AMERICAN MOVERS GROUP IS A SCAM - VIEW THIS ANONYMOUS TESTIMONIAL

"When I called to hire American Movers Group, their representative, “Karen,” was also very kind and courteous. She assured me (in response to my specific questions) that 1) they were not a broker and handled all parts of the move themselves—their trucks, their drivers, their crews, 2) they would not charge extra for wrapping and packing of things like my mattress, box springs, and television sets, and 3) that my things would be delivered no more than 24-hours after pick-up. I received a binding quote for 2,100 lbs.

I requested a pick-up of 8am on a Friday. I was told that I would be notified 24-hours before pick-up of the two hour window within which the truck would arrive. At 4pm on the day before my move, I had yet to hear from the company and so called Customer Service. They told me that my things were scheduled to arrive at 8am the next day.

By 9am the next day, a truck had not appeared. After several calls to Customer Service I finally reached someone who told me that my pick-up had been rescheduled to 4pm-6pm. At 3pm I was called by a truck driver who said he would not be arriving until 9pm.

He arrived at 9pm with his crew (in a truck marked with the name of a company I had never heard of), and gave me a contract that he told me to review and sign while he and his crew began loading my things. When I reviewed the contract, there were several discrepancies between what I had been told by the company. I was being charged for packing and wrapping of my mattress, box springs, and television set; the estimated weight was for 3,000 lbs (almost doubling the quoted price of my move); and it indicated that my things would be delivered between 3 and 14 days from the time of pick-up. When I called the company, no one answered. When I asked the driver about the contract, he told me that if I didn’t sign it and pay him 60% of the total, he would unload my things into the street and leave. At after 10pm on a Friday night less than 24-hours before my lease was up, this wasn’t a viable option. I signed the contract and paid with my Visa. When I asked for a copy of the contract and my Bill of Lading I was told that he did not have a copy for me.

Repeated calls to the company over the weekend weren’t answered, and my things weren’t delivered. When I finally reached a person on Monday morning, I was told that my things might be delivered that week. On Tuesday I was told my things would be delivered on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday morning I was told my things would be delivered on Thursday morning. On Wednesday afternoon I received a confirmation call from yet another company I had never heard of, who told me my things were scheduled for delivery at 10am the next day. Less than 45 minutes later I received a call from a fourth company who told me that my things wouldn’t be delivered until Friday evening.

My things were finally delivered on Friday at 6:30pm, almost exactly seven days after pick-up. Once again, the drivers did not have a contract, Bill of Lading, or receipt for me. Because I had not faxed American Movers Group my driver’s license and Visa card at least 72-hours before delivery, I was forced to pay the balance of my move in either cash or postal money order.

After my things were unloaded I discovered that the television set (the same they had charged me extra to wrap) was broken, and a large box containing all of my shoes and most of my handbags was missing. When I called to report the lost and damaged items (on Monday morning, the next time the office was open), I was told I would be contacted within three days about my lost box, and referred to an insurance claims company to report the damaged items. When I contacted the insurance claims company, they told me I would need a copy of the contract and Bill of Lading to file a claim. When I called American Movers Group for a copy of these documents—the only copies of which they retained—I was told they would be emailed to me. When an email did not materialize, I called and requested them again, and again was told they would be emailed. When an email again did not materialize, I called back and was told that these documents could not be sent to me because they were “currently being processed.” Repeated calls about the lost box of shoes and handbags were not answered or returned. A certified letter I sent to the company requesting the needed documents was not certified as being received.

I have disputed the initial charge on my Visa with the credit card company. After filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, I was told that they could not pursue my complaint because their letters to American Movers Group had been returned. I have filed complaints with the Department of Transportation, Federal Trade Commission, and Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, as well. It is possible that the company will be fined, and a report will be issued by these bureaus, but they cannot undertake to seek claims on my behalf. Without a copy of the contract and Bill of Lading, I am unable to seek any reparation from this company." -Anonymous (I didn't want to reveal this person's name)