Complaint Review: National Express Van Lines moving company - Bolingbrook Illinois

I posted the original complaint about this company. After talking with the company several times and having some time to calm down (these are trying times and moving can be so very stressful) I have reminded myself that not every bad thing that happens to us can be attributed to malice on the part of other people. I sat and looked at a bill for over $4000, realized that I would be paying the credit card company for years and searched for someone to blame. The moving company was the target I fixed my sights on. I looked at the estimate I was given. I looked at the bill, I calculated what it would have cost had I been able to help them estimate more precisely. The discrepency bothered me. I got angry. I wanted restitution and I wanted revenge. Then I realized. These are companies trying to make a living. These are people that just want to make enough money to go home and feed their children. They aren't trying to destroy anyone's lives or livelihood. They're just trying to make a living in a climate of heavy handed government regulation and rising fuel prices. I realize now that much of my anger was over knowing that I should have handled this differently. I should have educated myself on moving company practices. I should have known that everyone who handles household moves charges a higher rate for things that are over the estimate. I should have realized that many of their employees are paid very little and they NEED tips in order to support themselves and possibly their families. If I had taken these steps I would not have been surprised at my final bill and could have avoided spending a lot of time very much unproductively angry. I could have just been happy that I have all my belongings intact and with me. A mover that ACTUALLY wanted to rip off consumers would have kept my stuff and told me it was stolen or something. They definitely didn't do that. I apologise to National Express Van Lines. We had a misunderstanding and then we met in the middle on a price. Their offer was halfway between what they charged me and what I asked them for after the fact. That's more then fair. I realize that I was very much hasty about posting a complaint in a public forum before all attempts at resolution had been completed. I never meant to say that I was deliberately overcharged or that National Express Van Lines did anything but what is normal and proper for any upstanding Home furnishings mover to do. I would like to say to all you out there that are moving, all my furniture arrived at my new home intact and ready for action. All my questions after the fact were listened to and acted apon. I now feel that my concerns have been answered. All of you, feel free to move with National Express Van Lines. They follow all industry practices to the letter and try to do all they can to make sure they have satisfied customers. A much less angry Ryan Bedell

Ryan, these scam movers, operating all over the country, must be shut down. Please take the time to make a formal complaint. complaints to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (part of the DOT) are starting to make a difference. Consumers may file household goods or other commercial motor carrier complaints via FMCSA's nationwide complaint hotline, 1-888-368-7238 (1-888 DOT-SAFT). To further protect consumers, a commercial complaint form is now available on FMCSA's website http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/. The form may be mailed or faxed to: FMCSA, 400 Seventh St., SW, MC-PA, Washington, DC 20590. The fax number is 202-366-3375.