Century Express Van Lines grossly underestimate moving cost Tampa FL dishonest ripoffs Ft. Lauderdale Florida

I contacted Century Express (Century) for an estimate to move my household goods from Springfield, VA to Tampa, Fl.

I spoke with Ms. Simon on the phone and she requested I walk through my house and tell her all items that will be transported.

I did as requested and named all items to include size and an estimated weight. The estimate of 630 cu feet at $1750.00 was given to me.

I agreed for them to transport my household goods based on the estimate of 630 cu feet and the pick up date was to be 10/27/2001. Ms. Simon mentioned no additional fees to me on the phone, nor were they mentioned in the emailed estimate.

Century Express arrived October 27. I walked through the house with the representative and showed him all items to be put in the truck. At no time did he inform me that I was going to go over the estimate.

After all items were placed in the truck 1100 cubic feet was used. 122 items were inventoried and 105 items were told to Century by myself in the original estimate. Century charged me $4.20 per cubic foot over the original estimate; whereas, the original estimated was at a price of $2.77 per cubic foot.

I believe the original estimate given to me was purposely low for me to agree to have them move my household goods.

Then when all of my things went over the estimate they charge the individual at exorbitant rates. They also charged for each flight of stairs and for long carry fees, which were never mentioned, to me until the bill was given to me.

The representative explained to me that the estimate was done by a computer and when I told them 3 wardrobe boxes and 75 medium to large boxes, that all are counted as small boxes in the estimate.

Ms. Simon did not explain this in the estimate or on the phone. Century Express led me to believe I was given an accurate estimate of my household goods. From speaking with the representative who transported my goods, I believe low estimates are a trend for Century. He said, "The estimates are never correct, they are always low." Also, the previous customer had an original estimate of 500 cubic feet and they had used 1500 cubic feet of the truck and were charged at a rate of $6.00 per extra cubic foot.


I believe I was intentionally misled by Century's estimate. I spent $4,004.00, when I was given an estimate of only $1750.00. I never would have agreed to employ Century if they had given me an accurate estimate of 1200 cubic feet at a price of $4,004.00 and they knew that.

Julie
Tampa, Florida