We chose America's Moving Services based on what seemed to be good online reviews. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. Customer rep was very polite & professional. The quality of services provided by Am. Moving were horrendous. Contract indicates Am. Moving is a "moving coordinator" & may either act as carrier itself or hire a sub-comntractor to actually perform carrier services. BUT, Am. Moving does not inform its customers, in advance of pick up, whether it or subcontractor will be carrier.
Am. Moving represented that it would provide 24-48 hrs. notice of whether our belongings would be picked up on 5/26 or 5/27/12. On Fri. 5/25, Am. Moving asked if movers could stop by our house to "get started."
Not until truck arrived, shortly before 3 p.m. on 5/25, did we learn that Am. Moving was not conducting any moving services and had instead hired a subcontractor as carrier. In reliance upon Am. Moving's representations concerning pick up date and advance notice, we had not yet finished packing. Shortly after arrival, subcontractor informed us that, rather than "get started," it intended to load and pack entire house within next 6-7 hrs. It quickly became apparent that subcontractor's only priority was loading the truck as quickly as possible, without any regard for our belongings.
Subcontractor employees consisted of Russian & Eastern European immigrants with poor English. Unprofessional would be a kind description. Floors were scraped by heavy furniture being dragged instead of lifted, furniture was damaged, house was left trashed by water bottles & debris thrown upon the floor by subcontractor.
Subcontractor "helped" finish our packing by indiscriminately throwing all unpacked items into boxes. Over subcontractor's objections,sevearl times we had to go on truck, open boxes packed by subcontractor to remove items that were not to be packed. Due to subontractor's poor English, boxes clearly marked "STAYS" were put on truck, adding to our cost.
After loading truck, at 10 p.m. subcontractor offered us a "deal" by which he would provide a flat rate price instead of taking the truck to be weighed per Am. Moving's contract. Subcontractor blatantly told us that, if "deal" was accepted, a larger tip was expected.
On or about 6/1/12, subcontractor's truck driver called us to demand that, despite prior agreement of payment via cashier's check, cash was required so that he could "buy gas."
On 6/3/12 subcontractor's truck arrived at destination , with only 2 employees. Truckdriver informed us that he needed to find 2 additional laborers in order to unload our belongings.
At subcontractor's request & in order to get belongings unloaded, I drove truckdriver to local Wal Mart and Home Depot parking lots, where truckdriver would proposition any minority male whom he thought looked like someone who could use a day job unloading a truck. When this proved fruitless, Icalled an appliance store with which I had done business the prior day and asked if they knew of anyone who might help. Fortunately, an hour or so later a couple of men acquainted with the appliance store appeared and helped unload the truck.
Of course, Am. Moving's contract states that it is "not responsible for any acts or omissions" of its subcontractors. After the ridiculous move, we sent an email to the company describing our experience. No response. We then filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. No response. DON'T BE FOOLED. THIS IS A MISERABLE COMPANY, ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN PAID, THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR MOVING EXPERIENCE. We received nothing of value for the money we paid Am. Moving for the privilege of having its subcontractor perform ridiculously substandard, unprofessional services. Based on customer's experience, Am. Moving does not even come near deserving a favorable BBB rating. It merely is a broker,profiting by matching online customers with substandar carriers.
