Star Van Lines BAIT AND SWITCH, UNETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES,HOLDING YOUR GOODS HOSTAGE Encino California

Star Van Lines gave me a very low estimate online for moving my 2 bedroom apartment from las Vegas to Lake Ariel, PA.Sandy told me that they do not broker out or subcontract the job, which they did.

They did not send an actual bill, only an estmate of $1780. The movers came with no tools to disassemble furniture. I had to run to neighbors' houses to borrow tools.Lisa called and told me weight was over by 700lbs. Bill goes up to $2462.

Sent no official DOT record of weight. Did not weigh at pick up.Movers said must pay 50% of bill at pick up.They wanted cash. Nowhere was this stated in email from Star or verbally by Sandy. Of course, I am freaking out!

Also, I was not informed that if I payed bill in full before delivery(which I did) with a credit card, that I would be charged 5% of total bill to pay with the credit card.In fact, Sandy said that you pay balance at time of delivery and that using a credit card was fine. All I had to do was call the 800 # and they would charge the card. No mention of 5% charge either written or verbal.

We also informed Lisa Tamir, the manager, that an 18-wheeler is prohibitedon the roads of our new residence. She says "No problem." She assured us that a smaller truck would be dispatched. Well, the driver called me and said he was driving an 18-wheeler. Called Lisa and she claimed never to have told us that a smaller truckwas coming and that we would have to pay an additional $700. to get it to our house. We have no money left at this point so we say no!

Now truck is supposed to meet us at a parking lot where our things will be put into trucks supplied by us. Lisa said there would still be an additional charge of $70/hr that has to be paid to driver for him to move our things onto our trucks. Whaaaat!? Wasn't he supposed to be moving our stuff anyway? Why this charge? Again we say NO!!

At this point, we find out from our association that the driver may come up to the house because it had been so cold, the roads were frozen solid and could withstand the truck's weight.

My father-in-law and uncle both had to drive all the way from Altoona, PA which is a 3 hr drive to help me unload this truck because the driver, Rafi, did not bring even ONE person to help him. They also had to take a day off from thei jobs!

When we had unloaded everything, Rafi asked me to sign some papers. I said what about putting all my furniture back together which included 2 bedroom sets and a writer's desk. The estimate states this is included. He says he can't because he has no tools!! Plus, some of my things were damaged.

I have filed several complaints with DOT, LA BBB, the FBI in Miami (where they operated under a different name) and Philadelphia FBI, as well as FCMSA, AMSA, movingscam.com and now you guys!

I let them know what I'm doing (by email) and some guy named Al called my boyfriend and said he's sorry and to send him a list of the things we have a problem with and a he'd send us a check.

So that's what I'm doing right now--making my list.

Helene
Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.