We had a terrible experience with our move to Sacramento from Baltimore with Long Distance Relocation Services (LDRS). Stay away and find another mover! We did our due diligence researching moving companies, including reviews on My Moving Reviews, Yelp and Home Advisor; looking at the FTC ratings; and comparing mileage charges, packing charges, estimating inventory etc. We interviewed half a dozen companies, including one that did an on-site walk through (which we believe we should have selected as their estimate would have been closest to actual). On moving day with LDRS, they almost immediately required us to sign paperwork agreeing to a 50% increase in moving charges – thousands of dollars above the agreed upon price – placing us in a take-it-or-leave it situation: agree to the additional charges or have our carefully laid moving plans completely disrupted. Because I needed to travel across the country and start a new job, I essentially had no choice but to pay the thousands extra LDRS demanded. It was a sign of what was to come.
The move itself was quite chaotic and it was difficult to keep track of things. LDRS did not label the boxes or keep any kind of inventory about what was inside, so we were unable to review their work. We did find cupboards that were unpacked, and they hastily packed them up. What we did not realize is that they hid our rolled up Persian rugs in the basement rather than loading them on the truck. Obviously, this was done to save the weight, but these valuable possessions were left on the East Coast and, not only did we have no way to get them to California, LDRS refused to provide compensation for the loss.
But that is just part of our moving horror story with LDRS. We were disappointed but not surprised when LDRS told us the truck with our goods would not arrive until the very last day of the delivery window. We were extremely dismayed when we received only partial shipment on that date. Our contract provided for them to set up our two beds for us on arrival. However, there was no way to tell what was in any particular box nor what was on the first versus the missing shipment, so they did not set up our beds. Furthermore, we never received all the pieces to one of our beds. It was a quality piece of furniture and it arrived broken, and we never did receive the split box spring that was part of it, nor did LDRS take responsibility for the damage or the loss. (How does a professional mover “lose†a box spring?) Assurances that they “searched the warehouse” and missing items “should be on the next truck†proved false. We set up our own beds after securing a piece of plywood for the broken bed – at our own expense, of course.
If only that were the end of the problems. LDRS seemed to have selected what they wanted to steal from among our possessions, for example, our brand new printer/scanner for our home-based business; brand new iPod speaker and headphones; art, another rug, and more. Many items were broken and damaged. I even gashed my hand on broken glass while reaching in to unpack a box.
The worst was not over. LDRS specializes in the most antagonistic, rude, stonewalling, frustrating “customer service†experience ever. Paula in particular seems to pride herself in being the most unyielding, unreasonable, unfeeling gatekeeper in this world. It was never about seeking a fair and honest resolution for LDRS, but rather about finding a way to “just say no.†This went on for nearly a year, and if we had the time and money, we would have hired a lawyer to take them on, but with just moving and starting a new job who has the financial and energy resources to do this? Their business model relies on the fact that eventually, after months of back-and-forth, the consumer is worn down and will settle for another paltry LDRS take-it-or-leave-it deal as we did, after all our efforts to document and negotiate hit the continual LDRS brick wall. It was stressful to the point of tears, dishonest and grossly unfair.
LDRS will “disappear†your belongings without taking any responsibility for your loss. They will not take care of you or your possessions, and whatever they break, damage or steal, you will fight long and hard to get pennies to the pound. Also, beware that if you submit a claim and subsequently discover another loss, they will refuse to allow you to add it even though they have not yet paid or even approved the claim, and although it is not written on any of the paperwork nor orally communicated at any point that this is their hard-and-fast rule.
Moving is difficult enough. Do not do this to yourself – go with a reputable company that specializes in moving households, and has a long, positive track record of standing by their work. Neither of those things describe LDRS. They are HORRIBLE.
1/5
June 2, 2018 12:00 am