Bekins Van Lines

It's no secret that consumers are almost completely at the mercy of movers these days (see Movers Hold Consumers Hostage). So, hoping to avoid disaster, many consumers choose a well-known brand name mover, thinking they will be more reliable. As many Bekins movers have learned, this isn't always the case.

Many then go a step further and purchase premium insurance. Bekins calls theirs "For All It's Worth" and the implication is that the consumer's good are covered up to their full replacement value. Sadly, this is often not the case.

• Bekins "Premium" Insurance
• General Moving Mayhem
• Joe's Bekins Adventure
• A Bekins Defender

Natalie of Crystal Lake, IL August 8, 2009

My family moved to West Virginia and after getting estimates from many different moving companies, Bekins seemed to be the most helpful and we anticipated little problems. The sales person was very friendly and promised to take care of us. As anyone who moved knows, moving is a big stress on a family, sometimes more than others. My daughter, who packed all of her belongings for college anticipated having them two weeks before she went, as promised by Bekins delivery date.

The sales representative told our family that it would only take one day to pack all of our stuff. He estimated all of our belongings and told us that, seeing as my mother would be coming with us, it would be no problem to go to where she was living and pack her stuff along with ours. The first loading day proved the sales representative's words to be false. The driver of the Bekins van came up to me and told me there was no way they could pack all of our stuff in one day because the crew he had did not know what they were doing. They barely got anything done for a job that was supposed to be completed. When trying to load our refrigerator they underestimated its size and therefore it would not fit through our door. Instead of measuring it before they moved it they were attempting to disassemble the door on the stairs. The driver told us that he would try and get a whole new crew for the next day and that they would be done by noon.

Day 2 arrives and the movers were excellent. They were trying to pick up the slack of the previous days work in less than half the amount of time. The closing of our house was supposed to be on this day but, before the buyers signed the papers they wanted a final walk through of the house to make sure moving didn't damage anything, perfectly understandable.

Well, noon rolls around and our movers are still not out of the house because they were so far behind from the day before. The buyers of our house were breathing down our backs having the cable company coming at eleven and then their moving truck coming at two because the house was supposed to be theirs that day. The movers, therefor, had to take all of our stuff out of the house and put it on the driveway in order for the new owners to unload their stuff into the house.

Finally at three o'clock we were all set, however, the driver informed us that there would be no way they could fit any of my mom's stuff into this van. The driver called his boss and she told us that we had a lot of bulky items. Bulky items are not our issue! We had the guy come and estimate it and he said that it would be perfectly fine and my mother's items would fit. We even sold some of our bulky items so there should have been even more room! They said they could pick her stuff up in three days but, we were moving the next day!

Luckily there was another truck loading in a nearby city that could stop at my mom's around six but her stuff would not be with ours as planned. They arrived at my mom's and being told it would only take an hour she waited with them. My 84 year old mother stood for over three hours waiting for the packers who were excellent packing all of her stuff. The driver told her if someone would have called him earlier they would have gone over sooner. Finally all our stuff was packed, but, our troubles did not end there.

We arrive in West Virginia under the impression that we would be moving into our house in 5 or so days. Bekins told us our stuff would be coming in seven, ok. Then we were called and told later that our items would be at least two days late and had an estimated arrival time of nine to fifteen days. On the sixth day we recieve all these urgent calls from Bekins but, seeing as we get little service in our apartment had trouble receiving these messages. Finally my daughter answers the phone while my husband and I are out and relay's a message from the sales representative that the movers where coming with our stuff and they needed an address.

It was late when we received this message so I called them at eight o'clock the next morning anticipating our stuff to be there within at least two days. I left a message when no one answered. We get a call at four o'clock in the afternoon from the sales representative saying our stuff was in West Virginia and they didn't have an address. He had no idea about any of our problems and blamed us for not telling him we couldn't move into our house.

We told him from the begining that we would possibly need to store our items. The sales rep said that was no problem. With the truck already in West Virginia two days early they tell us there is no storage place there that they deal with. Out of all our options the best was to take our stuff back to Chicago and store it with them so as if anything happens they would deal with it.

My daughters college material and belongings were on the truck that is today on its way back to chicago. I told the sales rep about all our problems and everything their company did to inconvenience us and asked him what they would do for us. He said, quote, "If you're thinking that you are going to get compensated, that is not going to happen. The only thing I can do for you is apologize."

So now we must pay for storage in Illinois and wait until we get our house in order for the movers to drive back to West Virginia and unload our belongings. Everything that could have gone wrong with our moving company did, and that company was Bekins.

Jim of Woodstock, GA July 26, 2009

In June 2004, my family moved from Orange County, CA to Cherokee County, GA. We chose Bekins to help us because in CA they promised to take care of our possessions, arrive in GA on time, and help us setup our new home with care. The CA Bekins employees were very good except for one. This particular employee was rude and obnoxious. Once the van was in Georgia, the entire process broke down. The van was SEVEN DAYS LATE IN ARRIVING! Bekins had a record of the van being delivered to Evans & Evans Moving & Storage in La Grange, Georgia. In reality, the van was delivered to Sykes Moving & Storage and, for all intent and purpose, was held hostage by a dispatcher.

This man lied to my wife on several occasions about the mechanical condition of the van and the supposed only tractor he had to deliver it. He also repeated lied to my Bekins sales rep in CA. The driver that delivered the van was arrogant and uncooperative, and the crew paid no attention to which room the boxes were labeled for. They piled heavy boxes on top of one another and as a result broke some of our belongings. This "crew" was nothing more than day-laborers that Sykes hired the day of delivery. They had utterly no experience in the moving business.

Moving a family across the nation is stressful enough without having the moving company compound the anxiety and fear that a family endures. My move cost over 12,000. I formally requested Bekins corporate in Hillside, IL, refund half the amount as compensation for such disastrous performance. The senior vice president at the time refused and made utterly no effort to preserve Bekins' reputation or make any corrections to the situation. This Bekins corporate officer responded by insisting that my situation was an "unfortunate and occasional" experience that Bekins had no control over.

Nadia of Newcastle, WA July 14, 2009

I gave my business Bekins on the condition that my furniture would be delivered no later than July 17th. I am starting a new job in Seattle on July 20th. Sales person Alain T wrote the delivery date in the contract as July 16-17 and also assured me that the delivery would be made no later than the 17th of July.

My furniture was picked up on July 1st. On July 14 by coincidence I found out that my delivery dates were changed to July 18-20 without my knowledge. I have talked to the sales person Alain T and director of Customer Care Teresa B and explained to them once more that any delivery after the 17th would force me to cancel some very important personal plans and that I am also starting a new job on July 20th. I told them that this is breach of contract. Alain's response was "S... happens. I am sure this was not the first time you were inconvenienced. Have you not ever had your flight canceled?"

Teresa talked to the driver and found out that the truck left FL late (for reasons she would not explain to me) and they just moved my delivery date to fit Bekins schedule. She was sorry but could do nothing about it.

This company also ignores my requests to receive a copy of the document showing the actual weight of my goods and the document called the rights and responsibilities. Although I was provided with a bill of lading number, no bill of lading doc was provided either.

Michael of Napa, CA June 24, 2009

After doing a bit of research, we contacted several moving companies that were "recommended" via the State of California's "Reputable mover's" website. After receiving quotes we chose Bekins, as their "Not to Exceed Quote" was the most reasonable to move our household to Hawaii from Napa, CA. (Their quote was: "Not to exceed 5,144.00".) They came and packed up our household on 18 June 2009 and we got all of the necessary paperwork showing that we have a total of 163 items. After not hearing from them for some time we had to contact them to find out what the final cost was going to be. It seems that the initial estimate was not including an overseas shipping charge and that we now have 180 pcs. The final amount is going to be 6,900.00 and of course they are not going to ship our items until we pay. The contact person is hemming and hawing about the reasons why he never included this overseas shipping charge and other incidental charges.

The fiscal damage to all of this will be an extra 1,800 which we really cannot afford, plus all of our belongings are now stuck at a warehouse awaiting shipping until this matter is resolved.

McRae of South Jordan, UT April 24, 2009

We called Bekins for a quote. D. Moore of Pacific Storage came out and gave us a bid. The bid was 4684.74 and it said total not to exceed cost. When the movers came Nov. 11,2008,they wrote down the figure of 4747.76. We have made repeated phone calls to them telling them they owed us 63.05 and they kept promising to call us back which they never did until yesterday when they said they denied our claim.

They put nicks in the walls and broke two knobs off of the organ which we never put in a claim for but they refuse to refund the money. They said our pounds was over but I told them we had a paper showing not to exceed 4684.71. They went through the house and ended up taking things that we didn't want in fact had to go get things off they had taken.

Luis of Belton, MO March 19, 2009

On February 13, 2009 a letter was received in the mail from Bekins Moving Company informing myself that I will be getting a check in the mail. Called the customer service claims department spoke with Katrina and she stated that it will be arriving in 10 days on or about February 26,2009. No check was received. I called on March 4,2009 to follow up and spoke with Veronica and she stated that the check had not been mailed out and told me that she spoke with Katrina and they will release the check for the second time and it will take 10 days to receive.

I waited 10 days still no check. I called once more on March 18, 2009 and spoke with Katheline she then stated that she was aware that i spoke with someone 2 weeks ago and that their account department was backed up in work. Then she proceeded to state that she will contact the account department to release the funds. I asked if there was any way that I could get this direct deposit or priority mail. She said she couldn't process direct deposit but would be willing to speak to her supervisor to get this check rushed priority.

I called on March 19,2009 to speak with a supervisor. Katheline took the call and proceeded to inform me that their account department was behind in work and that she said it will take 10 days for me to receive the check. I then asked to speak with a supervisor and she said she wouldn't allow me to speak with her but that she will have her call me. I gave her my number and asked what supervisors name was she said Penny.

I can respect the fact that they have been overworked but the issue I have is that it took them over six months to finally determine my furniture was damaged. And I wouldn't have been upset if they infromed me that I wouldn't be receiving a check for about 3 months. The fact of the matter is the customer service agents' gave me the runaround and straight up lied about the check ever being mailed out. This is very unprofessional and I don't know how these individuals stay employed.

Ola of University Place, WA February 20, 2009

on 1-7-2009 I did a contract with michael to meet me at my storage to look at my items to move, all my items were packed, but my mirror to my dresser and my boxsprings and mattress, he stated he would have them bring used boxes and not charge me, not so they charged me 553.17 and the packers stated they packed 31 boxes, not true all my boxes were put in storage by charles anderson on 6-13-2008. the name on the boxes were Aloha moving services, they were used boxes with other people names on them with orange tags, bekins were red. also they charged for stuff that I felt I shouls not have had to pay

I get social security disibalties because I am %100 disable and I am a senior, items were missing broken, they open one crate and took the can food out,were did they pack it. I am out of at least 1,500. shame on bekin, when they get your items you have to pay or pay more later to get your stuff

Ola of University Place, WA January 29, 2009

on 1-7-2009, I did a agrement to have my furniture pick up by bekin on 1-9-2009, I was told it would be about 2.828.86 that was just a non binding estiment, later I was told because I had 5,900 lbs it would be 3,396, I got a call and was told it would be 3,773,86, I had tom pay it because they had all my furniture, and I am disable and all I get is social security, mr, hospkins told me one price and I had to pay another, also I call them no one will call me back, I had a trash can full with can goods 30 cans, because they do not sale the items here, the can was tape up, when I got it, there was no food and the top was in the can, also I did not get my glass shelf that goes to my china cabinet, I call and was told some one would call me back no one did, do you no how I did not eat for 5mos to save money to get my items and not to have all of your stuff. I was sent a invoice for over 8.000 to have them still cheat me and charge me for insurance,emergancy fuel almost 200 to pack my bed and almost 400 for mirrows, that is crazy, I was told that my price would be less than 3,300, because I should get a military and senior discount.

Karen of Orlando, FL January 18, 2009

The number of screw ups with Bekins would fill a book. First the movers (who were not professional but perhaps day labor) walked off the job when they saw how much was to be moved. It took most of the day for them to find two young guys who were also not pro's. When they got there, the driver said they did not have time to itemize each box as they got such a late start. We agreed (stupidly) because we also had a deadline to meet at the end of the move. It took all day for them to load and they had at least a partial truck left. They said they would be at the house at 8am the next morning to finish loading a new truck.

We were hostages at that point. Our house cleaners were canceled and I would have to clean after they left by myself. They did not show up at 8am, or 9, or 10, or 11am and we were panicking. It was the weekend so no one answered at the office! Finally someone showed up about 12:30pm and they finished. I hurriedly cleaned because I had to be across the country at the destination to meet the first truck that had left the day before! I could not do a great cleaning job and that bothered me but what else could I do.

When we got to our destination, all went ok with the second truck to arrive within the week. There was no quicker delivery because it was not a full load and even though it was their mistake, they were going to wait until they had a more full load. I had my chairs on the first truck and all my lamps and tables on the second...etc, so it was a difficult week. I noticed some goods were not on the first truck but assumed they would be on the second. NOT so. I called Bekins and they basically said prove it. How do you prove something is Not delivered? Their own man said he did not have time to itemize the boxes.

I offered my copy of the list but it would do no good since it just said the number of boxes etc. I got no where even with a detailed description of the missing paintings. Their attorney said again prove they were not delivered. I could not because of their mistakes from the start. An unorganized and unprofessional group who had little customer service and nothing from the company to try to help with the situation. I was left to just feel bitter about the whole experience and wonder who has my paintings and mirrors now. Did Bekins sell them? Who knows but I know they didn't try to help me find them and they didn't care they had lost them.

I lost about a 1000 worth of art and mirrors with no recourse.

Millicent of Southport, CT January 12, 2009

I contracted this company to move my household goods from florida to ct. the packers sent were boys - in their teens - and were being trained while packing my goods! needless to say, they did not do a good job. many of my breakables were not wrapped in any paper and very heavy items were placed on top of much lighter items - they were smashed to pieces! my son's ipod was stolen right off the counter in our kitchen when they were delivering the boxes. one of the unloaders happened to mention that he was a friend of the driver! he wasn't even employed by bekins - do they just pick up people off the street!

i had several boxes lost - i believe they were taken as they were full of cd's, silverware and lladro figures. i also had pictures removed from their frames, shoved back into the frame and destroyed. there was no reason that the photos were to be removed from the frames - i was told they were looking for either money or drugs! i could go on and on, but the bottom line is that this company is not reputable at all and i DO NOT recommend them.

I paid 8,500 for this move and i claimed over 3,000 in loss and damages. they sent an incompetent by the name of d. mckim to survey the damage and he said that some of the items were probably broken before bekins came to box them - they were not and if they were, why weren't they so noted on the packing form that bekins fills out while boxing! even the people they send to so call help you are incompetents!

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