My wife and I scheduled our move from Boca Raton, FL to Cary, NC on May 31, 2007 with this carrier. We were given a flat rate of $5,432.58 including $1,729.42 for packing and $400 for insurance. We asked if the carrier actually performed the move or if they were merely a broker. We were told the carrier had its own trucks and movers that would be used for the move.
They packed us on May 30. The two gentlemen who did the packing were polite and seemed to know what they were doing. It was at this time that we were informed that due to scheduling problems, a company called HighStrength Movers and Cleaners would actually transport our possessions. Needless to say, we weren't happy about this development. We were assured that Royal Transit had often worked with HighStrength before and that the two companies were actually contemplating a merger.
Four men arrived on May 31 to pack us. Again, they were cordial and seemed competent. They left mid-afternoon with the understanding they would arrive in Cary sometime after noon on Saturday, June 2. HighStrength's crew chief called on Saturday to say they were delayed but would make it by Sunday early afternoon at the latest. We figured, no problem, all movers tell you up front that a delay in delivery is possible.
This is where the nightmare began. The truck arrived Sunday EVENING, June 3, around 8:30PM! The crew consisted of the crew chief and the driver. The crew chief informed me that the truck wouldn't fit through the entrance from the street into our parking lot and that they would have to move everything over the sidewalk to our apartment, a distance of some 100 feet. He said it would cost an additional $250 payable in cash. With some misgivings, we gave him the benefit of the doubt and forked over the money.
It took ELEVEN HOURS to move us in! During this time we found that many of our belongings were damaged--scratched, dented, twisted, etc. Following is a PARTIAL list of items:
* Flat screen TV base is scratched
* Sterling silver candlestick holder is bent so badly it can't be fixed (an heirloom)
* Top broken off a recently purchased statue
* Printer paper tray is damaged
* Office desk, a present from relatives, is chipped in a number of places
* Two brand new (never opened) dress shirts were destroyed because they were packed in the same carton as an opened bag of Epsom salts that somehow got wet!
* Head board of new bedroom set is gouged
Once we found the shirts, it quickly became apparent how shoddy the pack job was. One of our shower curtains was use to pack the computers! An expensive bed spread was used to pack lamps!! Things were just dumped into boxes randomly with no thought for how they could be damaged. I have a collection of loose screws, washers and sundry other *attachers* used to assemble God knows what.
I spent the early morning hours assembling my furniture with the crew chief because the other gentleman was *resting* in the truck! He and the crew chief had a row so he decided he wasn’t going to work for the rest of the night. My wife and I were so exhausted by the time they left at 7:30AM that we slept most of the day on Monday, June 4.
The next day I called Royal Transit and explained what had happened. They apologized profusely, told me they would contact HighStrength and call me right back. The call never came. We waited until Friday, June 8 and then called back. They again apologized profusely, said the delay was unacceptable and would fax us an insurance form to fill out for the damaged items right away. Of course, the fax never came.
We spent the next 10 days or so getting settled and looking for more damaged items. We called them last Wednesday, June 19 looking for the insurance form. I asked for it to be sent as an email attachment and, of course, never received it. I was told it had been emailed to me the first time on June 12, that it was being forwarded to me again as we spoke. No email and no form. BTW, NO ONE has any trouble emailing me or sending attachments. Just to give the benefit of the doubt AGAIN, I sent an alternate email address to reach me at. No reply.
It is now June 24. I am filing this report here and will contest the charges made to my credit card. I STRONGLY ADVISE ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO AVOID THIS COMPANY! Actually BOTH companies: Royal Transit and HighStrength!
