Starving Students, Inc. ,Alexandria VA Office), Starving Students, Inc., Alexandria VA Are Fraudulent Liars Who Will Destroy Your Furniture and Threaten You...then throw nails in your driveway when you don't "Tip" them enough. Alexandria, Virginia

In early December of 2009, we unfortunately discovered Starving Students, Inc. via a Google search when making a very short move.

Part 1 (December 05, 2009)

Our initial expereince was with a Starving Students, Inc., phone sales person named Iggy.

The first impression of Starving Students, Inc. was very good -- however, do not let the first impression of this so called scam of a moving company (Starving Students, Inc.) fool you.

Iggy, from Starving Students, Inc. took our information, confirmed our move date and even sent me a written quote (Copied Below):

local branch number is 703.256.6403
Starving Students -- Iggy ext. 784
Thank you for considering Starving Students for your upcoming move. We have been moving families and businesses for over 35 years. Following is what we have available* for the date you requested:
 
**REFERENCE NUMBER:  4466006

DATE: 12/14/2009

TIME: AM (AM Moves between 8am & 12noon) (PM Moves between 1pm & 5pm)

***RATE:  $78.99/hour (2 hour minimum) Anything over the 2 hours, I will prorate for you by 15 minutes increments only.

FUEL CHARGE:                                                 

WORKERS COMP & SAFETY CHARGE: 15%

DRIVE TIME CHARGE:  78.99 trip charge. One time fee regulated in VA pays for our drive from the branch to you and back to the branch.
 
My name is Iggy, ext 784, phone # 1800-441-6683.

***Our Price includes:

  Two professionally trained, licensed, and insured movers directly employed by us
  All moving equipment including pads, blankets, straps & dollies
  Free use of wardrobe boxes and mattress pads
  We do all the loading, driving & unloading for you
  One 26 foot truck

Part 2:

A few days later someone from Starving Students, Inc., unfortunately, I do not remember his name called my cell phone to "confirm the move date."  But, what he actually did, was to try unsuccessfully to high pressure me into additional services including brusquely interrogating me about the size of the home and the number of rooms -- demandinly suggesting that I have 3 movers intead of the scheduled 2 and trying to force me to take a "Priority Pick Up" and pay an extra $29.99.

Part 3:  Extortion and Intimidation by Starving Students, Inc. Part I

Upon arrival, my girlfriend greeted the drivers to immediately be "informed" that they typically get a "$100.00 per person" tip on top of the fees quote by Starving Students, Inc. - even though Iggy had promised me that there were no hidden fees!

Part 4:  Rude Inexcuseable Behavior and Mud Soiled Hallways and Carpets.

To my girlfriend's horror, the "professional movers" showed no respect for our home.  She watched them walk right through muddy water (in spite of the fact that there was a concrete sidewalk) and proceed to tramp right across our freshly cleaned carpets leaving a muddy trail.  Even after she stopped them and told them that they were making a mess and to please wipe their feet they refused and continued to track mud throughout the house (and they did it again on the off-white carpet in the new home ater that when they dumped our funiture and possessions in the new home)

Part 5:  Expecting the worst and getting it.

When I arrived to bring tools to the "Professional Movers," here is what I discovered:

1.  An extremely beat-up Starving Students, Inc., "Professional Moving Truck."  The truck had both fiberglass fenders smashed beyond recognition and bandaged together with duct tape.

2.  The  Starving Students, Inc. truck was in our muddy yard between the paved driveway and the concrete porch -- but not close enough to save time nor avoid time wasting steps.

3.  Our expensive diningroom chairs were stacked on top of each other (without any of the promised padding and blankets) like firewood.  Needless to say this resulted in dozens of scratches on the multi-layered antique finish by Starving Students, Inc.

4.  Three completely unprofessional *#@^!s were milling about the house and yard aimlessly.

5.  One *#@^!s was attempting to take apart a metal bed with his bare fingers.

6.  One *#@^!s was slamming a piece of the bed into the wood paneled wall and ceiling.

7.  One *#@^!s was arguing with me telling me that it was not his responsibility to bring a screwdriver and a pair of pliers with him to take apart the furniture.

8.  As soon as I appeared on the work site for some unfathomable reason Starving Students, Inc. immediately left the job site to go to the new house even though the  Starving Students, Inc. truck was not even 1/2 full.

Part 6:  Wating and Waiting.

1.  When they left to go to the other house I was left to guard the item they left piled in our yard while my girlfriend took them to the new house about 6 miles away.

2.  After over an hour, I  began personally moving everything else out of the house and staging it so that they could load the truck more quickly when they returned.

3.  After another 30 minutes or so, I loaded ALL of the items in the yard into my personal pick-up truck and drove to the new home.

Part 7:  It Goes from bad to much worse:

1.  When I arrive at the new house I pull up just in tme to see the "professional movers" NOT!  slam our china cabinet into the doorjambs of the front door not once but 3 times!

2.  My girlfriend is livid because the "professional movers" who were previosly asked to wipe their feet were once again tracking wet mud throughout both floors of our newly carpeted and freshly cleaned (3 days ago) carpet.

3.  My girlfriend's 16 year old daughter was fuming and angry because Starving Students' "Professionally Trained Movers" were "Being extremely rude to me" and "would not listen to anything mom said to them" (about what roo to put furniture in etc.)

4.  Our two car over size garage looked like a trash heap, because Starving Students, Inc. had simply DUMPED our belonging into both lanes of the garage (even though my girlfriend had specifically demanded that they not block her side of the gagrage).  Starving Students, Inc. even piled trash on top of delicate heirloom and placed heavy metal shelves directly on expensive wicker furniture.

Part 8:  Forget About Complaining...

1.  After reaching the end of my patience and understanding I  call Iggy to complain.  Again Iggy was polite, but I cannot say the same for Ms. Thompson.  Miss Thompson believes that she is the only recourse that disatisfied customers have and she makes excuses for every lie, dishonesty, fraud and downright stupid action Starving Students, Inc. either supports or allows.

2.  When I tried to review the paperwork as the "Professional Movers" were trying to intimidate my 5' 2" tall girlfriend the "Supervisor" tried to rip it out of my hand.  At 6' 2" tall and nearly 200 pounds he was not successful in ripping it from my hands, however he did act in a threatening and bullying manner until I got in his face and said "Leave my house now!"

3.  The professional Starving Students, Inc. driver left a much shorter and much smaller individual who also attempted to force me to relinquish the paperwork before reviewing to deal with me.

4.  In the end we would not sign the paperwork and are filing complaints with all appropriate authorities.

The Final Insult...Nails and Screws Purposelfully Strewn In our Driveway After Starving Students, Inc. did not like their undeserved $15.00 per person tip!

1.  After demanding their tip, my girlfriend did not feel that it was safe to not tip the Starving Students, Inc. movers because they made her feel threatened.  I would have never tipped them one penny, but my girlfriend insisted that I pay them something.  Before paying them anything I called Starving Students, Inc. and spoke with Iggy yet again demanding to speak to the highest level supervisor possible.  When I asked Ms. Melanie Thompson (e-mail address: methompson@ssmovers.com) if she was aware that her movers are telling single women that thy typically get a $100.00 per person tip - she said, well then they's really be lucky then.

2.  After ending a very unfulfilling complaint call.  Among other things that Ms. Melanie Thompson of Starving Students, Inc. said, was:

If you want to file a complaint it has to go through me.  There is no one else that you can complain to.

Summary:

1.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT keep their promises.

2.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT provide 2 professional movers (and based upon their total lack of skills I doubt that they were employees either)

3.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT provide free use of wardrobe boxes (as a result we had to hand carry 5 closets full of clothes in our own vehicles).

4.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT provide free mattress pads as promised (as a result all of our Mattresses are now greasy and soiled and must be professionally cleaned).

5.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT move our expensive furniture carefully or professionally.

6.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT use any professional moving equipment including pads, blankets, straps & dollies.  In fact they moved one box at a time at a laboursly slow rate to cheat us out of yet more time and money.

7.   Starving Students, Inc. did NOT pack their truck professionall, safely or properly (as a result Starving Students, Inc. significantly damaged over 20 pieces of our furniture; the tall chest to our master bedroom set was dropped and BROKEN; walls baseboards and trim was damged by Starving Students, Inc.)

8.  Starving Students, Inc. when notified of this disastorous and unsatisfactory performance did not apoligize verbally or in writing -- they just sent a blank e-mail with a complaint form attached.  Does Starving Students, Inc.,, actually have so many complaints that they do not care.  Afterall, there are already 44 other Rip-Off Report Complaints against Starving Students, Inc. as I type this.  One of the existing report even says that Starving Students, Inc. has an "F" with the California Better Business Bureau.

9.  WOW!  Just checked Starving Students, Inc. also has a "F" Rating according to the Washington DC Better Business Bureau, here's a summary of the complaints about Starving Students, Inc., including 4 complaints about Credit or Billing (according to the BBB, Starving Students, Inc. did not even bother to respond to one of these Credit or Billing Complaints:

The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.

Number of complaints processed by the BBB
    in the last 36 months: 23
    in the last 12 months: 7

Complaints Concerned:
    Selling Practices  (1 complaints)
  1 Company did not respond
 
    Service Issues  (11 complaints)
  5 Resolved
  2 Unresolved
  1 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve
  3 Company did not respond
 
    Credit or Billing Disputes  (4 complaints)
  3 Resolved
  1 Company did not respond
 
    Delivery Issues  (1 complaints)
  1 Company did not respond
 
    Refund Practices  (1 complaints)
  1 Resolved
 
    Product Quality  (2 complaints)
  1 Resolved
  1 Company made every reasonable effort to resolve
 
    Contract Disputes  (3 complaints)
  3 Resolved 
 

Absolutely Under NO  Circumstances would I recommed or should you even consider using Starving Students, Inc.

I am a preacher's son and I have moved over 20 times...Starving Students, Inc. provided ABSOLUTELY the WORST MOVING EXPERIENCE and the POOREST QUALITY move of my entire life.   I paid men from a homeless shelter to move me once and the homeless people did a much better job of moving me than Starving Students, Inc.

My girlfriend is from a military family and has moved numerous times as well.  My military family girlfriend agrees that Starving Students, Inc. provided the absolute worst move of her life.

Very truly yours,

Barry

Alexandria, VA

PS  Be sure to check back if you have any doubts about my assertions.  I'll be posting digital photos of a portion of the damages wrought by Starving Students, Inc.