On December 21st, 2010 I contracted with US Van Lines to move my furniture from San Francisco, California to St. Cloud, Minnesota. During our negotiations, I was informed my belongings would be moved by professionals, B & B Transportation, with professional equipment (18-wheeler). Had I been informed that my belongings would be moved from my apartment in a rented Budget Truck, I would have never agreed to use their service.
At the time of the negotiation, I was told that the cost would be $2349.12. At no point in time was I informed that my furniture would not be insured in the event of its destruction during the move. At no point in time was I informed that only a pittance would be offered if the move was late.
On December 21, 2010, Robert Igneri of US Van Lines quoted the move for $2349.12. The sum was determined over the phone, and there was never a physical inventory or in person quote. I was assured by Robert Igneri and Ben, the B&B driver, that based on an imminent international move, my furniture would be delivered by January 03, 2011.
On December 28, 2010, two movers arrived at my apartment in San Francisco, California to load my furniture into a Budget rental truck. Upon arrival, they wrapped the furniture, including the six leather sofas in moving blankets and packed the Budget rental truck with the sum of my belongings. Upon packing the apartment, I was asked to sign and initial 8 places on 6 separate documents.
No terms on any of the documents were explained to me, and at no point did I understand I was getting default insurance - an insurance policy that could never cover the cost of replacing any, let alone ALL damaged goods.
After arriving in Minnesota, I contacted Robert Igneri of US Van Lines, and the driver for the estimated time of delivery. I was told that delivery was late, and that I would be contacted when delivery was imminent. On January 14, 2011, I was contacted by an employee of B&B and told that my goods were in Chicago and would be delivered in a few days. On January 17, I met an unmarked truck at the storage facility in Saint Cloud, MN.
The two movers asked for a new payment amount different than the quote. They requested the payment amount in cash, and only after I paid was the unmarked truck opened to reveal a truck full of crushed boxes haphazardly strewn across the truck. Upon demanding a response as to what happened, and the number of someone in charge, I was given the number of their boss, who I promptly contacted.
He informed me there was absolutely no remedy other than to mark the damaged goods on a document which was not provided to me. I contacted the representative at US Van lines who informed me my only remedy was to fill out the appropriate paper work.
I again asked the drivers for the paperwork which they did not produce. I took notes of every piece of damaged belongings which were signed off by the driver.
Not only did the company destroy every box in the truck, crushing any breakable contents, but the leather furniture they wrapped was completely destroyed as it was wrapped too tight and left for too long. The leather has been stretched beyond repair. Moreover, they broke my exercise equipment, smashed panels out of sides of furniture and scratched every piece.
I tried over the course of a year to try to get some form of compensation for the thousands of dollars in goods that they destroyed. During this process, I endured many verbal abuses by the receptionist at the company. Finally, they offered me $226. Dumbfounded by how ridiculous their settlement offer was, I decided to try to follow the legal process by paying $150 to arbitrate the matter.
Well, today I received the letter stating that despite my numerous photos documenting the damage to all my possessions, the arbitrator found in favor of the company. There is no justice!
Do not use this company. Companies like this should not be allowed to operate.
