- Report: #10056
Complaint Review: National Moving Network Access Van Lines Shurgard Storage - Nationwide
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
National Moving Network Access Van Lines Shurgard Storage
Nationwide, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
THIEVES: National Moving Network, Access Van Lines, Inc., and Shurgard Storage, Petersburg, VA *Consumer Suggestion
*0: Some moving companies are absolutely outrageous in their scams.
*UPDATE Employee: Inside Information on Acess Van Lines owner Daniel Biran
*Consumer Comment: Some progress toward catching the crooks! ..moving companies were indicted
*Consumer Comment: Some progress toward catching the crooks! ..moving companies were indicted
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: This moving company needs to be shut down.
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Although these are the addresses given to me, I have discovered many more, to numerous to mention.
These companies are listed with the BBB: the Bad Business Bureau NOT the Better Business Bureau)
NATIONAL MOVING NETWORK (NMN)
PO Box 630850
Miami, FL 33163-0850
800-722-9775 fax 305-949-1457
Contact: Greg Richards
ACCESS VAN LINES (AVL)
110-48 72nd Ave. Ste.2B
Forest Hills, NY 11375
800-298-9947 fax 718-575-3848
Contact: Daniel Biran
Shurgard Storage (SS)
3010 S. Crater Rd.
Petersburg, VA 23805
804-861-5435
I have been going through the worst divorce in the history of mankind for the last 3 years.
Between my estranged & deranged husband & his cronies, my shop & house have been ripped-off a total of 6 times. Homeowners insurance paid over $11,500 this year from the latest theft.
Being totally fed-up with the ongoing malice & all of the thievery, I closed & packed up my 8-year business on Sunday, June 10 & packed up my 4 acres, lock, stock, & barrel, & decided to move from VA, back home to OKC. I elicited some help from the folks back home to help with the move. They arrived Wednesday, June 13.
June 11, 2001, relatives in OKC went online & not knowing their reputation, commissioned NMN for a deposit of $750 on their credit card. In turn, NMN subcontracted AVL to do the packing & moving.
What a costly mistake!
The original agreement stated my estimated possessions of 9800 lbs. would be delivered in OKC in 5-7 days, (week of June 24), with a COD of $4400. I went to my storage facility to rent 2 extra 10'x20' units to accommodate the move. All 3 units cost me $192 a month. ($64 for each unit)
The movers took 3 days (June 14-16) to pack what they claim was 25,000 lbs. I do not have copies of their weigh tickets. I lived on the East Coast for 10 years, so there was everything from large appliances to the most fragile. Including irreplaceable objects like baby pictures & mementos, autographed high school yearbooks, heirlooms from deceased Grandparents, & so on.
They packed my house first, then went 20 minutes away to my business to pack it up. When they were loading the last of it onto the truck at about 2 AM, Alon, (one of the movers), asked me for a $2000 check. I didn't know anything about this, so I called OKC to inquire. We both concurred over the phone, that no other monies had ever been mentioned to either one of us, except for the $750 deposit & $4400 COD. After 15-20 minutes of dialog with the Alon, I reluctantly wrote the check for $2000 so they would finish up & be gone. By 4:30 AM, Saturday, June 16, I was on the road for OKC & arrived there noon, Sunday, June 17.
I hadn't had much sleep all week from packing, so I slept most of Monday & Tuesday, resting up for the arrival of my possessions around June 21-23. Wednesday, June 20, we went to the bank & withdrew $4400 for the expected COD. The kinfolk & I had a nice visitation & I commandeered the helped needed to assist in the transition of the move. All we really needed to do was relax until the movers arrived, bust our asses again & get it all organized at the storage units. You know, separating what things were needed now , in contrast as to what could really be stored for later use.
I hadn't heard anything from the movers over that weekend, so Monday, June 25, I started making some calls to NY. I was told that Daniel Biran was not there, but that he would return my call the next day on Tuesday. I waited until after 5 PM EST, but no return call.
Tuesday, June 26, (10 days after the move), I closed out my VA bank accounts to open an account in OKC & pay the mortgage (on my now empty house in VA) & make a truck payment by the first of July. Again, I called & left a message for Daniel to call me. He didn't return my calls until Thursday, June28. It was then that he told me that the new invoice would be in excess of $17,000. Of course we had a disagreement with this new bill. After heated debate, I told him to send me a copy of the new charges in writing & that I would look them over. He never would commit to anything like that, then cussed me & hung up the phone. What a shock! My things were being held hostage by these people at four times the original estimate!
After several more calls, I once again spoke with Daniel on Friday, June 29. He changed the price several times & he still wouldn't commit to anything in writing & informed me that he went to cash the $2000 check & that my bank accounts were closed out. He also said he needed that money to feed his family. Well, logic tells me, that IF someone is moving out of state with everything they own, why wouldn't they take their money, medical records, etc.? Besides that, IF he needed to feed his family, why didn't he cash the check within the past 2 weeks? He won't return my calls, he hasn't charged me with a hot check & they still have my stuff!
In July of this year, I called Shurgard in Petersburg, VA to see if I could work this from a different angle. I spoke with a lady who wouldn't give me her name or the lawyer's name that represents their company. She told me she wasn't allowed to tell me anything & couldn't tell me if my stuff was still stored there or gone? She wouldn't say which unit it was in, or who is making the monthly payments? With no hope in sight, I cancelled the 2 storage units I had reserved here in OKC & lost the money spent ($400) on those empty units for 2 months.
I phoned my lawyer after trying everything I know to do & after repeated attempts to make contact with AVL, [he] cannot get a response from them either. I finally called the FBI earlier this month, but they haven't returned a call with any news yet.
I'm still sleeping on my relatives' couch, I cannot apply my trade with all of my equipment gone, & I spend money I don't have to replace things I already own in storage. The money I've lost, the value of all my possessions ($100,000s), the stress & anguish of the last 6 months? None of it is not worth the aggravation to do business with any of these companies! I've lost everything I own to these people & I don't see how I might get any of it returned? Had I previously known all of this or had been warned, I would never have chosen any of these companies to do business with. I am so tired of thieves!
Take my word for it! These people are thieves!
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Shurgard Storage
Click here to read other Rip-off Reports on National Moving Network and other various transport companies
Although these are the addresses given to me, I have discovered many more, to numerous to mention.
These companies are listed with the BBB: the Bad Business Bureau NOT the Better Business Bureau)
NATIONAL MOVING NETWORK (NMN)
PO Box 630850
Miami, FL 33163-0850
800-722-9775 fax 305-949-1457
Contact: Greg Richards
ACCESS VAN LINES (AVL)
110-48 72nd Ave. Ste.2B
Forest Hills, NY 11375
800-298-9947 fax 718-575-3848
Contact: Daniel Biran
Shurgard Storage (SS)
3010 S. Crater Rd.
Petersburg, VA 23805
804-861-5435
I have been going through the worst divorce in the history of mankind for the last 3 years.
Between my estranged & deranged husband & his cronies, my shop & house have been ripped-off a total of 6 times. Homeowners insurance paid over $11,500 this year from the latest theft.
Being totally fed-up with the ongoing malice & all of the thievery, I closed & packed up my 8-year business on Sunday, June 10 & packed up my 4 acres, lock, stock, & barrel, & decided to move from VA, back home to OKC. I elicited some help from the folks back home to help with the move. They arrived Wednesday, June 13.
June 11, 2001, relatives in OKC went online & not knowing their reputation, commissioned NMN for a deposit of $750 on their credit card. In turn, NMN subcontracted AVL to do the packing & moving.
What a costly mistake!
The original agreement stated my estimated possessions of 9800 lbs. would be delivered in OKC in 5-7 days, (week of June 24), with a COD of $4400. I went to my storage facility to rent 2 extra 10'x20' units to accommodate the move. All 3 units cost me $192 a month. ($64 for each unit)
The movers took 3 days (June 14-16) to pack what they claim was 25,000 lbs. I do not have copies of their weigh tickets. I lived on the East Coast for 10 years, so there was everything from large appliances to the most fragile. Including irreplaceable objects like baby pictures & mementos, autographed high school yearbooks, heirlooms from deceased Grandparents, & so on.
They packed my house first, then went 20 minutes away to my business to pack it up. When they were loading the last of it onto the truck at about 2 AM, Alon, (one of the movers), asked me for a $2000 check. I didn't know anything about this, so I called OKC to inquire. We both concurred over the phone, that no other monies had ever been mentioned to either one of us, except for the $750 deposit & $4400 COD. After 15-20 minutes of dialog with the Alon, I reluctantly wrote the check for $2000 so they would finish up & be gone. By 4:30 AM, Saturday, June 16, I was on the road for OKC & arrived there noon, Sunday, June 17.
I hadn't had much sleep all week from packing, so I slept most of Monday & Tuesday, resting up for the arrival of my possessions around June 21-23. Wednesday, June 20, we went to the bank & withdrew $4400 for the expected COD. The kinfolk & I had a nice visitation & I commandeered the helped needed to assist in the transition of the move. All we really needed to do was relax until the movers arrived, bust our asses again & get it all organized at the storage units. You know, separating what things were needed now , in contrast as to what could really be stored for later use.
I hadn't heard anything from the movers over that weekend, so Monday, June 25, I started making some calls to NY. I was told that Daniel Biran was not there, but that he would return my call the next day on Tuesday. I waited until after 5 PM EST, but no return call.
Tuesday, June 26, (10 days after the move), I closed out my VA bank accounts to open an account in OKC & pay the mortgage (on my now empty house in VA) & make a truck payment by the first of July. Again, I called & left a message for Daniel to call me. He didn't return my calls until Thursday, June28. It was then that he told me that the new invoice would be in excess of $17,000. Of course we had a disagreement with this new bill. After heated debate, I told him to send me a copy of the new charges in writing & that I would look them over. He never would commit to anything like that, then cussed me & hung up the phone. What a shock! My things were being held hostage by these people at four times the original estimate!
After several more calls, I once again spoke with Daniel on Friday, June 29. He changed the price several times & he still wouldn't commit to anything in writing & informed me that he went to cash the $2000 check & that my bank accounts were closed out. He also said he needed that money to feed his family. Well, logic tells me, that IF someone is moving out of state with everything they own, why wouldn't they take their money, medical records, etc.? Besides that, IF he needed to feed his family, why didn't he cash the check within the past 2 weeks? He won't return my calls, he hasn't charged me with a hot check & they still have my stuff!
In July of this year, I called Shurgard in Petersburg, VA to see if I could work this from a different angle. I spoke with a lady who wouldn't give me her name or the lawyer's name that represents their company. She told me she wasn't allowed to tell me anything & couldn't tell me if my stuff was still stored there or gone? She wouldn't say which unit it was in, or who is making the monthly payments? With no hope in sight, I cancelled the 2 storage units I had reserved here in OKC & lost the money spent ($400) on those empty units for 2 months.
I phoned my lawyer after trying everything I know to do & after repeated attempts to make contact with AVL, [he] cannot get a response from them either. I finally called the FBI earlier this month, but they haven't returned a call with any news yet.
I'm still sleeping on my relatives' couch, I cannot apply my trade with all of my equipment gone, & I spend money I don't have to replace things I already own in storage. The money I've lost, the value of all my possessions ($100,000s), the stress & anguish of the last 6 months? None of it is not worth the aggravation to do business with any of these companies! I've lost everything I own to these people & I don't see how I might get any of it returned? Had I previously known all of this or had been warned, I would never have chosen any of these companies to do business with. I am so tired of thieves!
Take my word for it! These people are thieves!
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Shurgard Storage
Click here to read other Rip-off Reports on National Moving Network and other various transport companies
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Kay
Va Beach,Virginia,
U.S.A.
This moving company needs to be shut down.
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, June 02, 2004
I do understand your frustration. The frustration should be with the moving company, not the storage company. The storage company can't by law give out ANY information to someone that is not on the lease. Evidently the it was in the moving companies name. There are several cases where the wife leaves the husband and she gets storage and if he calls up wanting information he is not allowed to have it. That is protecting the customer. I certainly hope that you got the issue resloved and were able to get your belongings. The moving company needs to be shut down. Good Luck.
RJ
Camden,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
Some progress toward catching the crooks! ..moving companies were indicted
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, March 05, 2003
Florida Movers Accused of Price Inflation By Associated Press March 5, 2003, 12:10 AM EST MIAMI -- Sixteen moving companies were indicted Tuesday on charges they lured hundreds of customers with low estimates, then inflated the prices and didn't deliver property until the higher bills were paid. The Florida-based companies all were contacted by customers over the Internet, prosecutors said. The companies and 74 employees were accused of wire fraud, extortion, false billing, money laundering and conspiracy. The indictment identified customers only by initials. The companies declined comment, had no published telephone listings or didn't answer calls from The Associated Press.
RJ
Camden,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
Some progress toward catching the crooks! ..moving companies were indicted
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, March 05, 2003
Florida Movers Accused of Price Inflation By Associated Press March 5, 2003, 12:10 AM EST MIAMI -- Sixteen moving companies were indicted Tuesday on charges they lured hundreds of customers with low estimates, then inflated the prices and didn't deliver property until the higher bills were paid. The Florida-based companies all were contacted by customers over the Internet, prosecutors said. The companies and 74 employees were accused of wire fraud, extortion, false billing, money laundering and conspiracy. The indictment identified customers only by initials. The companies declined comment, had no published telephone listings or didn't answer calls from The Associated Press.
Vengeanceis
Brooklyn,New York,
U.S.A.
Inside Information on Acess Van Lines owner Daniel Biran
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, March 04, 2003
Daniel Biran can be reached at his home telephone number of 718-897-4766. If he changes it, let me know and I'll get his new number. You can also talk to his girlfriend/wife, Nathalie. People like this need to be taught lessons. They screw around with people's lives and belongings and hide behind fraudulent contracts. They lie, cheat and steal. They continue to hurt people and need to be taught a lesson. He drives a shiny new black Lincoln Navigator, which he parks in front of his business address which is currently 56-04 Flushing Avenue, Maspeth, NY. Other addresses I've read in other reports are no longer valid. Regards,
Some moving companies are absolutely outrageous in their scams.
#60
Fri, December 28, 2001
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:
Their email: [email protected]
Their name: The Fraud Chick
Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion
Rebuttal:
Some moving companies are absolutely outrageous in their scams. This moving company is extorting you. You need to help out the authorities!
In Oklahoma it is legal to tape record a phone call without the permission of the other party. Oklahoma law requires only ONE parties consent.that would be you.
Here's what I recommend you do:
1. Sit down and with several sheets of clean notebook paper. At the top of each sheet of paper write a name, their phone number and what company they represent. For example: Daniel Biran, Access Van Line: 800-298-9947.
2. On each sheet of paper write down a series of questions that would be important to have answers to in order to prove a coordinated effort to defraud you and extort you. For example:
AVL: Why does he continue to raise his quotes? Will he give you the quote in writing? Will he give you copies of the receipts from the weigh stations? Where is he storing your property? Why won't he deliver your property since the agreement was $4400 COD? Why won't he deliver your property as promised and discuss terms later? Does he realize he has your
livelihood?
Shurgard Storage: Do they have your property? Who is paying the lease? Will you be responsible for the lease and if so, why? Who is the owner? Who is their counsel? What unit is your property stored in?
National Moving Network (NMN): Why do they give a quote over the phone as the real deal only to have the moving company change it at will? Do they give refunds? How do they parcel out loads to moving companies? How do they come up with quotes?
3. Purchase a tape recorder that will record phone calls. Radio Shack has some great units for $19 to $25. Attach it to your phone and practice with a friend to be sure it's working. Be sure your friend is aware that you are taping-especially if you want them to remain a friend!
4. Practice asking the questions on friends and family conversationally and ask if it sounds natural and not set up. When you feel natural and comfortable then call the people on your list and record the calls while asking the questions. The important thing is that you not be obvious.
Hopefully you will capture the waffling and deception on tape. Especially if Daniel changes his price on you on the same phone call, that would be terrific.
In order to show extortion AVL must state in some way that you won't get your merchandise if they don't receive the price they demand. Have your relative that made arrangements write a statement for the authorities about NMN's original promise of COD. Obviously it's more complicated than that, but if you get enough on tape it would be a great help for the authorities-especially the FBI.
Good Luck
The Fraud Chick
