Flat Rate Van Lines

My husband and I hired a moving company to move us. I explained to the customer service rep we live in a 1 bedroom apartment and will be moving to a house. We will need to make a stop to retrieve more items that are being stored rather than just one stop to our apartment. He said he would waive the fee of an additional stop, waive the fee of us being on the third floor of an apartment building and waive an additional fee I can't recall. He estimate 4hours for the move and 3 men. I gave him the starting address, the additional stop address, and the moving address which is over an hour away. He was confident in his estimate.

He sched us for an 8am move and told us to be all packed. The night before the move after 6pm he called and told me his guys got held up at a job and will be late the next morning. Instead of 8am he said between 10-1230. The next day I got a call before 1230 saying they wouldn't be there until 3:30. Our movers didn't arrive until after 5pm. They were 8 hours late. 3 guys arrived who were very nice and got right to business.

We arrived at out final destination at 11pm (they went the wrong way and it took them longer to get there.) They started unloading the car and 75% into unloading they brought us the bill which was over double what we were quoted. I told him I was prepared to go a little over the estimate if need be but not double it. He got on the phone with his supervisor and handed the phone to my husband who told him that they would "hold" our items unless we paid the full amount. After arguing for 30 minutes while the crew stood still we paid $425 more than we expected, $800 in total.

The crew finished the job quickly and got out of there leaving candy wrappers all over the front lawn from Halloween candy we offered them during the move.

In addition I asked for a detailed breakdown of the move and was told I would receive one at the end..I didn't, just a receipt.

Service cost: $800

After speaking with Mr. Martain on two different occasions we determined that my move would take 5 hours at a price of $850. He did tell me that and additional time would be $135. This included packing materials and they would pack the bedrooms. We agreed to pack everything else. When the movers showed up (in an undersized truck) the foreman told me this was going to take more than 5 hours. I said OK because I needed my stuff moved that day. I figured it would take an extra hour or two which I was willing to pay. The movers had to make three trips. They picked up the second trip and before they unloaded the truck at my new house they held my property hostage until I paid in full. They told me to finish the job it would be 14 hours and $1965. I spoke with the foreman and he told me they do this all the time. I then spoke with his boss and they told me that Flat rate does this a lot. Unknown to me they company moving my furniture was subcontracted. I tried to reach flat rate before I would give them any money and they would not return my phone calls. When I finally reach Mr. Martain two days later he told me I had too much stuff, it was my fault and hung up on me. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! YOU WILL REGRET IT!

Service cost: $1800

BEWARE: MOVING SCAM!!

I hired this mover to do a full service move from my apartment to my first house - a total of 17 miles. This was my first mistake.

They arrived an hour late, but I conceded that they were likely stuck in holiday traffic. Or running late on the previous account. They told me both. Fast forward 6 hours (though I was quoted for 5, I did expect that it would take a bit longer. They never got to the storage units). They trailed me to my house and we started to settle the bill. Flat rate? I was **assured** that "all materials were included" and "there would be no surprises on moving day." In fact, the papers I signed before they began quoted only the cost that was agreed to. Imagine my surprise when they said it was not the $783 that I signed up for, but that plus $960 for "materials"!! They wanted me to pay almost $1900, for a 17 mile move, for an amount never agreed upon. We got on the phone with "the boss" and he tried to explain to me that the additional charge was for boxes,etc. (definitely not $900 worth). The manager said he could "meet me half way" and only charge $500 for materials. WHAT?? At this point, I told him someone would call him back in 5 minutes, as my parents were on their way over (I would enlist my father's help with this situation). The moving van was literally in the cul de sac, ready to leave with all my belongings in the truck. Long nightmare made short, my father negotiated a total of $1200 in cash for what was performed and two additional hours to unload. Oh - but the moving team was instructed to unload in the driveway. My family and I (with the assistance of the subcontracted movers who were actually quite decent) unloaded the truck in 30 minutes.

I've moved several times in the past 10 years and have NEVER dealt with such dishonesty and corruption. With this review, I hope you will never have to.

Service cost: $783