
Laura of Sacramento, CA on Feb. 6, 2010
Before choosing a moving company, I carefully researched three that seemed to be dependable, trustworthy, affordable and considerate of the customer's time. I decided to go with Bekins rather than the other two places I got estimates. The reason was that the job was treated like a local move (which typically ranges between $200-$300). In speaking with you, Ruben, I was impressed on how simple the process would be, how organized it sounded and the motivation the actual movers had to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. However, my moving experience with Bekins on Saturday, December 12, 2009 was not satisfactory for a number of reasons.
The reasons are: At 2:15, I contacted the main number to inquire where the movers were as it was after 2PM. The person who answered the phone was neither customer friendly nor helpful. He did advise me that the movers had a window of 2-4PM. I asked him if he could call them to determine their estimated time of arrival and call me back. He said he would do so. However, I never heard from him. At 4:20PM, I received a call from Fernando. He said they were an hour away. At 5:51PM, I called Fernando to find out how far they were from my home. He told me 10 minutes away.
At 6:12PM, Fernando called to tell me they arrived and to open the gate to our complex. I told him that I didn't live in a gated community, but the next complex over. Since I did not see them arrive in the next few minutes, I walked all the way over to the next complex and flagged them how to get to my place. These movers were over 2 hours late beyond the window I was told that they had. I showed Fernando what needed to be moved. He advised me of a $35 charge for my dresser mirror and a $10 for another item.
I said okay. At the end of loading the truck, I reminded Fernando about the plants and grill on the patio. He said that he didn't have anymore room in the truck. I'm not clear how 13 boxes and the furniture I described to you on the phone could not all fit on the truck. In fact, they had to strap a mattress and bedspring to the back of the truck in the pouring rain.
We arrived at the new place around 10PM. They told me that they couldn't double park. I informed them had they been here during the window, there was plenty of parking at that time. I suggested the back alley. They then complained about the cars being in the way. I told them I had no other solutions. When I went back inside the place, Fernando asked me to complete paperwork again. He had filled in the time that they were to finish as the final time (he wrote 12:00AM). I asked him why he was filling in the time now when they didn't know. He said he estimated the time of completion based on how long it took them to load it. I told him I didn't agree with this practice and Fernando stood there smiling waiting me to sign it anyways. In the end, they finished at 11:40PM, not 12AM as he wrote down.
After signing the documents, Fernando showed me the final bill to be $903.07. I inquired how come the final charges are three times the quote (which he had possession of as well). He then explained the following: It took 3 men 2.5 hours to load the truck ($210) and 2.5 hours to unload (another $210). This pricing is very different from the conversation I had with you on the phone. You estimated 3 hours for the move and assured me that these movers were motivated because they would want to continue with the next job. That was not the case with my experience. They moved extremely slow for a customer who had boxed up everything for them. Three men had to break down 2 beds and shrink-wrap a desk, small bath cabinet, a dresser, couch, loveseat, 2 dining chairs and a small round dining table. There was some furniture they never wrapped. I also learned that the men had 5 jobs that day and mine was the last job. What motivation and energy did they have to complete my job in a timely manner?
I was charged double drive time which cost $84. On my estimate, you quoted me $46.20 as the charge was for double miles. Why was there a difference in the cost at time of the job? Additionally, I was charged 1 hour (another $84) for their drive from San Ramon to Sacramento. Would you please point out in the estimate where you stipulated this charge? Furthermore, I was charged $315.07 in packaging materials. This amount is higher than the estimate in the total. While I understood the $35 charge for my dresser mirror and a $10 for another item, it certainly doesn't total $300 worth. Would you please tell me where this is listed in the quote you provided me?
After Fernando went over these charges, I advised him that I would discuss this further with you because my final costs were three times the amount of the estimate. Fernando then told me I had to pay in cash. I told him that if I was being charged what was estimated, I could pay in cash. I could pay in credit card or check. He said that I could only pay in cash. I told him I don't have that amount of money on hand. He told me to go to an ATM. I told him that I was not going to an ATM nor did I even know where one was at this time of the night in a new neighborhood. I reiterated the two options of credit card or check. He then said he would need to call and see if anyone was at the office to run the credit card number.
In the meantime, the two other men were standing around waiting and not unloading the truck. This behavior made me, as a customer, feel as if Bekins was holding my belongings hostage until a payment was made. This is very poor customer service. Additionally, when we talked, there was no stipulation that I had to pay in cash. You did advise me that if I paid in cash, I could get a discount. Why was this arrangement different at the time of delivery? Fernando then called his office and asked me to talk on the phone with the same person I spoke to. I gave him my credit card number and provided him with some of the concerns I had about the whole experience. I also told him that I would be following up with you with my concerns of unfair treatment.
Once I got off the phone and completed the payment process, the men began to unload the truck. They did re-assemble the 2 beds, dresser and dining table as well as removed shrink wrap from only the couch and loveseat (to re-assemble the legs). Therefore, this didn't take them 2.5 hours and Fernando did nothing to correct the charge. After assessing and accounting for all my things, I found two things wrong. One of the boards on my dresser that allows a drawer to slide in and out on is broken and missing. I now have to hire a contractor to repair my dresser. The other item is a shelf in a small bath cabinet. I saw the shelf sitting on the floor of my old place, but somehow it never made it to my new place. I contacted the place where I purchased this item and it is no longer available. Therefore, I will need to see if this contractor can also make me a shelf and stain it to match the rest of the cabinet. These same items were moved from Chicago to California without anything getting broken or lost.
After moving only 12 miles away, how could these items get damaged and/or lost? I am requesting the following from Bekins: I would like answers to my questions. I would like Bekins to charge me for what was stipulated in the estimate. More specifically, 3 hours of move time (had I been the first job of the day, I would guess that it would have taken them this long). Travel time of $46.20 (the address didn't change in the quote, I still moved to the same place). No charges for materials. This was not listed in the estimate. No charge for their travel time from San Ramon to my place in Carmichael. This was also not listed on the estimate. I didn't receive anything.