America First Moving

***RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY***

America First Movers took 44 business days (65 calendar days) from our first available delivery date for them to deliver our belongings from WA to AZ. Below you will find the facts along with my thoughts following. Suffice it to say, this is NOT a trustworthy company as we were literally lied to multiple times through the process and NO ONE should use this company for their moving needs. The company wouldn’t even bother to fairly compensate me for the extreme trauma they put me and my family through. I’m a believer that things can always be made right, but after several months, it is clear that this company has no desire to make things right, they just want to get your non-refundable deposit, get you stuck with them, and screw you over however they can. I can confidently say that any 5-star review for this company is completely fake.

Here are the facts:

- Belongings picked up on 6/5/23 with a first available delivery date of 6/16/23.

- They said they legally have 30 business until they compensate us in an amount of $15 - $30 per day beyond the first available delivery date. 30 business days following 6/16 would be 7/31, accounting for 7/4 as a non-business day.

- We did not receive our belongings until 8/20/23 - 44 business days/65 calendar days from 6/16/23

- Several items arrived beyond repair or did not arrive at all

- The company they use to compensate for loss/damages offered me $74.00 for the loss/damage incurred (for reference, there was thousands of dollars worth of loss/damage done to our belongings)

Every time I was on the phone with them, I was always told essentially the same thing - that my case was being worked on - always kicking the can down the road. On Friday, July 21st, 2023 (5 weeks from first delivery date), I was told “they are loading the truck and traveling this weekend” - finally some relief! Little did I know that they were simply kicking the can down the road once again. I call Monday, July 24th, 2023 because I had not received a call that the moving truck had left yet and wouldn’t you believe it? I’m told that the moving company is “working on a plan” - so now not only was the can is kicked down the road once again, I was literally lied to. The week of July 24th thru July 28th I was told several more times that the truck was going to be loaded and on its way that week. However, I did not receive my belongs that week, so lied to a SECOND time. I called on Monday, July, 31st and was told that the truck was on its way - great! I called at about 11am on Tuesday, August 1st confirming that the truck was still on its way and I was told that the truck had not been loaded - so I was lied to a THIRD time.

Additionally, my original “binding estimate” (which is apparently in no way at all binding) increased by THOUSANDS of dollars - somewhere in the vicinity of a 75% increase, even though I did not increase the cubic footage by 75%, or even close to that. When my items were picked up, the four men were nice enough, although they did DROP my washing machine upon moving it from the laundry room to the truck, I literally watched water leak out of it, and they said “oh it’s no big deal, it’s just excess water in the line.” Luckily it actually works. When I went to sign the litany of documents, you’re pretty much stuck - they know you have no other choice other than to sign the documents and they can play with the cost however they see fit - very shady (and, my all-in cost ended up increasing by thousands - by roughly $4,800, from $7,750 to $12,550) - and I genuinely felt like I was signing under duress because, well, I needed my stuff moved and didn’t have any other option at that point as the sale of our house was closing the next day.

Upon delivery to our new house in AZ, once belongings were delivered, it looked as if they had just thrown everything into the truck - our items were not treated well. Once everything was delivered into our house, I noticed only 2 of the 3 pieces of our 3-piece sectional was in our house. I had to physically go into the truck and noticed that one piece to our sectional was strapped in with SOMEONE ELSE’S load. Had I not gone into the truck to make sure we got everything and happened to notice that it was with someone else’s load, we would have only had 2 of the 3 pieces of our couch. Moreover, our sectional has tears that are beyond repair.

This is not a trustworthy company. Frankly they shouldn’t even be in business. I’m glad we actually ended up just getting our stuff, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there have been several families who have been scammed out of their belongings and taken advantage of. This is the WORST moving experience I have ever experienced. If you’ve already paid a deposit to this company, take the loss and go find another company, pay a little more in the long run, who will treat your stuff the same way they would want their stuff treated.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $12550

I am not surprised to see other negative reviews on this company and I'm not going to stop until they're held accountable. There are too many accounts online accusing them of wrongdoing. I originally paid them. They sent out a scam company to collect my things. The scam company -Barahones Moving had all kind of strikes and flags against them. Visa did not allow the payment to go through. There was also a third company - Firstline Moving. To make a long story short. I was told they'd accept a credit card. The companies they hired to move my things were not capable of accepting credit cards. I should have been told this upfront.

They presented faulty balled up paperwork(see PDF) collected my things from my home and left! I then received frantic calls from Visa about fraudulent charges on my card. It was the company America's First Moving hired to move my things. The Actual company -America's First basically was done once the paperwork was filled out but I decided since they'd lied to me and had my things stolen, I stopped payment on them. Actually Visa did. I had new cards issued. They'll come on here and say I committed "fraud" or whatever. That's a lie. They hire fraudulent companies to move people. What'd I look like sending payment to a company that has been deemed a scammer. You can look upUGCcontent on Google, Tik Tok and basically any other platform. This is NOT a reliable company. Igf you want your job contracted out to scammers, go right ahead but be warned. It's not a reliable business.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2437

The worst company! Please save yourself extreme frustration and disappointment and choose any other company. After increasing the cost several times and signing a contract that said our things would be delivered in 5-15 business days with a maximum of 30. We received our things OVER 60 days later. Not only did they string us along week after week, they give us the same generic responses they reply to everyone one of their negative complaints with. We ended paying everything because we were so desperate for our things. My 94 year old grandmother slept on an air mattress for two months. Once again please just pick another company, it’s the only resolution I can have to know that other people are not taken advantage of and treated the way we were.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $13000

They ruined my move from California to Texas. Original quote est. 1700 final invoice 2700 est all additional fees I was not informed about.

All damages faced:

1.) lost my screws to the bed they broke down so they could not reassemble it completely.

2.) lost two rugs 10x16 and 6x9

3.) broke my full length mirror. I paid additional fees for mirror boxes yet the boxes were square that they put into a makeshift card board front and tied two mirrors together. Obviously one broke!

4.) broke my ottoman- the heal

5.) cracked my end table granite top and tried to hot glue it back together.

When the movers came to my home, I felt I was being scammed. Their priority was to inform me of all the additional costs, then with delinquency, dismissive and a careless attitude miss packed all my large furniture items. I have faced an est. of 600.00 damages. The company does not cover damages, so it looks like I will not get any retribution.

Please save yourself the heartache! Do not use them!

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2800

Moving from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale was made completely stress-free thanks to this amazing company. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly organized and efficient, ensuring every item was packed securely and with great care. They went above and beyond to handle fragile items, wrapping them meticulously. What truly stood out, though, was their friendly attitude. The movers were not just professionals; they made the whole experience enjoyable, bringing a sense of calm and humor to what could have been a hectic day. It felt like having a trusted friend help with the move. I couldn't have asked for a better experience!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1500

I recently made the big move from Jacksonville to Sarasota, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the team that helped me through the entire process. From the very beginning, they were incredibly professional and attentive, answering all of my questions and making sure I felt comfortable every step of the way. They took the time to explain the details of the move, provided clear timelines, and were always available to address any concerns I had. Throughout the entire moving process, they kept me updated on the status, so I never felt out of the loop. What really stood out was how careful they were with my belongings—every item was packed with care, and when it arrived in Sarasota, not a single thing was damaged. It was such a smooth and stress-free experience, and I’m so grateful for their excellent service!

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2100

The movers were absolutely fantastic, making my transition from Tampa to Naples smooth and effortless. From the start, their efficiency and professionalism were evident. They arrived on time, carefully assessed everything that needed to be moved, and worked together seamlessly to ensure that each item was packed and loaded with care. Throughout the entire process, they remained polite, courteous, and incredibly attentive to my needs, which made the experience stress-free. I was amazed by how quickly they worked without sacrificing the safety or security of my belongings. Not only did they complete the move ahead of schedule, but everything arrived in perfect condition. It’s clear that this team is highly skilled and truly values their customers. I couldn’t have asked for a better moving experience!

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $950

My experience with America First Moving proved to be a stressful, costly, and infuriating fiasco.

On July 3, I was contacted by a representative from America First Moving, a moving broker based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, in response to my online bid for movers to transport the contents of my one-bedroom apartment from New York City to Lake Worth, Florida. I advised the representative (Kassandra) that my move included personal items packaged in shipping containers, and did not include any furniture other than a small wooden chest. Kassandra quoted a cost of $1855.01. I immediately paid $661.91 by credit card, and was advised by America First to pay the remaining $1193.10 to the mover in cash. Pickup was scheduled for August 8. I signed the contract, which provided for a move of up to 300 cubic feet of items.

On August 7, an America First representative named Eric contacted me to conduct a verbal 'walk through' of my items. Prior to the call, I dutifully measured all of the containers, and advised Eric the contents measured 240 cubic feet, well below the 300 cubic feet provided for in the contract. Despite this, Eric demanded that I pay another $595.71 on my credit card - even though he couldn't observe the items - disingenuously claiming that since some of the items were not perfectly square, that there would be 'dead space' in the moving van, requiring the extra fee. I reluctantly submitted to this extortion, because the move was scheduled for the next day.

On August 8, the movers arrived hours after the agreed-upon time. My heart sank when I looked out of my apartment and saw a rental truck: only at that point did I realize that America First aren't movers, but are instead moving brokers, sub-contracting the move to others. Had the above reps from America First had the integrity to tell me this, I would not have patronized America First. When Sam (the driver) arrived into my apartment, he took one cursory glance at the items, and within seconds - and without any explanation - demanded a further $620.00 in cash, in addition to my paying the existing charge of $1193.10. I was forced to submit a second time to America First's extortion.

On August 9, I reached out to an America First representative named Danielle to complain about being charged the extra $595.71 and $620.00. She advised she would escalate the matter to management, but I never heard back from anyone at America First.

My items arrived into Lake Worth on August 24 on a large tractor-trailer laden with the contents from other people's moves. The driver (Ahmed) was alone, and thus forced to move the items himself. Ahmed called me the next day advising that he had mistakenly not delivered four of my boxes. I received them on August 26.

On August 28, I conducted an exhaustive inventory of the delivered items and discovered that one of my containers was missing. I immediately reached out to Kassandra, Ahmed, and America First's dispatch, but received no response or resolution to my being overcharged, or to my request for a search of my missing container, which was clearly marked with my address and identified as 'box 46'. Given that my items were placed in a large tractor trailer with no obvious separation from other people's belongings, I'm not surprised one of my containers went missing.

I successfully disputed the August 7 charge of $595.71 with my credit card issuer, and will be filing a complaint with the FMCSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. I would like America First to refund the $620 wrongly charged by the driver. I would also like America First to make an effort to locate my missing container or to compensate me for the contents therein.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3000

America First Moving Services has nonexistent professionalism or reliability. Beware of unexpected price increases after they load your belongings onto the truck. Additionally, they and their subsidiaries (AMB Moving and Storage Inc. and Sorto Express Transportation Inc.) will hold your belongings hostage, with little to no support from anyone in resolving these issues. Only "give us what we want, how we want it."

The company outsources its moves to third-party contractors, who in turn hire day laborers from in front of Home Depot, making it difficult to track shipments or hold anyone accountable. I’ve been waiting months for my belongings; I’m being pressured into paying additional fees before they’ll deliver my belongings. This is a scam company; they will lie and agree to any request to get your business, then bait and switch and provide nothing promised in the contract or via phone. I never authorized them to place my belongings in storage; they’re holding my items hostage and charging me storage fees for it.

They took what they wanted out of my storage and left the rest, saying the whole truck wasn’t allocated to me. I’m still paying for a $500-a-month storage unit and have to hire another moving company and fly back to Las Vegas. They tried to overcharge me at pickup after my belongings had been loaded onto the truck. They forged a document; this is identity theft.

Forget about those professional movers they raved about; they hire day laborers from in front of Home Depot. There are no professional movers. Only God knows who they have handling your belongings and in your home.

Most of all, America First Moving has a pattern of deceptive pricing, poor communication, and lack of accountability, leading to a highly frustrating experience. If you bring up their dishonesty, they’ll deflect and only talk about extorting money from you. They or their subsidiaries won’t give me the correct billing. America First Moving Services didn’t provide any of what I contracted them to do. I had to involve the bank, and they returned the deposit that is allocated for them, only to add it back to the balance. A refund is just that, a refund. If they thought they deserved the money, they would have fought it at the bank, like every other legitimate business, not refunded and added it back to the bill.

This is the worst company I’ve ever had to deal with. If you're considering them as a moving company, it may be best to explore other options with better reputations.

Warning: Avoid them at all costs!!! Save yourself time, money, and your sanity.

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $10882

STAY AWAY!!!!! Worst experience ever, worst company. Started off being lied to. Was charged 95.00 more because of a flight of stairs which they was told from the start. My belongings was picked up Jan 24, here it is Feb. 24 and everything I own is not here. Has cost me over 500 to replace dishes and pans and other stuff needed for everyday use. Every time I called was told it will be here next week . Was told in the beginning that it would take 4 to 10 days for the truck to get to me. I had tried canceling for medical reason which I was told I could do before signing a contract, yes I could cancel but at the cost of 750.00 . So instead of going needed treatments to fix my broken wrist I rushed up to Fl because I was told if I wasn’t here when driver came an additional charge would be made. I couldn’t afford the price to begin with . It was Jan. 24 they picked up everything I owed and here it is Feb. 24 and still being told it will be here next week. This is a Horrible Company, should not be allowed to stay in business. I wish I would have read reviews before hiring, if there was any good ones they had to be written by someone within the Company. I am hoping that after talking with management I will be compensated for the money I had to spend to buy things I shouldn’t of had to because I had plenty in the truck. This experience has been really stressful. There are things in truck that can’t be replaced. My birds have suffered because their cages are in truck so the past month they been living in small travel cages. They try and get you to sign a contract with about 6 things stated of course it’s after they started loading . One of the things was you would not complain, give bad reviews, or turn in to the BBB. And the other you wouldn’t cancel payment. I refused to sign ! I was already in the process of leaving bad reviews , and complaints because of the lies I was told. . Horrible Company! Beware! If you do chose to use they don’t mention it but it’s deep within the contract about buying extra protection is case of loss. The way it is without is their insurance will only give you 10,000 for losses.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $1770

America First Moving made what could’ve been a stressful day feel like a breeze. I was moving from Tampa to Orlando, and their team showed up early, fully prepared, and with great attitudes. They packed everything with so much care—even my awkward-shaped furniture and electronics were handled like fragile antiques. What stood out most was their speed without sacrificing quality. I didn’t have to lift a finger. Definitely the most professional moving service I’ve worked with in Florida!

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $560

If you are thinking about using this company I recommend that you run for the hills. I thought I was savvy but people, I was conned. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY, unless you want to be swindled, robbed, and gaslighted. Unless you don’t mind using the LEAST professional movers, if you don’t mind being scammed, if you don’t mind your things missing and broken.

The packing was careless to the point of negligence: nearly all the boxes arrived completely crushed; the delivery crew themselves remarked they had never seen packing done so unprofessionally. Many fragile, valuable, and irreplaceable items were destroyed.

The movers also arrived unprepared, without any packing materials, even though I had paid a significant amount to have them pack me. They tried to convince me this was “normal,” but ultimately had to leave for two hours to buy packing supplies—despite there being nowhere nearby to purchase them. This delayed the move and dragged it late into the night.

In one especially egregious case, they forced a $4,000 Sleep Number mattress into a wardrobe box because they did not have the proper mattress carton. By the time it was unpacked a month later, it was completely ruined.

Delivery was no better. The truck was impounded en route. When they finally arrived, they wanted to begin unloading at 9:00 p.m. I refused, and we agreed on a 7:00 a.m. start the next morning — but they did not arrive until 10:00 a.m.

To make matters worse, one box containing shattered glass was never delivered at all—it was left behind in the warehouse. Essential hardware for my TV and tables was misplaced, only to turn up much later in a random box.

On top of all this, I was charged an extra $1,500 beyond the agreed price, even though every item was listed on the inventory sheet. I went through the inventory list 3 times. The list matched what was moved and I was still charged. You are a prisoner. You have no choice but to pay. When I questioned the charge, the company dismissed my concerns and insisted this was “standard,” which I believe was misleading and dishonest.

And the insurance. What a joke. Oh, but their sales people are good. They will promise you everything. Don’t be fooled.

Overall, my experience was extremely negative, and I strongly caution others against using this company.

I only hope time will help me forget this moving company and get over the trauma of having to deal with them. I urge you - learn from my mistakes.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $10670