Long Distance Van Lines LTD

Initially when we were contacted by them , we have given the list of household goods that we wanted to ship. Based on the line items given to them, Sam gave us rate 250 cft x 4 = 1000. But when they packed all the stuff on the 27th of November 2011, they informed us that we needed to pay $2000 and if we asked them to unpack, they would charge $500 as packing and unpacking service charge.

After negotiation, we had agreed to pay $1600 to them. We discovered that the Long Distance Van Line guy (most probably his name is Joe) left our couch near a trash container without informing us. When we contacted them why did they leave the couch, they told me that we asked them to do so. Since we did not have the stuff that's worth $1600, so I told they could trash the rest of the stuff that they had. They told us if we do not pay $1600, their collection department would contact us.

Finally we settled to pay $1400 for the stuff they had with them, but they did not delivered one box, one center table and one bag. When I contacted them, they told me that they will look into it. It has been almost 2 months and I did not hear anything from them.

This company quotes you a low price based on a square footage below what you have and then on the day of the move, they tell you it is much much more. They also do not tell you about the tip they add in which should not be paid until your belongings are delivered safely. I was told that my furniture and other fragile items would be repacked and wrapped for protection. My belongings arrived and were never wrapped. Glass was broken, wood was scratched and items were missing. I immediately called "Sammy" and got his voicemail (they only use cell phones, I guess). I left 3 messages and they never returned my call. The phone number was disconnected a few days later.

They definitely subcontract the business out to another company. I tried reporting them to the Better Business Bureau but because the phone number is disconnected, they say they cannot help. I will continue to pursue other means of reporting this company. I would advise you not to use this company.

This company is very deceitful! I just recently sent this to their management. It describes only one of the problems we had with this company. The first problem is like the issue from the previous person posted. After loading more than half of our stuff, that's when they decided to inform us that we went over our cubic square footage. The other was this 15% mandatory gratuity!

I sent them an email this morning. It was addressed to Jack ** and Sam **. The email stated the following: "I have carefully reviewed the original quote you sent me on September 1st. And as per Mr. **, this email was something that if I was charged for anything else that was not mentioned in the email, your company could be accused of misleading and this could be used against you in a court of law. My husband asked the foreman about gratuity. He was informed it wasn't included in quote, but there was nothing outlining a mandatory gratuity. However, when all our stuff was loaded into your truck, all of a sudden there was a 15% charge for gratuity. I think that's a little underhanded in the simple fact that now you have your customer backed up against the wall with a mandatory gratuity charge and leaving your customer pretty much no other choice but to have to pay it. It was never mentioned that this 15% (as per your staff ) would be added at the end. Thank you."

We had this company come to our house to give us a quote moving from CT to SC. We supposedly had 647 cubic feet. They came and half way through with loading they said it was 1500 cubic feet. Cost went from $1900 to $4900. We said unload the truck. They told us we would have to pay for what was done so we continued. they were suppose to be the same people unloading at the destination. Delivery was to be June 3rd. We could not contact anyone since it was the weekend. The next we heard from them was June 8th.

They told us they were having clutch problems for 3 days. Finally we got a delivery date of June 13th. We were so upset we thought we would never see any of our furniture. They sub contracted to another company and I believe they literally threw our belongings on to the truck any which way. The dressers were upside down as well as the night stands. The boxes were crushed and dented. Almost every piece of exposed wood on the furniture was scratched. Things were broken. I could not believe anyone would treat you like this.

I was under contract with Long Distance Van Lines to move my belongings from **, Jersey City, NJ to **, Raleigh, NC 27609 on 3/31/2011. After completing a preliminary inventory over the phone with Long Distance Van Lines representative by the name of Jessica **, I was given a quote that was for a total of $870 based on an estimated 290 cubic square feet of furniture.

Upon arrival on the day of the move, it was explained to my partner, Stephanie ** (who was placed in charge of overseeing the move in NJ), the rate at which the cubic square feet would be calculated. She was then advised to go down and look at the truck under the suggestion that she should be able to calculate the potential cubic square feet that our furniture would take up. At no point prior to the start of the packing and moving of the furniture was Stephanie given an indication that the final estimate given would be 500% more than originally quoted. Instead, representatives from Long Distance Van Lines waited until all of the furniture was packed into the truck to advise Stephanie that they had substantially increased the cubic square feet for the move from the originally quoted 290 cubic square feet to 1500 cubic square feet. Our 1-bedroom apartment is only 900 square feet in size, and I was advised by two other moving companies that the average cubic square feet for used for a typical 1-bedroom apartment is between 300 and 500 cubic square feet.

As a result, the company representatives advised Stephanie that the move would now cost $4950 from the original quote of $870. Not fully aware of the unconscionable nature of this increase, Stephanie proceeded with the shipment and allowed your truck to leave our residence with all of our personal property and a check for $2500.

While I am extremely disappointed in the lack of integrity and professionalism that I experienced from Long Distance Van Lines, I felt that it was in the best interest of both parties to find a resolution to this situation as soon as possible. Here are the options that I am presented to Long Distance Van Lines: First, Stephanie canceled the check deposit that was submitted to Long Distance Van Lines as it was submitted under an agreement that was unconscionable and not in good faith on the part of Long Distance Van Lines.

Next, I was willing to proceed with our original contract and move at a fair and reasonable price that was acceptable to me. I obtained in writing two quotes from two reputable, licensed and bonded moving companies that are both backed by the Better Business Bureau. Both of these quotes were in the range of $1200 based on cubic square feet ranging from 390 to 400 cubic square feet. I understand that my original quote from Long Distance Van Lines was subject to some variation, but an upwards adjustment of more than 500% when I submitted a reasonably accurate inventory is unreasonable and I would not accept a continued contract under those terms. Instead, I was willing to move forward with the original terms of our agreement at a reasonable fair market value of $1200 total for the move less my $100 deposit, which has already been rendered and tendered by Long Distance Van lines. This market value is commensurate with an average of the aforementioned written quotes that I received from two other companies.

Long Distance Van Lines refused my offer and refused to return my property for less than $2300 for labor. In addition they have sent us several lien notices via email threatening to sell our property at auction. The company refuses to allow any other company to come into their premises to give us another estimate of our property or to release or property with now a payment of $5300. Long Distance Van Lines is holding all of our personal belongings hostage and this company is a consumer scam.

Long Distance Van Lines is holding all of our personal belongings hostage and this company is a consumer scam. In the matter of 2 weeks we have lost every item that we own because of their unfair trade practices. We are living in NC with no furniture and have had to buy certain pieces of furniture simply to live comfortably and exist. I hope that the federal authorities will do what is in the best interest of every consumer out there that might potentially be affected by this scam and put this company out of business and hold its owner (Sam) criminally accountable where appropriate.