Across USA Moving & Storage Organized crime or disorganized incompetence? Dallas, Texas

This company didn't disappoint...until they received the down payment; after that it has been the worst moving experience of my life. That says a lot having traveled all over the US and Internationally. The quoted move of $1250 ended up costing $2000 before I even replace the items that are missing or broken. Pick up was 2 hours late, delivery was 10 days late, and they demonstrated their lack of concern around every corner.

1/27 Movers show up at least two hours late. The lead guy doesn't even speak English and I'm not sure if he's handicapped by trauma or just a language barrier. As soon as they show up they are whining about the difficulty of the move and how much more it is going to cost. The new guy (I assume) made the mistake of noting that the couch, tv, washer/dryer, and all electronics are already gone, "This is going to be an easy one," he says. Then gets a very stern look from the mumbler.

In all it took over 5 hours for them to pack my 800 sq ft apartment. As soon as the truck is loaded and they drive away I receive a call saying, "Your balance is $1400." At first I didn't flinch, based on the behavior of the leader I knew they were going to charge me extra but when I asked to make sure that didn't include the $650 I had already paid he told me, "no, $1400 more." This finally pushed me over the edge and he had the audacity to say, "Don't worry your stuff will be safe in storage until you have the money. Don't let it be there for 30 days or it will cost extra."

I immediately start calling every phone number I have for the company. I called at least 10 times/day and left at least 2 messages/day for the next two days. Finally on 1/30 I get in touch with Eric and he says that he needs to look into the issue. "I will call you back at 1:30," he assured me. Needless to say, I never received a call back so by 2:30 I started calling again.

1/31 Eric accidentally answers the phone when I call, I can only assume that he was picking it up to order a pizza or something. I finally start to feel some relief when I negotiate his ransom down to $1200 due at delivery instead of the $1400. At the end of the conversation he told me that my belongings will be delivered "late Thursday (2/2/12) or Friday (2/3/12)." I have to tell you that even though I felt like I had just been conned I was really looking forward to having a bed, clothes, and kitchenware...foolish me. 

I called the office again Thursday afternoon to find out when I should expect the truck. This time I didn't even receive the condescending courtesy I had grown used to. Quite bluntly I was told, "It will be a couple more days." Obviously I continued to try to contact them for the next three days to get more information but each time it's just, "a couple more days."

Finally I received word that they weren't able to get our stuff to us over the weekend because there wasn't enough room on the truck for delivery (rumor is that they had a whole new list of victims' belongings to pick up so there was no time to make good on our arrangement). Needless to say I was assured, "a couple more days."

Monday (2/6/2012) arrived and I accidentally get my hopes up again because Eric went of his way to "guarantee you are the first delivery and you can expect it late Monday." Whew, what a relief, just in time for my job interview on Tuesday morning. I have the house cleaned up with clear paths for the movers to get our stuff in without a hassle, to no avail. At 8:00pm I receive a call from a different guy that you can't understand saying that they are on their way. My response was absolute joy, "Great we're ready for you!" "We are in north Dallas, we got stuck in traffic (until 8:00pm?). Do you still want us to come tonight?" "Yes, definitely. That should get you here by 1:00am, or 2:00am at the latest." "Yes, we will not get there until 2:00am. This is okay?" "Yes, come, we are waiting for you." "Okaaay..."

Then the phone rings, same number. "Are you sure you want us to come tonight?" "Yes, we have been waiting on this delivery for 10 days. BRING IT."

Then the phone rings, same number. "Just to make sure you will have the balance of $xxx (he didn't know how, or didn't care, to say the numbers correct)." "Yes, just bring our stuff!"

Then the phone rings, same number. "I just want to make sure that you want me to come...ah...because you know it will not be until 2 in the morning...and...ah....I want to do a good job for you...ah...you know (hardly disguised, veiled threat). If you would like I can be there at 7 in the morning." What choice do I have, "Fine, we'll see you at 7:00am right?" "Yes, 7 in the morning."

They finally showed up around 9:30am on Tuesday (2/7/12). There will be an additional $200 for the long carry because they brought the goods, that they picked up in a 16" van, in an oversize semi (same source, rumor is they do this whenever they can by scouting the pick-up/drop-off using Google Maps).

By the time they moved me in and I renegotiated the negotiated trumped up charges I, barely, managed to keep it under $2000. The moderately expensive office desk that I use to make a living is missing a leg and an entire section (how do you miss 1/3 of a desk?). We are also missing 2 vacuums, 2 Swiffer sweepers, the cable box, a folding step-stool, and a camping chair. The futon was put together backwards, even though I took the time to show him how to put it together properly (at least he was polite enough to pretend it was his first scam, the other guy did not extend that favor). Broken items include an inexpensive mirror that hangs on a door, and assorted small items like artwork and candles.

They say that 'hindsight is 20/20' and I realize that now. I should have told them to get out of my house when I got that gut feeling during the pick-up. Since then I have discovered that the negative reviews are out there that detail what I should have expected. The only problem is that this company is running a blatant campaign of covering up their negative reviews. If you contact me I have evidence of this and I am willing to provide it. I am writing this review because it is the only site that I have found where they can't bury the truthful reviews.