Metro Van Lines, Inc. Held my belongings hostage forcing me to pay more money to ship them (2 hours after they picked them up); lied about the move - said an 18 wheeler would pick-up my belongings to move them Pembroke Pines, Florida

On April 24, 2012, Dov, of Metro Van Lines, Inc. (hereinafter "Metro"), came to my home for an in home estimate and quoted $1590 flat rate for my move.  I negotiated the price to $1500 with Amanda of his office as $90 was allegedly for additional packing material needed for my china cabinet. Dov agreed to waive the $90 for additional packing material needed for the china cabinet so that I would hire Metro for the move.  A few larger items were sold and a couple of boxes added between 4/24 and 5/17 (I measured all and still have dimensions to prove I did not add cubic feet, the quote was based on cubic feet).  During the in-home estimate, Dov stated that an 18 wheeler truck would be coming to pick-up my belongings on May 17, 2012.  I was under the impression that the movers would be from Metro Van Lines, Inc.

On May 17, 2012, two men in a box truck came to my home to get my belongings.  The box truck did not say Metro, so I asked one of the men if they worked for Metro and he advised me that Metro hired them for the pick-up.  This practice is that of a broker, not a full-service moving company that handles its own moves.  Metro's website and deceptive tactics with price and the move itself, which led me to sign a contract with with Metro, were false advertising.  If I had known hired movers (not employees of Metro) would be picking up my belongings in a box truck, which then had to be moved again to an 18 wheeler to be shipped to New Jersey, I NEVER would have signed a contract with Metro.  Additionally, Metro advertises itself as a team and a full-service moving company, not a company that contracts out to people whose credentials are
unknown to handle moving and handling everything I own and cherish.

The men hired to pick-up my belongings in Pompano Beach accidentally took a few large totes that did not belong on the truck.  They were in the very front of the truck, so I told the men I would ship them back to avoid unloading the truck to find them as I had to get on the road to New Jersey.  When the men finished loading their truck, I got in my car and started on my way to New Jersey.  About two hours into my drive I received a telephone call from Dov of Metro stating that he will not ship my move for the agreed $1500 as there was a large amount of cubic feet added.  I was shocked as he did the in-home estimate and I updated his assistant, Amanda, with all items removed and added prior to the May 17, 2012, move date.  I got him to lower the additional price he was insisting I pay to $200 to ship my items as I was already driving
to New Jersey and needed my belongings as soon as possible (I have two young children).  In my opinion this is considered a hostage load.  Dov agreed upon a flat rate price,  he waited until he had everything I own in his possession, then demanded more money or he would not ship my items.  The price inflation is unlawful, along with false advertising and selling me on services I was not provided (one truck moving my items by Metro movers).

I e-mailed Amanda and she advised me that she forwarded all communication to Dov, but would not give me an e-mail for him.  I asked for the $200 back or I would file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I did not receive a response.  I also advised her of the excessive damage I noted on many items (the only three pieces of furniture I shipped were broken, one cabinet was completely destroyed)!  I could not file the insurance claim at this time since I could not unpack everything due to renovations in my new home.  I just filed the insurance claim for excessive damage to my belongings shipped by Metro and/or movers hired by Metro.  I filed a complaint through the Better Business Bureau on July 10, 2012, and received confirmation via e-mail yesterday that Metro would not respond.

The Federal Trade Commission Division of Advertising Practices and the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) prohibits unfair or deceptive advertising.  An advertisement for a moving company that acts as a broker (see 49 CFR 371.2(a)) and does not provide the service promised (Metro employees picking-up my belongings on an 18 wheeler, one truck, to move them to New Jersey) is false advertising and misrepresentation as it has to state in Metro's advertising that it is a broker and (see 49 CFR  371.7).  Additionally, in interpreting Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Commission determined that a representation, omission or practice is deceptive if it is likely to mislead consumers or affect consumers decisions.  I would not have hired Metro if I knew they were contracting drivers/trucks to handle their moves (not employees) and also if I knew you were picking my belongings up on a box truck only to have move them again (at least once) to an 18 wheeler.  Additionally, demanding more money after we had an agreed upon flat rate, two hours after picking-up my belongings, then refusing to ship my items if I dont pay is unacceptable practice and bad business. 

I have excessive damage to my belongings, some so bad they had to be thrown away (pictures were taken).  My china cabinet (which Metro wanted to charge more money for the extra packing needed), my Drexel Heritage antique hall chest that was hand painted and handed down in my family, my kids new costume center that cost $250, my new washer/dryer set that was over $2000 that was wrapped only in a very thin plastic so both have damage, I had a wood cabinet where the doors broke off and the back was broken (that is now garbage), my daughters 9 cube organizer was broken and the screws were coming through the wood, a custom airplane shelf made for my son was broken, storage totes were smashed (as were boxes) due to heavier items put on top of them during the move), my sons bank given to him at his first birthday along with everything else in a box (framed artwork and a wood vase) were all smashed as was the box, our kids Dodge police car mirrors were broken off, and my two anti-gravity chairs were destroyed since the men who picked up the chairs used the bands to hold them together instead of using tape or a blanket.   Additionally, the men driving the truck delivering my belongings backed over lights lining part of the driveway.