First Class Van Lines, Dolphin Moving Please, don't use this company or any like them!! Ft. Lauderdale area Internet

Boy, I wish I had found this site prior to my recent move! While I was suspicious about my experience, I am now angry. It seems what I experienced is standard operating procedure for this "company".

In Feb 2002 I moved from Tyler, TX to Tucson, AZ. Having been recently laid off, a cost-effective move was of utmost importance. I searched the internet, found a site that sent your estimate to various movers (I wish I could remember that site, I believe it was National Moving Network). The best quote I received was from First Class Van Lines. Ohhh--how deceptive a name! I measured every item, every box, did the mathmatical calculations to find cubic feet and had less than my estimate was based on (estimate of $875 for 206 cubic feet).

My email confirmation stated that my cost per cu. ft. was $4.25. It stated that the following was included in my estimate and that there would be NO additional charge for the following:
1. exclusive pickup and delivery
2. door to door service
3. labor
4. disassembling furniture
5. loading
6. unloading
7. reassembling furniture
8. 5 large boxes
9. one month storage
10. fuel
11. tolls
12. taxes
13. mileage
14. weekend move
15. holiday move
16. protective moving blankets
17. packing

I was told by Lisa S. (relocation specialist) that the movers would be there between 9 and 11am. She also told me that my cost per cu. ft. was binding and that if I did have more than estimated I could not be charged more than that. She assured me that the on-line estimates were extremely accurate and I shouldn't be concerned.

On the evening of 2/14, 2/15 was my move date...a man named "Lee" at phone number 954-931-2665 called to tell me the drivers were in Dallas and could they come at 7am instead of 9. I agreed. No one called me until after 8am on the move day...and it took 10 plus phone calls for the drivers to find my apartment. They didn't arrive until well after 9am. I knew I was in trouble when they pulled up in a Ryder Truck. From there it went downhill...packing anything was out of the question, they charged me for tape, shrink wrap to cover my few pieces of furniture, etc....bottom line--they packed NOTHING!! When about 2/3 of my belongings were loaded and the rest sitting on the driveway outside the truck, they informed me I was way over my estimate. You who have been there understand what this is like...you are in a bind...they have your stuff...your options are pay more or we take it off the truck. The drivers acted like they were doing me a BIG favor...being tired, overly stressed and, like most of us moving, on a deadline...I gave in to extra cu. ft (but left many things behind because I didnt have the extra cash). By the time I signed the paper saying I owed more, rented a UHaul to move what they wouldnt take, etc. my $875 move became a $2000+ move.

Read the other stories, they are much worse than mine...I feel lucky I finally got my stuff...even tho every piece of furniture was damaged in some way or broken...even tho they wanted to deliver at midnight...even tho I was harassed by constant phone calls by "Lee" or my driver (his cell phone was 954-931-2665).

OH and I almost forgot...while I signed up to move with First Class Van Lines...my paperwork said DOLPHIN MOVERS. This is very, very fishy!!

My advise...pay the extra up front and use a reputable mover who has ties either to the community you moved from or the community you are moving to. You might think you are saving money with these internet movers, but, in the end...it costs you FAR more!

PJ
Tucson, Arizona