A Plus Auto Shipping Or Apous Auto Shipping; Contracted Through Flofield Inc. (Advanced Logistics) Bait-and-switch, changed terms of contract without notice, car held "hostage" until paid additional $120, bogus $250 gas card offer... Nationwide

It cost us over 100% more ($570 more, to be exact) than we thought it would, to ship our car across the country.

Mid-March, 2009, we contracted to have my daughter's car shipped from Ohio to California. The contract with Flofield Incorporated (credit card bill shows charge paid to Advanced Logistics) at 16 North Water Street, #128, Greenwich, Connecticut, 06830, at (800) 5594-5931 or (800) 821-0334 was then subcontracted to a company named A Plus Auto (Apous Auto).

The orginal contract was for $695 and promised a gas card for $250. Flofield checked out, so we went with them. We paid $200 to Flofield as a downpayment with the balance due when the car was delivered.

The car was picked up. We were told that delivery time would be several days after the date that had been promised. We arranged for a rental car to cover the late delivery days. It cost us an additional $200 for the rental car.

A day or two later we called to verify what name needed to be on the cashier's check and were informed that we owed $120 in additional fuel charges. Feue prices during that time increased 1%, which would have been $69. However, there was NO language to this effect on the copy of the contract we had. The folks at A Plus (Dan) emailed a new contract with completely different numbers and terms.

They had our car. We had to pay what they said. The car was delivered the day after Easter, April 13, 2009. We handed over the cashier's check to the driver.

The gas card...? Another scam. Here's the deal. We have to select one gas company location, spend $100 on gas in one calendar month (1st-30th) then submit the reciepts by mail. Within 4-8 weeks we get $25 back. If we do that for 10 months, eventually, MAYBE, we get the $250... bit by bit. If we don't spend $100 for gas, no rebate that month. All reciepts have to be within a single month for each submission.

I do not want to drag out my disappointment or anger with this company.

Expected cost: $695 - $250 gas card rebate = $445
Actual cost: $815 + $200 car rental = $1,015

We learned our lesson. Maybe our story can save you from the same loss of time, money, and frustration.

Claire
Mentor on the Lake, Ohio
U.S.A.