Amex Limo Service Owner: Peter Albano Family horrified Brooklyn , New York

Hire a party bus from New York for my daughters wedding on 6/30/2012. We live in CT and Limo service is in Brooklyn New York. Gave deposit in January for a 30 passenger Killer Hummer which is only 1 of three in the country. Total Contract for 4 hours was $1,780.00 dollars. We have had 3 weddings in the past three years and my wife and I are both retired

My step daughter was to be married on June 30th 2012 in Hartford Ct at the St Jospeh Cathedral Church and we live just outside of hartford about 20 minutes from the church. Contract call for a pick up time of 12 noon on that day and ceremony started at 1:00 sharp. Church fee's $1,000.00 dollars and if party was late deposit would be lost of $500.00 dollars.Advertisement stated that all vehicles are clean and guaranteed on time arrival.
 
In June I checked with the company and asked if everything was good to go and that the vehicle was clean and in good running condition. [continued below]....

..... One week before the wedding I contacted the company and spoke with Anna and she offered me an upgrade with a full sized party bus (50) people capacity at the same price and this vehicle also included a onboard butler to serve drinks and food to the wedding party and some guests that were invited to joing us.

On the day of the wedding all the wedding party was to be picked up at our home at 12 noon. Called the company at 7AM and was told everything was on go. At 12 noon no bus. Called company and was told not sure where bus is would call back. 12:05 no call back and I called company back and was told that traffic was heavy from an accident and bus was running late.Never recieved a call or email or cell phone call to include home.

I was given the cell number of the driver Mike and had to call myself. He told me that he was about 45 minutes from where we were. Bus was to leave at 12:15 to go to church and prepare for ceremony. Had to call the church notify them what was going on and would be there sometime soon. Had 180 guests at the church waiting. This was a Venetian style wedding and all the dresses and my daughters gown were fluffy and long. had mentioned this bus to our neighbors and all wanted to see it.

At 1:05 the bus pulls in and it just looked like it came froma trip from Death Valley. I wanted my daughter to have a Cinderella coach and all she saw was a stage coach. Everyone was upset as it was and then this pulls in and out steps the driver. Okay here we go: He was wearing a t shirt and blue jeans. Then I find out that there is no attendant on board this bus either. So the wedding party had to load the bus and my neighbors looked on horrified at what was taking place.

Off we go to the church and my daughter who's dress cost $ 5,000.00 K had gotten it soiled gettingg on this bus because it was so dirtyand we have not even arrived ta the church yet. We are both retired and all these weddings with our girls have put a strain on everything but this was going to be the topper for sure. I bitched to the driver and he was a nice guy but he was told to get on the bus and do this run and was never told why what for or anything. Did not know about any attendant nor did this bus have all the items that were promised. Sodas, ice, water, attendant, clean, I told him that I was not going to pay the full balance and that I would conatct the owner whom I have spoken with about all this.

I had to sit in a rumble seat next to the driver and all the mardi gra beeds hanging form the rear view mirror and give directions to the church. Arrived at the church at 1:35 and rushed in and did the ceremony. Priest was pissed along with the wedding party and since I was the one who arranged for this bus was on everyone's sh*t list. After the ceremony I went to the bus to check on things on the bus because the driver had to go get some ice.

When I got on the bus I was told that he had contacted the company and was told to collect the balance $1,200.00 dollars and if I did not pay he was to leave. I had 30 people on the curb so I had no choice and payed the amount. The next day tried to contact the company and would not accept my calls. Have not accepted any of my calls since. Contacted an attorney and also filed complaint with DMV in New York. BBB but they have a few complaints with the company but they never responded back. Also contacted a local TV station that does stories on these types of things and hopefully they will help us.

This is my step daugher but I love her dearly. Her father passed away when she was young and I know that he would have wanted her to have her Cinderella wedding and all the glitter that went with it. I know that I would have wanted the same if that was me. We are retired but we did what we did with all our girls and just wanted everything to be close to perfect. I know that the owner of this company Pete would have wanted the same for his daughter if he were in my shoes. I am just looking for some compansation for not getting what we paid for. I know traffic can be a mad house but the company should have made sure we were contacted somehow. Home phone, cell phone, email. Plus a driver showing up in jeans and a t shirt was the topper of all this.