pretty much have a "dossier" on this guy. I am going to start submitting to law enforcement agenices. I believe I can make a strong case for Internet Fraud. Do you have any idea how I would find out who the insurance company is that represents his shell company, S.I.A.A., Inc.?
Next, Yuki, I am sorry that you have been the victim of this slimy guy. I do think if we can find more victims we can make an even stronger case. I would be happy to continue this conversation through this site or go through the editor of the site to exchange information.
Will keep you updated!!!! We will get this guy
Arthur
Los Angeles,#8Consumer Suggestion
Sat, October 05, 2002
I am also a victim of that guy. I was astonshed to see your report, because my case is almost identical to your case. Of course, I have not received my goods yet. I visited FBI and DPA, but got the same answers as you heard from them.
My suggestion is that we must get togehter to fight with this villain. Although an individual's report may be ignored by authorities, I believe they cannot disregard the situation when they hear multiple reports for the identical person. Also, there may be other victims.
I live in L.A. Thus, if we continue our effort, I am sure we will meet somewhere. Now, I am contacting DOT agent. I hope it works. Let's keep in touch by this site.
Kay
Blacksburg,#9Consumer Suggestion
Wed, October 02, 2002
Moshe Schneider has been in trouble before. He owned a company called East Coast Moving and Storage that racked up so many complaints it was supposedly shut down.
It probably just came back under a different name. He also owns Century Express Van Lines that has been in trouble with the DOT. for the news article about this see www.sunsentinel.com. the consumer writer at that newspaper is Mitch Lipka and his article from October 29,2000 is titled "Discount Movers Pile Up Complaints." For information about Century Express being fined by the DOT.
I could not find Focus Movers, Shoreline Movers or Countrywide Movers listed with the DOT but the insurance information
for Century Express Van Lines is as follows:
Primary insurance:
Canal Insurance Company
attn. Tammy Traynham
P.O. Box 7
Greenville, SC
telephone: 864 242-5365
fax: 864 232-5707
Cargo insurance:
Hanover Insurance Company
attn. Commercial Underwriting H-305
100 North Parkway
Worcester, MA 01605
telephone: 508 853-7200
fax: 508 853-4210
hope this helps.
Lynda - Rip-off Report Consumer Advocate
Houston,#10Consumer Suggestion
Wed, October 02, 2002
Ali,
I am truly sorry that you encountered such problems on your move. Please note that not all trucking companies are like this, however bad ones are out there and you found one.
There are several steps you can take to try to secure a positive outcome to this situation.
First of all don't be intimidated by these people. In all of my years in the trucking industry I can assure you that if they have represented themselves as being a major carrier, they are not. I do not believed I have ever seen one of their trucks they may be a agent for a larger company but I would guess that they have less than 20 trucks.
Next get together all of your paper work, photos, anything you have to prove that they did in fact steal from you. Do you have positive proof? Yes? Good. This my friend is called theft of an interstate shipment. This is a federal crime. If you can prove it pursue it, simple as that.
Next when they showed up demanding more money, drunk, ect. That would have been the time to call the police department and have the drivers tested on the spot, but since that didn't happen what you can do is compose a letter, giving details, time, dates, truck number, trailer number, what you saw and send it off to the Illinois Department of Transportation. give them a few days and then call them. You want them to go in and audit these folks and audit them they will. Worst case they will fine them and lock the doors.
You have proof of the theft, file a loss with their insurance company. Don't let them lie to you and tell you they don't have cargo liability, if they claim they do not, be sure to tell the D.O. T. This information. It is illegal to operate a class 8 motor vehicle without insurance.
So now you have the Federal Bureau of Investigation talking to their drivers, the D.O.T. Talking to the office and you talking to the insurance company.
If these steps are not productive for you, let me know as there are more than these ways to make a company do what is right.
Best of Luck!