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National Moving Network - Unrealistic Estimates

National Moving Network • Delays • Deposit • Damaged • Destroyed • Estimates • Insurance • The MSN Connection

Susan of Fort Wayne IN (11/3/03):
I contacted National Moving Network to have my household belongings moved from Fort Wayne, IN to Cedarcrest NM. They asked me to give them inventory of the items. I was concerned as I had a herloom grandfather clock. They estimated my weight at 2,600 pounds. Quoted me the total charges of $1,420 with a $600 deposit. I asked how much was the packing and all other charges. I was told by Gary that it was all inclusive. It was a promotion that they were offering.

I was afraid that he was not on the up and up so asked to have the contract for review. We had 40 days before the move. He asked if I would be willing to place a credit card to hold the date and assured me that it would not be charged until we agreed upon the contract. I found out that my card was charged as soon as we were off the phone. The contract did not come and the weeks were ticking down. They told me to get the contract offline. Which could not be read due to small print. I tryed repeatedly to print it but they used a language that only printed boxes and gibgerish from the internet.

Days before my move I received the contract and was forced to sign it or was told I would forefit my deposit. I was not comfortable with this. But reluctently I did sign it and hoped I was doing the right thing. My husband started asking who I contracted for the moving. He told me that $1600 could not move me let alone pack it. Something was fishy! He started researching the company National Moving Network online and showed me that my worst fear was correct.

Luckly, I started calling to contact the dispatcher. No one would return my calls. My initial contact Gary was said to no longer be in charge of my account. I could not get anyone to return my calls to cancel before my 7 days. I finally went to drastic measures and let the movers who were suppose to be coming from Chicago know not to show up. Why would movers come from Chicago 4 hours to move my things? I have called several times the numbers I was provided for the movers were now being picked up by a fax machine. One of the Nextel phone numbers I was given now disconnected. This company told me they used only reputable companies.

Damage Resulting: I am scared to death as they now have a inventory of what I own. I am afraid that they have my credit card number and already charged $600 without my authorization the first time. Canceling my cards and getting new cards is costing me time and more money. Not to mention that I had paid for storage at the desination. I have lost work and can't sleep at night.

Willie of Irving TX (4/25/03):
We called Nationwide Moving and Storage Company to transport our household furnishings to Irving, Texas. Our initial conversation required that we give them a list of the items to be shipped. After itemizing our personal belongings, we were quoted $2500.00. We said, "fine". When the movers arrived and started packing everything on the truck, everything was okay. Upon their completion, they indicated that our cost was $8,000.00! I couldn't believe it. We told them that they had initially charged us $2500.00 and now it had jumped to $8,000.00. No way, Take it off the truck and we will get someone else. The movers convened and decided they would lower the price to $5,000.00. We were moving to Irving, our jobs were waiting on us and we had to go ahead and pay them the $5,000.00 to get our personal belongings.

Beverly of Port St. Lucie FL (6/19/03):
I was charged for 7000 lbs with an estimate of 3900 lbs. (actual move was 4120 lbs) National moving did nothing but keep my money & hang up on me when I made a complaint about the moving company they secured. I am in the process of taking Classic International to small claims court for the damages I suffered from the move. National Moving Company takes your money for a "broker" fee and then walks away. Nice racket!

Nate of Ennis TX (6/17/03):
Multiple problems occured. The company National Moving Network contracted to perform the move, Classic International of New York, NY charged me many surcharges which I had been specifically told by National Moving Network would be included (i.e. verbally told me the TV box would be free as a gesture to match a competitor's quote then it costs $35 on site). My possessions were delivered to a self storage unit and this was handled while I was on vacation. When I came back the movers had stacked the heaviest items on top on light tables and sofa end tables and they were crushed. It was frustrating because space was not tight in the unit at all and it was a mistake even a child should have been able to avoid. This damage was in addition to the usual dings and scrapes you expect in any move.

So, I lost 2 tables completely and suffered damage on other items. This was reimbursed but dealing with Classic International was horrendous as they never answer their phone and never return messages. So, it wook months to get a fractional settlement and when it arrived after weeks of "Check's in the mail" they had rounded down the pennies on the check total just to save $0.20!

When I opened the boxes I found the moving company had delivered the WRONG wardrobe box to my house. I ended up with someone's standing Halloween decoration instead of a beautiful silk screen purchased in China, stereo speakers, etc. When I called Classic International to see if it was remotely possible to track my box (I had to call more than 6 times and leave mutliple messages) they could have cared less. Offhandedly the man offered to reimburse me by pound but it was insincere and it was just to get me off the telphone.

Michael of San Diego (Sept. 13, 2000):
I was quoted a price on a move from Washington, DC to San Diego of approx. $3200. The moving company then raised the price to $6800. I paid this balance to the broker, National Moving Network, which was to be paid to the mover, Official Movers. Official then denied receipt, forcing me to pay them again for the release of my goods.

I had to pay twice for this move. What was originally to be $3200, increased to $12,800. I also incurred about $4000 worth of damage to my belongings. I had initially set up additional insurance to cover this type of thing, the broker then denied that it was set up, leaving me holding the ball for the damage. It also took them almost 2 months to deliver my goods - I was out of work during this period because of the delay.

Nilesh of Omaha writes:
I emailed several moving companies for an estimate. National Moving contacted me and gave me a good estimate. I agreed to move with them and they immediately charged me $500. The date that time was finalized on 22nd or 23rd July. But because of some reason we had to move a couple of days earlier and we called them if it is possible to change the date to 18th or 19th They agreed to it and they said that they will send an updated document. Based on this conversation we made our flight tickets of 21. They also said that driver will contact me on 17th evening and they set me up with Modern moving network. Nobody contacted me until 18th morning and neither did I receive any update document.

After that the whole problem started. We called national moving they said that contact modern moving. Modern moving said that we can not guarantee you when we can move you, but wait for one day may be a driver can call you next day. Nobody called on 19th. We called national moving and they are not ready to talk to us. In fact, the receptionist would not transfer our phone to the appropriate authority. Whereas, modern moving says that we can not guarantee when can we move you. We waited for one more day nobody showed up on 20th also. Modern Moving said that we can not say when we can move you, if you do not want us, go ahead and move with someone else.

Since our all travel plan was made we could not wait for one more day and we immediately contacted other movers. I was lucky that I went to Mayflower and they moved us within a day's notice without any trouble. After moving we contacted National Moving Network but they are not willing to talk even.

Marcus of Oakland, CA, writes:
I just graduated from medical school in June and needed to find reliable movers to move my apartment furnishings from Cambridge, MA to Oakland,CA. I came across the Webster for the National Moving Network and spoke with a Mr. McDay, who gave me an estimate on the cost of the move based on the detailed description I gave him of the contents in my apartment. I decided to go with the National Moving Network because they seemed to be the most competitive in terms of pricing and scheduled the pick up-date.

On the day of the actual move (6/12/00), the movers who arrived were from Official Moving and Storage Company. They advised me, without weighing any of the goods that the cost of the move would actually be more than double the estimate initially given. The reasons the movers gave was that the weight would be much higher than initially estimated and that it is a great distance to move. Since both the contents of the apartment and the distance of the move were clearly discussed with Mr. McDay from National Moving Network in determining the estimate for the cost of the move, I advised them that they had no clear basis for the exorbitant price increase. Nevertheless, since I was scheduled to start my residency program in California later on that week, I had no choice but to let them take my furnishings (less my queen size bed, 2 desks, and several books) advising them that I would follow up with their office and settle this matter.

I sent a fax to the head of Long Distance Dept at Official Moving, Mr. Joe Levy on June 14th advising my complaint and have made numerous phone calls to both the National Moving Network and Official Moving to settle this matter since. Since that day, I have received very little cooperation from the National Moving Network in settling this matter. I still do not have my furniture and am living in sparsely furnished apartment because of the lack of cooperation from NMN.

After over two months of trying to contact Mr. Levy, I finally received a response and have come to a tentative agreement with Official Moving. They have reduced their charge by about 15%, however it is still not clear as to when my furniture will actually be delivered. The National Moving Network has yet to send me an official response to any of my complaints.

Janice of Superior, CO, writes:
I emailed several moving companies for an estimate. National Moving contacted me and gave me a good estimate with no hidden charges. They then took a credit card deposit to hold me "move date". They set me up with Official Moving Network. Official Moving did an AWFUL job, charged me 5 times my estimate and didn't even want to place my furniture where it belonged.

National Moving's web page claims that they only deal with reputable movers, they claim payment is due on delivery, and make a lot of other claims. These were all lies, I was not told my price until after my goods were out of my apartment and then they demanded payment or said they would confiscate and sell my things.

We have tried speaking to National Moving but they are not cooperative, are in fact very rude, and refuse to make good on anything. I paid over $4500 more than I was told. Some furniture was damaged, the movers were rude and nasty, Ms. O at National Movers is very patronizing and is not a very helpful person.

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