Alliance Moving & Storage LLC

Low Ball Estimates – Be Very Careful!

Alliance will have a helpful representative give you a quote. They will ask about your inventory list. Together, we went through the items in our 3-bedroom home. I estimated 75 boxes, which I was told that is high for a normal move. But I insisted on keeping the count 75. We were quoted $5,700 for 1090 cubic feet. Cubic feet mean nothing to me, but I felt confident in the estimate based on the detailed process. Once you agree on the quote they want you to write a check and scan it to their payment portal right away. When I asked about using a credit card, they pressed for a checked payment. We paid a deposit of $2,500.

A few days before your pick-up you will be asked to update your inventory. I did not get the revised estimate until late Friday for a weekend move. Almost a $3k increase! I was shocked. I told Alliance to stick with the original price and space estimate.

We were told that a truck would be here Saturday or Sunday (5/29 or 5/30). By Friday, May 28th, I received texts that the driver would be here Saturday. I also called Alliance for updates and was told schedules are made late in the day. On Saturday, I received a text message that the drivers were “stuck” in Illinois, and they could come late Saturday or early Sunday between 11am or 12pm. One text even included a map showing my truck in the Chicago area. Sunday morning I receive a text that the drivers were “357 miles away,” which is further away than Chicago. In hindsight, these updates were likely complete fabrications.

A truck arrived Sunday evening at 6:30pm. Not an Alliance truck, but an empty 24-foot U-Haul driven by two men in street clothes. Only then did we know that Alliance is a just a broker and hires out your quote to who-knows-what. These guys then said I had more than my quoted space. Fair enough I was expecting that. But the driver said we get only half of the 24 ft truck! We got on the phone with Alliance. Tony at Alliance insisted that we should load the truck with all our things and then we would just have to pay them whatever they demand for the additional cubic feet. When I asked why they couldn’t load up the truck to the extent I paid for, Tony said it doesn’t work like that. Only after an extended argument and several calls did Tony agree that they could load the truck to 1090 cubic feet. (1090 cubit feet is much more than half of a 24 foot truck.) But now we are left wondering if Tony at Alliance has any control of the two non-uniformed men who showed up and told me that I had only bought half of a U-haul truck. Plus, half a U-haul truck is not going to contain even my essential items. I decided to cut ties when I calculated that I could rent my own larger U-haul and get far more space for thousands less, even when compared only to Alliance’s remaining fee after the deposit.

Soon after, I received a phone call and several text messages from, I guess, the boss of the two guys who showed up. The last text stated I could have the whole truck for an additional $1500 (presumably additional to the $5700)…. “a great deal.” But who would rent a 24ft U-haul for $7200?

Other red flags: When we were ready to cut ties, Alliance said it would be hard to find a truck. I had at this point reserved my own U-Haul without issue. I also cannot say what would have happened if we decided to let the two random guys take our load for the additional fee. If the deal is brokered out, but separate agreements can be made with 2 guys, how do I know what the price is? Or who is in control?

To sum up, Alliance will take advantage of the consumer’s inability to convert furniture and possessions into cubic feet. They will make the potential buyer think the initial lowball estimate is genuinely in the ballpark of the final price. Then they will wait until the last moment to put you in a pressure situation that will force you to agree to a radical increase in price. Finally, you will not get professional uniformed movers in a real moving truck. You will get two random people showing up very late in a truck you can rent yourself for thousands less. This was a scam and would like to warn other consumers to stay away from Alliance. Nice sounding people give you a good quote and then closer to your move date the shady stuff starts going down. DO NOT USE ALLIANCE!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $8200

It’s been 43 days, $3k shelled out, and I STILL don’t have my stuff. They dodge calls and emails. The 5 star reviews here are most definitely fake haha. My original quote was $3100, they are charging me an extra $1800 and I took large pieces of furniture OFF that were included in the estimate. Fraudulent thieves. AVOID AVOID AVOID! I’m taking them to arbitration for a delay claim, I’ll keep y’all posted. Learned my lesson for not doing the research as the army has always moved me. HORRIBLE experience!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5000

The service representative I spoke with on the phone was extremely helpful and understanding of my situation (I had just been abandoned by another moving company). They assured me that I would be able to move in my short time frame. The day of pick-up, no one contacted me to let me know that my carrier was not able to make the pick up due to covid exposure. I called their 24-hour line four times before someone was able to contact me back. I received the call letting me know that I would need a different carrier an hour after my pick up window had passed. I still have not yet had my pick up date rescheduled.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5652

Contacted to have 1 room's worth of furniture moved across the country. Was quoted more than I was expecting, but was told to "move quickly" to lock in our move date.

Radio silence after making payment. Day before scheduled move, called in to try and get a time estimate. Was told that I was "on the books for Wednesday" - our scheduled date was supposed to be Sunday or Monday at the latest.

Locked in a new date of Saturday (soonest I could be available again). Called Saturday morning and was told "We called the owner, we've got you on for Sunday."

What?

Threatened to cancel and was told they were 100% sure they would be here Sunday to move our furniture.

It's Sunday and I called in this afternoon to confirm timing "Okay, looks like the best we can do is Tuesday".

Seriously?!!?!

How is it that I have to constantly call in to be given a new date? I've spent 4 full days at home with a clear schedule waiting.

When I expressed my frustration, I was told "You people in California are moving like fleas. So we can't even find trucks."

Why wouldn't you communicate that ahead of time? Why would you make 4 broken promises?

And apparently, my deposit would not be refunded if I canceled. Well...what a sham. Do not trust these guys - especially if you work for a living and need to move things around to accommodate them.

Move size: Studio Service cost: $3800

REMEMBER THEY ARE A BROKER ONLY WHO WILL STEAL, LIE AND CHEAT FOR GREED ONLY. They hired a moving company out of Dallas called " US BEST MOVERS" I'm thinking criminal mob owned in deals with each other...by what's happening to a lot of people in the last 3 months...

i posted this review just now on US Best Movers website:

As of JULY 20:

THEY PICKED UP MY STUFF ON JUNE 22ND, they still don't know when I will get my stuff. It's been in a hot trailer in a hot parking lot in Dallas for 30 days now. 1 bedroom move no appliances, for 4200.00.....gone thru and stolen by now...we have no say or rights, they have a license to steal and break....WHAT DO WE DO??? WOULD YOU pay and sign contract for a 30 plus day delivery in summer. I'm so scared I won't see any of my life's belongings ever again...FBI needs to investigate.

So I copied Kim Lewis s review, close to mine but at least she got partial...

Kim Lewis:

Can I give negative stars? Everything about this company is shady. Let's start with we did not hire them, a broker did (that's another issue). We paid the broker in full for the move. Apparently the broker did not properly estimate the move, budget, space, time, any of it. US Movers refused to move our brand new washer and dryer staying they didn't have space on the truck. These items were on the original quote. US movers is demanding we pay almost $1200 more than we were quoted (remember them refusing to pick up our washer/dryer?) and refusing to deliver our furniture until we pay them directly. Our contract is not with US. Customer service only calls after business hours so conveniently we can never speak with management. They do not answer their phones when we try to call back. When we ask where our belongings are we are told they don't know. Same answer for delivery time. So here we are without our belongings, no time for when they'll be delivered, out thousands of dollars, out new appliances (approx $2000). It's all very shady.

Photos added after PARTIAL delivery. At this point (I'm still unpacking) I'm missing 3 boxes and a 60" TV. The company's response to the undelivered items was "fill out a damage report and send pictures." How am I supposed to send pictures of something I don't have? Now I'm unpacking and everything is shattered. I think I have one piece of my mother's crystal left.

Services: Out-of-state move, Packing / unpacking

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4200

If I could give this company negative stars I would. Do not trust the positive reviews on here. My experience has been exactly that of all the other negative reviews.

On May 12, 2021 I hired Alliance Moving & Storage to move my son and I from IL to FL. I worked with Chloe and Roger. They were incredibly professional and kind hence what sold me. Do not trust anyone you speak with upfront!!!! I told them I needed to ensure we were moved in by July 31st so my son could start school on time. Because of that Chloe set a move date of July 22nd as she said transit could take 5-7 days. Roger told me my move would cost $4500 and that I would be ‘locked in’ at this rate. I asked several times if it would go up if I had more stuff since the inventory was an ‘estimate’ per my discussion with Chloe. He told me ‘No, you will not pay more than $4500.’ I paid a $2,650 deposit.

On July 20, 2021 I spoke with some new guy, Conor, and and was told my move would be double.

On July 21, 2021 - I received a call from Jasmine at The Moving Depot who told me my movers would be arriving on July 22nd and that it would take up to 21 days for our items to be delivered. I was very confused as this was the first time I ever heard of this company. I tried calling Chloe and Roger and neither answered. In fact, Roger’s phone started forwarding me to customer service where they told me that ‘Chloe and Roger no longer have access to your file and cannot assist you’. It was at this point that Ann Marie with Alliance explained to me that they were a broker and sold my job to The Moving Depot and that The Moving Depot has a small truck pick up our stuff, bring it back to the warehouse where it is crated and stored until there is a truck going to Florida.

July 22, 2021 - The moving depot arrived and told me I had more stuff than agreed to and again that I needed to pay more, including for a piano which was in both of my prior estimates with Alliance..

It is now August 19, 2021 and our belongings have still not arrived. Each time I call Moving Depot they say the exact same thing: ‘A driver has not been assigned to your load, but as soon as one is we’ll email you.’ Whenever I try to get more info, or any gauge as to when this would happen they literally refused to answer me. I tried calling Alliance’s customer service, as well as left both Chloe and Roger at Alliance voicemails. That was on August 13th and I have yet to hear back.

I now have had to hire an attorney, don't have any of our furniture or 'things' and am out nearly $5,000. Whatever you do, do not trust or use this company. I had no idea there are actually people and businesses like this out there. In hindsight, I should have sold most everything and just rented a little uhaul and brought everything down myself...

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $6000

Richard Anderson and Jonathan Steel, took an electronic check for $8,500 to do our move. In one hr, we found out about their reputation, work ethics . We canceled our entire order in less than an hr( based on their own policy, you have 24 hrs to cancel your order and get full refund). As off today, 7 months later, no money has been refunded even though their own employee left a voice message that a full refund has been mailed to us”.

I’ve never got a dollar without working hard for it. these people are stealing money from a woman with 3 kids moving single handed, from a 70 yo widow and it goes on and on. These people have no shame or conscious and no back bone. There are several active lawsuits against them including one from their own sister company in Chicago. The alliance moving and storage company in Chicago is suing the Deerfield branch for defamation. Their employees have lost their job because no one give them any business due to

the bad name and reputation created by the Deerfield branch with Richard Anderson being the GM and leader of the company. Jonathan steel, just to make an excuse to avoid answering our questions about giving us our refund, make false story and told us that he has to go and can’t talk since his daughter was dying of illness?? No shame.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $23000

1st you should know this is a BROKER they do not own an actual moving truck so beware! They contracted my move out to another company after I paid my deposit. They quoted me $6800. I never got a call from them, ever! I had to keep calling to find out when movers would show, time etc. I had to get a manager involved in the end b/c no one was responding to my messages etc. When the "actual" moving company showed up the price was more than DOUBLE what they had quote me. And of course I had no choice to pay b/c I had to be out of the home the day they showed up. The customer service was horrible and I feel like I was bait and switched with the cost. Your best bet is to go direct with an actual moving company!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $14500