Budget Van Lines

Overall the customer service at Budget Van Lines is very good. However, they selected Master Movers for my move and my experience with them was a nightmare. They overcharged me and delievered my items late. Budget Van Lines tried to help however if "Master Movers doesn't pick up the phone how can they help." I had read bad reviews about Master Movers online and had no idea this was the company that I would get stuck with until the day before my move. Master Movers ended up charging me 300 dollars to move my mattress and at first they promised to refund 50% but then "they never said that". I tried talking to Budget about this but the response I get is "They won't call back and I can't force them". Essentially they are saying I'm out of luck.

My recommendation is to NOT go through Budget Van Lines. When it actually comes down to any issues you may have in the end they can't help you. It's better to go directly through a company because then you know ahead of time what you are signing. Not to mention you have no control over what terrible company (aka Master Movers) they may assign to your case.

Service cost: $2800

If you are fortunate enough to read these reviews, believe them and run. After hiring this company to move my belongings and going thru the BS that I have been put through, I then decided to check thier reviews. The very first one I read posted July 12th was pretty much the same problem I was having and more. So if you are smart enough to read reviews before buying anything these days beleive them. I did not read the reviews and I am paying for it. My Quote was $3700.00. The driver did arrive on time only to tell me that from his experience it was going to cost me $4500.00. I told him no, do not load the truck. He told me to relax, that he would inventory my stuff and give me a better idea of what it would cost me. My stuff was in a storage unit all packed (16x10). He told me he would get right back to me or my sales person from Budget. Time went by, I got worried and repeatedly called the drivers number only to get that his mail box was full. Four hours go by and my friend who unlocked the storage unit for the actual moving company, Northwest Movers, was called by the driver to come sign the bill of lading. My stuff was packed and on its way. He, also, informed me that mirrors had been broken and the driver left some of my belongings behind. I was furious, this driver was not to load mt stuff until he got my permission to do so. A few days later I recieve a call from the actual moving company, Northwest Movers, and they inform me that I am to pay $5,800.00, over $2,000.00 more than my original estimate. I inform them that the driver was not to load my stuff until he got back to me but, of course the driver recalls no such thing. Now Budget has $1100.00 of my money, Northwest movers has my belongings and me by the testicles. No body wants to resolve this issue and Northwest movers is holding my belongings (in my eyes) for the ransom of and $4700.00. I have not seen any inventory or an explaination of the additional money, other than I have to pay 59 cents for every lb. over my quoted estimate. My quote was for 5100 lbs. I believe they claim it to be 7800 lbs. Looks to me like they are charging me more then 59 cents but some 8 days later I have not yet recieved an inventory or bill of lading of any kind. One other note, once you give them your money to book your move, its gone. They do not want to talk about refunding any money. In fact, for me to back out of this horrifing experience Northwest Movers wants money for what their driver had no permission to do. Like I said they have me by the testicles, and they have my belongings. I have no other choice but to pay them if I want my posessions. Lesson learned, review these companies before using them. A lesson that cost me $2,000.00. My only hope now is to cost them business when the smart people that read reviews will see this and go else where.

Service cost: $5800

FYI- This business has addresses in both VA & LA; only the LA address on BBB shows the complaints. Our family relocated from Tampa, FL to Woodland Hills, CA. As you would imagine, this was a major move. In hopes of finding the best movers to help us, I contacted several movers and brokers. David Knudsen was a hard seller who insisted that he could secure a full-service mover for little more than we'd pay for a company to move our belongings using a self-load and unload contract. David assured me that Budget was one of the nation's leading brokers so we'd be safe in their hands and "they'd be with us throughout the move!"
I gave him a careful explanation of the size of our current home and its contents and he gave me an estimated cost of $4608.00. From his promises, I had every reason to believe that they carefully vet the movers to whom they broker these jobs. Since his paperwork only included the VA address, I couldn't find any complaints. HUGE MISTAKE!
Once our stuff was on the truck, we were informed that our true cost would be $7448.24 (over 61% higher than the estimate we'd budgeted!!) We paid the balance early since we were using a credit card- probably an even bigger mistake. The movers, Duntera of Fort Lauderdale, FL (our next complaint to file) gave us an estimated delivery of between 6/15-6/21. The owner even told us that the paperwork gives them longer, but they have to write that in, not to worry!
The excuses began on about 6/17. The movers often would ignore our calls, so we put in several calls to Dave at Budget only to have him ignored our calls for days, until we finally got a call from Jameeka at Budget who claimed that, after the sale, we were no longer assigned to anyone. She told us that she was sorry we were having this trouble and to call her the next day if the movers didn't arrive. They didn't arrive until 31 days after they left our home in Tampa, yet Budget continued to ignore our calls and we haven't heard from them since. The moving company was negligent packing and moving or things, left our stuff in a trailer in the desert for weeks and delivered our items damaged: broken, chipped, varnish MELTED, etc. and there were also several items we never received! This is no surprise since we saw upon unloading how our items were mixed with items from other customers! Budget has refused to call back or respond to our requests for help with claims. This outfit is made up of CROOKS! STAY AWAY! I'd guess that most victims are so busy fighting the movers and attending to the many responsibilities inherent in a long-term move that they forget all about who started their troubles: Budget Van Lines (of LA & VA- one and the same!).

Service cost: $7448

Budget vanlines subcontracts services to others.  My stuff was moved by Moving Central / Olympian moving . These companies are run by bunch of morons. I can not blame the actual people who does the move. They are just labor picked from whereever available. These companies do not hire professional people.  The movers who came to my home does not know the difference between furninture and trash. They do not know how to move furniture or household goods. They do not understand english. They damaged my carpet, doors and walls. They don't know how to assemble furniture back.  Please do not  use this guys if you love your home and stuff in your home. Please do not  use this guys if you love your home and stuff in your home.

Service cost: $5000

We paid for a guaranteed delivery for December 30th or 31st and it was delivered on January 2nd. Also, we received no communication from the company or the contracted company, until Saturday, letting us know that it would be late. Because of the delay we were forced to rent a motel room for 3 nights. When the delivery was made there were no helpers to unload or set up. The driver was very kind and apologetic but we had to make arrangements for people to come and help unload and set up on a Sunday afternoon. I have called and emailed the company numerous times. Every time I have spoken to someone they have assured me that someone would get back to me and they have not. I also completed a review online submitting my complaint. I did receive an email in response to that review. I emailed back the job number and have not received any response since then. I have filed a complain with the BBB but still have not received a response. I would definitely not recommend this company.

Service cost: $4348

If you are planning on moving with Budget Van Lines you have to understand you will get the most for your money, but with no frills. The company found me the lowest rate for my move by far, and the movers did the job just fine, but they weren't part of a big trucking company nor did they wear uniforms. I basically saved 1500 dollars because I went with Budget rather than going with one of the bigger guys. Professionalism was on par with everyone else, thanks for the service.

Service cost: $2300

I had made arrangements with Budget to pick up my daughters furniture and had given them the standard 3 day window.   The move was from FT Leonard Wood, Missouri to Pennsylvania.   After I paid the deposit and signed the contract I never heard from them again.   I started calling a week before the 3 day window and nobody would call me back.   Finally at the end of the first day of my 3 day window I spoke to someone that told me they didn't have anybody to do her move.   So they had to cancel her move.  This left her in a bind because she had to leave on a certain date to be back on the east coast to start a new job and she had also given her notice to her apartment.   She had a broken foot and could not drive or load a truck on her own.   I will never recommend this company and advise you if you are thinking about it,  DON'T use them.   You are better off paying a little more and using someone reputable.  .

Service cost: $1699