Don't get taken
dave
Submitted this review about
First Call Movers
Review made Live: 3/18/2013 12:27:00 PM
First Call is a broker. They quote the job and arrange for a mover to do the work.
Swift Moving Van Lines of Brooklyn NY was contracted by bFirst Call to load, transport and deliver.
FC quoted $2,400 for a partial-house move of items. First Call Movers took a $735 deposit. Actual move invoice was over $6,000. We spent over an hour on the phone providing a complete inventory. They sent back an inventory list converted to large items and boxes. We (stupidly) assumed the conversion to boxes was mostly correct, but still called and spoke to the sales rep .......... about it. Not believing the list to be correct, we sent back a revised list (more items, esp. boxes), on the signed agreement, so it could be updated. They did not update and sent the wrong list to the moving company so when Swift Moving Van Lines showed up (8 days late, Swift blamed First Call), Swift had the wrong information. The driver did not have nearly enough boxes or packing materials so we had to go out, in the middle of the move, and get more boxes and packing materials for them. They refused to do it unless we paid them more on the spot. Swift invoiced almost $600 additional packing materials even though they did not provide or buy the materials. They also charged for boxes we packed even though they were asked to repack everything for insurance purposes. Swift also loaded a couple items not listed that I will now have to pay to ship back. They also left a table and three chairs (conveniently moved to the side yard by them) that they ‘forgot’ to tag and load. The driver explained, after loading the truck, that we were going to have to pay a lot more, but if we gave him a $500 cash tip he would knock it down to $5,000. Can you say extortion? We even left a few things we intended to take prior to the load because the packer/loader complained so much about, “It too much”… his words. On the receiving end, I can’t explain the damage and condition of the contents; carnage; broken mirrors, damaged wood on furniture, ripped boxes, un-boxed and loose items, items tagged as boxes that were furniture, furniture listed as boxes… the list goes on and on. Thank goodness we bought separate replacement insurance.
I will say that the crew that unloaded was very professional and completely embarrassed by the unprofessional packing and loading. They said they inherited the load somewhere along the long trip. I happily tipped that crew, no extortion required.
NEVER EVER consider using First Call Movers or Swift Moving Van Lines. They under estimate to get you hooked and committed; telling you the whole time that the price is a lot lower because they know what they are doing. Then when it’s too late to change to a relatively honest mover, and they have your deposit, they really leave you hanging . Don't fall for it! They lie!
