FID International Inc. dishonest moving company; have not delivered international shipment and do not communicate Sunrise Florida

They've been terrible with us, to. My wife needed to move to S. Africa, and her employer recommended this company. What a mistake! BEWARE: they present an incredibly helpful and competent approach to get your business. Frank, the export coordinator, was very helpful. After the stuff was picked up, though, here are our issues (with personal information redacted). Keep in mind, we were told air freight would take an estimated 8-10 days.

Feb. 13-shipment picked up from my house in TX

Feb 20-Received invoice from F. I. D claiming shipment was 77 kilos over estimated weight.

Feb. 21-I wrote an email on my behalf to clarify the reason for an invoice that was double the initial estimate.

Feb. 24-Explanation of overweight cargo given via email by F. I. D. (Stephani)

Feb. 25-I emailed both Stephani (admin) and Sibele (operations) to declare a dispute over the additional charges and asked for reweigh. I also asked to be present for reweigh. At this point, they claim they'll have the airline do it in S. Africa, so I can't be present.

Feb. 27-I sent a follow up email after receiving no response.

Feb. 27-I called and spoke with Sibele. She said that she had requested a reweigh from the shippers and would let him know. I provided an email address and asked to be included on all further correspondence (previous emailing had been through wife's email).

March 3-Neither wife or I had heard anything from Sibele. I emailed her and left a voicemail asking her to contact him with updated information.

March 4-I called F. I. D. four times, trying to reach Sibele. I finally got through. Sibele placed him on hold to contact the airline to inquire about the reweigh. Sibele said that the weight was verified and that we must pay before the shipment can leave Houston. I speak with Stephani and email the credit card authorization form by the end of business day. I am told by Sibele that if we pay that day, they will have the items shipped the next day.

March 9-Wife emails to inquire whether the shipment has departed Houston yet. She receives no response.

March 10-Stephanie emails invoice to me indicating that it has been paid, saying that she'd sent it to wife on the 5th, but wife never received it. Wife needs to obtain a receipt from F. I. D. listing the move as paid for in full before she can be reimbursed by her new employer, the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I have Stephanie ask Sibele to email him with an update regarding the shipment. Stephani says Sibele is on the phone, but says that she's waiting for a response from the airline. I leave a voicemail with Sibele asking her to include him on all further correspondence.

March 14-Wife sends an email issuing complaint to F. I. D customer service and to Sibele outlining our frustration, and demanding some kind of response. There is no response.

March 16-Wife calls Sibele multiple times from South Africa. Finally speaks with her. Sibele says that she's waiting for the airline to call her, nearly one week after making this claim initially. Wife asks for the contact number so that we can follow up, as well. Sibele provides the following telephone number: 971xxxxxxx. Wife checks this area code and it is for Dubai. Sibele emails both wife and I later in the day to give us the contact information for the shipping agent in South Africa, promises an update from the airline shortly.

March 17 - Wife calls the shipping agent: Stuttaford Van Lines for which Sibele has given her the number: 031-xxxxxxx. This is a fax number, not a telephone number. Wife calls Sibele back and checks the number with Sibele. Sibele provides wife with a different telephone number: 031-xxxxxxx and lets wife know that the shipping is now scheduled to arrive at the Durban International airport on Wednesday morning, March 18, 2009. Sibele says that once the shipment has cleared customs, which should be by Wednesday afternoon, it will be delivered to wife's residence in South Africa. Wife asks Siblele to please have the moving company call her cell phone before delivery as she will be leaving for Cape Town at 6pm on March 18, 2009 and will need to arrange for someone to be at home to receive the shipment. Wife asks Sibele for her manager's contact information. Siebele says that the manager is out to lunch and that wfie should call back in an hour. Wife asks for the manager's e-mail address which Siebele gives her over the phone. Wife also asks Siebele to e-mail her the manager's e-mail address which Siebele does. Wife e-mails Itamar, Siebele's manager requesting immediate delivery, and provides him with a timeline of events including those listed in this letter. Wife mentions that she will report her experience with F. I. D International to the American Moving and Storage Association ProMover Program. Wife's e-mail to Itamar is rejected due to invalied email address. A second e-mail attempt is also rejected. Wife e-mails Siebele to verifiy whether the contact e-mail address for Itamar is correct
and does not receive a response.

March 18-Wife departs for Cape Town at 6pm. She does not receive her delivery and has still not been contacted by Stuttaford Van Lines in South Africa at all regarding the status of her shipment.

March 20-Wife calls Stuttaford Van Lines and speaks to Mr. K. Govender in Imports, telling him that she had received his company's contact information from Sibele at F.I.D. International and that she was following up on whether he had received word about her shipment arriving at Durban International Airport which Sibele at F. I. D told her would arrive on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Mr. Govender is surprised to receive Bronwen's call and informs her that his company has no record of and knows absolutely nothing about her shipment. Mr. Govender asks for contact e-mail addresses of the people with whom wife has been corresponding at F. I. D Wife gives him e-mail addresses for Itamar and Sibele. Mr. Govender tells wife that he will e-mail them directly and will copy the message to her. He does so.

As of March 20, 2009 Wife has not received an e-mail or telephone call update from F. I. D. International regarding the status of the shipment.

The next correspondence between FID and myself will be conducted by my attorney. I have sent a complaint to the AMSA, and the BBB is coming up next...

Randy
Waco, Texas
U.S.A.

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