Covan Worldwide Moving Coleman American Moving Services Nightmare move from hell thanks to these incompetent people Petersburg, Virginia

Let me just say that I have worked for Coleman for some time, And NEVER have I ever heard something as ridiculous as we purposely hire criminals, im not saying there are not any people that have been incarcerated before but he have a very strict hiring policy and a VERY through background check. Also we are one of the better companies  out there, YOU are the ones who decided that. the military doesnt go by lowest bidder for picking movers, it goes by quality and satisfaction scores sent in by guess who? The soldiers we have moved. at the end of every move we leave a paper showing you where to go to the military transportation website to rate your move and it gives you a questionaire to answer. The result of this directly influences who gets the contracts and who your movers are going to be. If you dont want to see us on your base or at your residence, tell your friends to quit telling the military how awesome we are :-)

I was moved by COVAN from Redstone Arsenal AL to Fort Gordaon GA in 2010.  It was a nightmare like yours.  Ill spare the gruesome details but give you a heads up.  Ill also be glad to give The COVAN rep who rebutted you my two cents.  I had approximately $10,000 in damages from this move.  I had some theft.  I want you to know what I have found out.  The driver of my move professed that he was an ex-con who served time on illegal substance related charges.  I found out the Feds (Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit) and some state governments provide tax credits and grants to employers for hiring felons and ex-cons.  I researched this and sources state Allied has a reputation of hiring ex-cons.  If it had been disclosed to me by the TO that if I chose to move HHG I would probably be moved by ex-cons I probably would have chosen a different method of moving.  The TO and/or carrier should be obligated to disclose to clients that ex-cons may be performing an HHG move.  It is no wonder why we had disastrous moves.  Let the truth be known! 

I was a military wife for 25 years and moved a LOT.  What the OP reported is entirely possible. Like all service providers, some movers were great, some were morons. I once unpacked my stuff to find one of those small golf pencils wrapped in several layers of paper! I've also found an ashtray with cigarette butts still in it, a cookie jar full of cookies (that was in storage for 3 years), and a box of my daughter's stuffed animals marked "fragile".  I once had a supervisor called out to my house because the movers tried to mark my furniture as damaged when it wasn't.  The worst move involved my kids' bunk beds. We purchased them shortly before our move (like a week). They were put in storage for 3 years. When they were delivered, they had obviously been used.  The mattresses had urine stains, and there was paint splatter all over them in a bright blue color.  I reported it to JAG (our military lawyers) and showed them pictures of the kids' room (white), the receipt of purchase, and the damage to the furniture.  They paid up.  I've also had stuff stolen, despite watching the movers like a hawk.  I suspect they make note of the box number that valuables are in and those are the ones they go for later back at the warehouse.

As I said, some movers were great (especially the ones who assembled everything for me and put stuff away when I was really pregnant).  Others, not so great. And I don't recall ever being given a choice of movers. The transportation office just sent them.

To the OP - please complain to the TO and and JAG.  You may get some help.

If you're a member of the military, your statement about not having a choice in absolutely ridiculous and not correct.  For starters, the military not only establishes high standards for its movers that must qualify to move military personnel, but military moves are often assigned the best crews to perform the move because the $ rates the mover gets are better than even corporate moves.  You know this as well as I, but there is an officer in the military specifically assigned to oversee your move.  I am hearing this has changed somewhat, however the tariff rates are still pretty good.

The military ALWAYS has at least three (or more) approved carriers for their personnel to select from.  What I found interesting is that you chose Covan over all of the other approved, and I would add, more competent movers.  So when you claim you have no choice, that is 100% incorrect and I don't know how you come up with such a statement.  Even if the other companies you wanted were very far away, the agents for those movers contract with independent surveyors in your area who will look everything over prior to your move, and they will make the drive to you.

You never, ever, EVER do a move without someone surveying over what is needed.  Aside from the obvious mistake of seeing a 3-bed instead of a 1-bed, the surveyor judges whether the shipper needs a shuttle, or something else that will add or subtract to the cost of your move.  This way, you get no surprises and you make better decisions.

I would contact your moving officer at your previous base and lodge your complaint.  Enough complaints, and the mover will get decertified to do military moves.  In the meanwhile, it's time to file a claim.  Get to it, you should get better than valuation of $0.60 per pound....

What a bunch of scumbags!

First of all I am in the military and had no choice. SECOND of all - there is no excuse for incompetence and laziness. This company was supposed to according to their "rules" have sent someone out personally to verify how much I had or so I was "promised". I did not expect them to put my things as you put it in cabinets or on shelves. I did however expect things to be "neatly stacked" not as I mentioned LITERALLY dumped in the center of the floor. Apparently you also fit this category of being unprofessional, incompetent and lazy. There used to be a term called courtesy but it is apparent this organization does not know the definition of this word nor do you if you are ignorant enough to take up for these people. Bottom line - I was given the opportunity to warn others about this company and word of mouth goes a loooooonnnngggg way!! BTW I will not lower myself to rebutt any more comments. Point is - word is out.

first of all...moving companys have been doing phone est. for years.saves on labor...gas..etc.my guess about the box deal is you couldn;t afford them.they brought what you said was needed.the 3 bedroom you said you had..maybe two were empty and one was full?the dumping part you said happend with the books  we are not maids!!!are job states when unpacking take out of box and sat it down....not in shelfs...cab.....drawers...etc.I used to see this alot..as a driver...mover for over 24ys.people wanting somthing for free.Moving is not cheap.Thats why aprox.70pct.of all moves are corp.Anyway thers not much i dont know about the moving industry.Been there done that.