American Van Lines Damaged almost everything I own Fort Lauderdale Florida

Thats a bad situation.

Here are moving tips: I recommend 3 quotes starting with your favorite company last. Stick to A national company who has agencies in every state. Check their fleet at www.protectyourmove.gov if they have no fleet or a small one move on. We have a fleet of 8000 vans. And 700 locations. Fnd out who the parent company is and call them. Just google it. Unigroup owns mayflower and united van lines. Sirva owns north amercan and allied. Do business with an agency who self-hauls and has their own fleet. For instance, Suddath has 1300 pieces, armstrong has about 1000, McCollisters has 1200, Beltmann has 1200, griffin moving and storage only has local trucks, same with AA varco, same wirh a1a atlantic moving and storage. Get my drift. Use an agency that is successfull and self sufficient, it shows they know what they are dping and cares about quality.

Only get an inhome estimate, never a phone quote its actually a written federal statue.

Check with consumer services Www.bbb.org Www.moverescue.com Www.movingscam.com Www.protectyourmove.gov

Ask for word of mouth Ask what type of corporate relocation they do and who are their clients furthermore ask for proof or a case study.

Go to their warehouse. Call a few times into their customer service at different times of the day a few days a week, see if they pick up theiir phones. See if your estimator has a personal cell phone.

Never hire a company who cant offer replacement insurance directly through them. 3rd party insurance companies are worthless, they have complaints on here movinginsursnce.com bakerintl.com relocationinsurance.com all these are terrible.

Check consumer reports and JD power & associates, see if they are rated, if so that means they do a quaity check. Ask your estimator if they provide quality checks on move day.

Ask if they charge extra on longdistsnce moves for shuttles, we dont? Why should it be your fault if you dont know if a tractor trailer fits or not. Otherwise it is a hidden cost and you will have to pay it.

Ask if they are drug tested and ask for a sample proof of ID card for background check.

Look up the owner of the company and google him, see what comes up.

This is a complete moving 101, good luck.

PS, hire a good company in the beginning, yes its more, but you will pay less in the end. Need help message me ill give you 3 good companies that fit all this criteria.

Hello again everyone. I am the original one who made the complaint. I am glad to see that people are still reading my original issue and my only hope from this now is that they will go out of business for good. I had to end up taking the small amt as every lawyer said there are no laws out there to protect customers from these moving companies.  I also love how after 4 years there is a post from their Customer Relationship Manager asking me to contact them so it will be straightened out.  I highly doubt after four years they are now willing to reimburse me fully.  To anyone out there who ever needs to move take my advice rent a truck and manage a way to do it yourself as that is the only way you will be protected.  If you cant do that research the company as best as you can.  That was the one thing I sadly didnt get to do as the move itself was stressful.

No matter what the sales reps. tell the customers, in the end it is the customer's word against their word. The burden of verbal proof is on the customer.

The AVL contract has in writing everything to go against the customer.

If you want to sue AVL, you have to travel where they are located, hire a lawyer in that location, and all of that will most likely cost you more than you would be awarded.

AMERICAN VAN LINES DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO QUIT SCAMMING!!!!!!!!!!!

CLAIMS RE-IMBURSEMENT: By signing to accept AVL's disgraceful re-imbursement, the statement also states the customer will be relieving AVL of any further responsibilities.  That is something to think about before signing.

Customers who AVL put through living h**l, should remain persistent and relentless in telling everyone possible how AVL operates and to avoid AVL like the plague! 

No matter what AVL says, they can never be believed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are the best movers!  Buy the insurance, you never know whats gonna happen.  Ruined your mattress?  LMAO!!!!!! Too funny!  Have a great day!  Mold?   Love it!  start a cheese factory! 

Dear Customer, 

We regret hearing that you had a bad experience moving with American Van Lines. Our team works diligently and non-stop to ensure that all our customers receive the best service possible. Unfortunately, there are times in which a few things might go not according to plan, and we have to deal with those changes. 

We know it's been a long time since you posted your review; but, if there is anything we can do to help you at this point of your relocation, do not hesitate in contacting us to further assist you. We will need your job # ID and a phone number were we can reach you. 



Sincerely,



- Customer Relationship Manager

Sharon is right for all the reasons she stated. I can absolutely tell you this cost you more in real dollars and sense whan using a major mover to transport your items - bottom line. I personally would never use any full-service mover except one of the major companies because of the industry and the scam movers in it.

Actually, in this case, the lawyer was right. If the customer didn't buy additional insurance, there's a basic coverage that pays 60 cents per pound of weight of the damaged item. It's up to the customer to decide which to buy. However, was the option ever even discussed with you, Mad? Did you specifically check the box declining additional insurance, or was it done by the movers?

There's also something called the Carmack Amendment which covers household goods movers from being sued for anything. All you can do is go to Small Claims Court to try and get back certain charges that are not legit. You can't sue a mover for extortion, for theft, for loss and damage, or for lost wages while waiting for your stuff to show. That's why the moving industry is so overrun by scam movers. You have to wait for the government to step in, like they did with Aldo Disorbo, the brother of the owner of this company.

What you can do is complain all over creation about American Van Lines. File your claim for whatever you can get for the damage. Take the $159 that they offered. File your complaint with the (ineffective) BBB and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Go to more websites like this one and keep telling your story. The more times people read about what you went through, the more informed they'll be when deciding whether or not to use this particular mover.

What your lawyer told you doesn't seem right. Find another lawyer. You can sue anyone for anything and I have heard of some pretty preposterous lawsuits. This one sounds legit. You should be compensated.