Allegiance Moving and Storage LLC

I got a whole bunch of different estimates from different companies and allegiance wasn’t the least expensive but they were the one company who offered to send somebody out to look at my items for the estimate. Man am I glad I chose them. The guys that came out worked hard enough to make me want to hire them again for other moves. You hear all these horror stories about moving experiences and I’m glad that I was lucky enough to choose a company that didn’t let those things happen to me.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4300

This job was farmed out to BlackBear Moving and Storage

Problem #1   They showed up 2.5 hrs after the scheduled window and after the FLorida Allegiance office was closed.  When they were45 minutes late I called and was told that they would contact the driver and have him call me.  It was an hour before I got a call back and was told it would be another 45 minutes.

Problem #2  The workers were not all wearing their face masks.  I had to complain twice to solve this problem.

Big problem #3.  I was told that because the desk was larger than expected, the total would about $1000 more - over $3000 total instead of just over $2000.  I told your estimator that it was an executive desk.  I even offered to give exact measurements of all the items but was told it wasn't necessary.  I was also told that I had an extra 50 cu ft at the price level quoted if I wanted to add something. But somehow the desk was so large that the estimate was off   well over 200 cu ft. I was forced to eliminate the twin bed and two night stand to get the price down to something I could afford as only cash was accepted.  It was still $220 more than originally estimated according to Leo of Black Bear.

After I went home I looked up all the measurements and added up them up. I have pictures with the dimensions on postit notes. The original items were under the original estimate of 286. I got 223 cu ft. Without out three items eliminated the cu ft was 167. I shouldn't get charged for more than 167 cu ft.

I expect someone from there to give me a call back with a satisfactory resolution to this problem.  I have been unable to reach "customer service" by phone.

Small problems #4 and 5.  They left empty tape rolls, wads of tape, and pieces of cardboard inside and outside the house.They wrapped the metal frame to the bed even though we had eliminated the bed.

I am also trying to get some decision from Black Bear Moving and Storage, but Alex in customer Service was not very encouraging.

Sincerely,

William Scott.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $2383

I cannot get a hold of them to file the claim because the phone lines are down.

Many broken pieces of furniture.

At least 2 boxes are missing, including half my wardrobe and an entire kitchen box.

Boxes were packed loose including glass items, literally just thrown into a box.

None of the boxes were properly marked. We had no idea what room they even belonged in.

The inventory was not marked properly with listings like, "small box" on the inventory paper work.

Items like plungers and toilet scrubbers packed with clothes.

Packers were 3 hours late, a man down, and packed from 10am-1am the next day. They charged us an extra 2k due to cubic footage.. then another 225 to move a gun safe to the basement.

Delivery was horrible. The deliverer showed up with a bill and pointed to where my husband signed saying payment on delivery. Then sat around for 30 mins. Because of the language barrier, I had no idea what he was talking about. After everyone waited around, we asked what was up and he clarified, we have to pay the 2nd half on delivery BEFORE they unpack. This is troubling because the company charges an extra $175 an hour if there is a delay in delivery..

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7000

Allegiance Moving and Storage is a horrible company. I wish I could leave negative stars. I booked Black Bear Moving and Storage through Allegiance Moving and Storage.This a broker, keeping companies like Black Bear Moving and Storage in business. Allegiance and such brokers (all in Florida, it seems) are required by the FMCSA to publish lists of movers that they work with - but if you go to that page, it requires a password to log in. So we didn't know it was Black Bear Moving and Storage until the day before our move.

Alex M and Victor Diaz manned the phone lines for Black Bear and Ashley from Allegiance chimed in to haggle with us. Sam, the driver and agent who never signed his name on the bill of lading, did the work of telling us that our cubic feet, and thus our price, was twice what Allegiance had quoted us with a BINDING ESTIMATE. The whole purpose of a binding estimate is that it doesn't change.

Here's their approach: Allegiance gives the customer an online quote that is seriously under what it would cost. You can look online for approximate cubic feet for a two bedroom, studio, etc.. once they have worn you down over the price - the smarter people walk away and have time to get another company or a pod, but if you need to leave by a specific date, you are not going to be able to drop a move.

Then, exhausted from haggling, it's shockingly easy to just sign where "Sam" says. Always go for full insurance. Always.

Once our things were loaded, we were told 8-14 days. Allegiance had said 5-7. The contract says 30 business days. It also says that by signing the original contract with Allegiance that the customer waived the right to an on-site inventory, which, by law, the local moving company is required to do if registered with the FMCSA, which both companies are.

Up until now, this was on me - rushed and not realizing I was getting scammed. But when we needed our things and I realized that I messed up - it does say 30 business days, I realized that I needed to get a uhaul and get our work materials to our new home to be able to do our jobs.

I didn't initially ask for money back. I just wanted to know where my belongings were and pick them up. That was it. I called to cancel. Black Bear was initially fine with that, it seemed, but then Víctor told me that I had a balance. That wasn't true because I had paid 70% of the overall cost and by law, they were required to relinquish my things.

Then it got really fishy. I got an email from

Janet Spencer at Black Bear telling me that my things were safe in Washington and would be one their way to me in Texas. I moved from California. Why is my stuff in Washington? And I'm not moving to Texas.

Then, Allegiance called. Tried to convince me that my things would be to me faster than I could come and get them. But I had a uhaul and upack trailer booked already. And I was now very worried that my things were already trashed or missing, as other reviews of Black Bear chillingly attest.

Black Bear was not getting back to me about the cancellation form or where my things were. I was told that "we are working on it" when I called. It's a standard form. Why was it taking so long?

At the end of the day on Friday, August 14, 2020. Alex M (smart that he doesn't leave his last name, if that is his name at all..) sent a cancellation form that had no company name on it, no MC or DOT number on it. Since I had put it in writing and argued with Allegiance about the 70% payment and law to relinquish my things, they had to acknowledge it. But, here's the kicker: by signing I have up my rights to file any complaints with federal, state or local agencies, I was not to report the existence of this cancellation form or report to credit card companies or consumer reviews.

Well, I went from "I messed up and didn't read the contract right on the 30 business days" to "I'm being scammed." Black Bear pays people to write good reviews, so a quick search won't give you the full picture. I fell for it. Now I've filed with the FMCSA, the CA department of justice for consumer protection and the CA bureau for the protection of household goods.

I will also be taking legal action. I'm hoping that my lawyer will be able to connect with all the other people who are also seeking damages from Black Bear Moving and Storage and Allegiance Moving and Storage (also, try googling their locations..) it's like these companies don't really exist.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5446

I called and requested a quote about a week ago. I gave them an alternate ph# to be used for the DRIVER and the DRIVER ONLY as John Capalla insisted. Customer service was great when I originally called, but when I called back to book I found out their cancelation policy was CRAP and decided not to go with them. Glad I didnt. check out their rating on BBB and reviews here on moving.com yourself. Since I never called back to actually book, I received 3 phone calls in a row from john while I was on a work call. Since I didn't know the number, I let the first call go to voicemail, on the second call a voicemail was left and on the 3rd call I became concerned this was an emergency so I answered to find out it was allegiance. Irritated that I had to end a work presentation out of fear this was an emergency, I told john that I had to hang up with him as this was not an emergency as I had assumed. I then text my boyfriend to explain how annoyed I was at this situation. When he text back, he said that Allegiance did the SAME thing to him and he was also in a work meeting. I called John back to ask why he called my boyfriend 3 times in a row and he said "I believe I called the alternate before I called you but it doesn't matter because I wont ever call you or bother you again". This is ENTIRELY unprofessional. I never expected moving companies to be "professional" but this is absolutely absurd. I am so glad I chose a different option to move my home and didn't waste a dime at allegiance.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2100

I moved from IL to TX. Allegiance set me up with Arena Van Line out of NJ. I found the initial communication with Allegiance helpful. It deteriorated quickly. The movers with Arena were delayed a day. I was told they would arrive between 1-3 the next day. They arrived at 5 pm and wanted to work until midnight. I said that was not appropriate. They left at 8:30 pm with the understanding they would be back at 9 am. They did not arrive until 11 am.

This was just the beginning of the problems. I was told there was too many boxes than what was estimated. My first estimate of my boxes was low and the cost was $3000. I realized I was low and called them and said so. I was told it would be taken care of when the quality assurance guy called. He called back and the estimate was raised to $7000. I thought that was more like it and reasonable. When they left, my cost had risen to $13,000! When I emailed to find out why it was so much, I was told most of my boxes were large rather than medium and there were other items not accounted for in the garage that took up a lot of extra cubic feet of space. The size of the boxes was never discussed in the phone call. Nor was there ever an offer to have an onsite visit for the estimate even though when I got the contract it said I had foregone it. I also find it hard to believe about the garage as I said I had 3 bundles of long handled tools. When the estimate came it said I had one so I called and asked. The representative said that it was counted as tools and one. So I do not think it was my lack of telling them what I had.

Then I find out the delivery will be delayed because Arena doesn't have a driver. Allegiance contracted with Arena and now I find out Arena contracts with drivers. Arena does not have a fleet, it has one truck. They have no way of moving my items. When I called Allegiance to see if we could negotiate the price since this must have been a known fact, they said no. The movers have 30 days even though the original estimate was 3-7. It seems the 30 days is for anything, not only unforeseen delays such as a storm or breakdown. I was not told about the lack of drivers until after I called to find out when my delivery was going to happen. I cannot recommend them or Arena Van Lines for long distance moving.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $13000

It could save you some heartache. This is a scam, they lie to you to get their cut and then offer literally no service. They are not true brokers as they can't even get a hold of the moving companies they hire after they lock you in. Also I can add misrepresentation of delivery time, we are having to wait literally a month to get our belongings after they were picked up when we were told 10 days max. Last thing, most of these 5 star reviews are fake. Ive kept up with them over the course of this last month and most if not all are fake and added to try to counteract the true ones. This company needs their DOT number pulled and charged with fraud at this point.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $6000

I found a house after much looking around. I had to literally move in within 3 days because it was approaching the end of month. I knew this move was going to be horrendous. But Allegiance moving and storage made my moving experience very pleasant. They are not your average moving company that is made up of inexperienced yet strong looking men. Their movers were very professional and knew exactly how to do their job. They were done packing and loading everything from my apartment in just a few hours. The delivery was made on time and there were no damages. Thank god for these guys. Otherwise, I don’t know how this move was going to go!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5283