Complaint Review: National Moving Network and Access Van Lines - Miami Florida

Recently, my Grandmother gave my sister and I some antique furniture that has been in the family for several generations. Since my sister and I live in Colorado, I contracted to have the furniture moved by National Moving Network--- what a mistake!!

I spoke with "Heather" (NMN) on 9/28/01 and provided her a list of items to be moved... including, a bed, mattress, box springs, dresser with a mirror, desk, two floor lamps and a table lamp (among several other items). Heather provided me an "estimate" of $1,590 that included packing and moving the funiture. The price also included $15,000 of additional insurance (cost of $90) and an additional packaging charge of $40 for the lamps; and, an assumed total furnture weight of 2400 lbs. I explained the furniture would weigh less than 2400lbs but Heather insisted the moving company drivers would weigh the truck before and after loading the furniture and I would be charged $0.60 per pound (plus the $90 for additional insurance and $40 for addtional packing material). The movers were to show up at the Texas pick-up site on "Oct 6th sometime before 10am". I accepted the quote and paid a $500 deposit via credit card; the remaining balance to be paid by cashier check upon delivery.

To make a much longer story shorter, my sister and I flew to Texas to meet Access Van Lines (subcontracted moving company associated with NMN) on Oct 5th but Access Van Lines did not show up as scheduled. We flew back to Colorado on Oct 7th and made arrangements for the movers to get access to the funiture on a later date.

After the funiture was picked up, Access Van Lines called me and said there would be an additional $439 packing fee because they packed the table lamps, dresser mirror, mattress, box springs and secretary desk... I explained we had not planned or paid NMN for boxing the secreatary desk but we had already paid NMN for all the other packing/moving. I asked "Danny" (Access Van Line) what the cost of packing the desk was...$70; however, he insisted if we wanted our funiture we had better have the final balance "in cash" when they showed up in Colorado-- including the extra $439 charge. Danny said "if you don't pay the entire balance with the extra charges, in cash, he would tell his driver to return to Houston with our funiture... and maybe, someday, after we pay all the funiture storage fees and another trip from Texas to Colorado, we would get our funiture."

I called Walter Sanchez (NMN) to complian and have NMN strighten-out their subcontractor. After numerous telephone calls and three faxes, I finally got in touch with Walter. Walter confirmed I DID pay for additional packing for the lamps, I DID inform NMN the dresser had a mirror and I DID inform NMN a mattress and box springs was to be moved. BUT, NMN insisted "there is nothing we can do if Access Van Lines charges more for packing". Moreover, even though the contract specified a "casier check" for the final balance, NMN said that if we wanted our furniture, we had better do what Access Van Lines requested and pay them "cash". I couldn't believe it!!! I also explained to Walter the weight was not 2400lbs and I wanted a copy of the certified weight measurements. Walter indicated Access Van Lines reported the weight as 2520lbs but they wouldn't charge us for the "extra 120 lbs". I explained there was NO WAY the weight was even close to 2520lbs and wanted a copy of the certified scale measurements. I was told by NMN and Access Van Lines, we would get a copy of the weights when the driver delivered the furniture...

Earlier today (October 16th) we recieved the furiture (we were suppose to have the furniture on Oct 9th)in good condition, paid the Access Van Line driver "$1489 in cash" and DID NOT recieve certified weight measurements...

Recognize, the above events are summarized. I made many, many, many phone calls to NMN and Access Van Lines to coordinate pickup and delivery dates/times, contact persons and phone numbers (both companys constantly lost names, addresses, phone numbers), additional charges resolution, leaving many unreturned phone calls, requesting furniture weight documentation, etc...

National Moving Network is NOT run by honest people... THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF!!!

I now plan to dispute the initial $500 deposit with my credit card company and have the furniture weighed (probably will be about 1500-1600lbs). I will call the BBB and report NMN and Access Van Lines. And, I will continue to tell everyone- DO NOT USE NATIONAL MOVING NETWORK or ACCESS VAN LINES.