High Priority Movers

I had contacted High Priority Movers about a cross country move, and we talked through the initial information--inventory and dates etc--I thought things would be fine. Within the 72 hr window that the contract allows one to back out with a 15% penalty, I got news that my move had to be three weeks sooner than I expected. In this time I had also read the reviews here, and contacted another service that had the availability I needed (High Priority couldn't get anyone out here in time) and much better reviews. I called High Priority Movers back to cancel as was my right as it was still under the 72 hr timeframe. I spoke to Howard Zimmerman, who was all charm and sweetness when we first spoke and hammered out the details, but as soon as I got a hold of him to cancel it was like a switch was flipped.
I never expected the vitriol that Howard threw at me. This man screamed, belittled, and hung up on me as I simply tried to cancel my reservation. I had to call him back 4 different times to try and have him send me the cancelation paperwork detailed in the contract--something he straight up told me didn't exist, despite it written in the contract as being necessary. He demanded I tell him why I was cancelling--and I was honest, I said your reviews are terrible and I'm going with another company. He yelled at me over the phone telling me I was stupid for believing the reviews (oh believe the reviews), that another company would "rape me with fees" and that he wanted to see what "logical calculations went on in my tiny mind". At this point, I'm sobbing openly on the phone with a stranger screaming at me as I try and cancel a service that I had every right to cancel. At the end of all this--with him hanging up on me mid sentence, and me calling back asking to verify that my reservation was canceled--I was finally sent the cancellation paperwork, and told that someone from billing would call me. I did my best to convey just what had gone down on the phone with the kind lady from billing when she called me, but who knows how far that went. So yes, I lost out on 15% of my deposit, but after this experience I'm very glad that I didn't go through with my planned reservation with High Priority Movers. I've yet to find a place to actually let the company know that this happened, as all the posted numbers and emails were ones that Howard Zimmerman had used to contact me.

Howard Zimmerman at High Priority Movers made an already stressful and rushed move even more traumatic. This interaction spun me into a panic attack that lasted 2 days, and I wish there was a manager that I could contact and give my feedback to. This wasn't just bad customer service, this wasn't something anyone should have to experience.

The moving service I went with ended up being more than half the cost that HPM quoted--and I'll forgive the dented boxes because of the basic human kindness they showed me.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4000

They deserve zero stars. When they showed up to move us, they more than doubled the rate and lied about the amount of space. Even when confronted with the truth about the amount of space, they continued to lie. It is a complete scam. The original estimate was for 286 cf and at time of pickup they claimed it was 700 cf. It was not 700 cf. The amount of boxes delivered was less than the amount on the invoice because they pad the list. It doesn't matter if you count the boxes and the movers can see there are less. The company would not help in any way and stopped answering my calls. Just to add insult to injury, the TV they packed was shattered and they won't do anything about it either. They are HORRIBLE and completely dishonest. You have been warned.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3589

This is the worst company I've ever dealt with. First, they are not movers. They are brokers. They will take a large fee and then farm your job out to the lowest bidder. Their salespeople promise you whatever you need. This changes as soon as you are outside the refund window. We ultimately had to hire a second mover to do part of the move that General promised as included in price. Extra $1500. We also ended up with truck rental, labor, storage,and fuel costs of over $2500 moving items ourselves due to their fraud. They assured me that the salesperson who lied to me was fired, but I doubt it. Read the contract carefully. It looks like a single page document, but keep scrolling. They are completely protected from every possible event, and the customer is completely vulnerable.

The hauler that they assigned for the remaining part of the move was even worse, if that's possible. They had the wrong pickup window, then told us the following lies in a 24 hour period: Their office staff quit, their truck blew a transmission in Reading PA, their crew was stranded by the side of the road waiting for a rental truck for 36 hours, their (same) truck blew a tire in Hoboken NJ, their roof collapsed, and a family member died. They never showed up. I begged General to assign us a different carrier as it was clear that Lightning Fast Mover NJ had no intention of showing up, but General refused. With only hours left before closing, we had to miss work, move what we could, and discard the rest. Add in the $1200 deposit and this company cost me $5200 not including the value of what I had to dispose of, and they provided no service whatsoever. I will be filing suit against them.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3400

This review is for General Moving and Storage/High Priority Movers, 4699 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33064. 855-547-9440

For our interstate move in March, 2021, we spoke with salesman Cole with “General Moving and Storage,” FL — now “High Priority Movers” according to the BBB. Cole assured a "no surprises" experience and his personal availability by phone should we have any problems. Patently false. Cole’s estimate was $3200. The movers, AFTER packing and loading our belongings on their truck, charged us, surprise, $4900. Cole could not be reached; we never heard from him again.

This was a partial move pending our home’s sale; cabinets and closets were already emptied. We showed [NAME EDIT] photos of ALL items to be moved via Zillow. Photos included furniture, a patio set, small/mid-size decorative items, wall hangings/framed art, and a piano. [NAME EDIT] quoted a fee of $150 for the piano and a “partial pack” fee of $400 for the framed art and misc. items. He said we would only be charged for what the movers actually packed. We ended up packing ~80% of the misc. items pre-move. On moving day, South Van Lines, NJ arrived; a driver, [NAME EDIT], and his brother. After a tour of the house, [NAME EDIT] said packing the 8 framed art pictures would cost an extra $500 (!?). AFTER his truck was loaded, Hussein presented paperwork for us to sign with a total fee of $4900 — $1700 MORE than Cole’s quote. This, even though WE had packed most of the misc. items, AND we left the patio furniture set! We signed the paperwork because we had no choice — we had to be out of the house and our stuff was on the truck!

After arrival at our destination, [NAME EDIT] said the $150 piano fee was only to load it; it was another $200 to unload it. Upon calling General Moving customer service — repeatedly, for weeks — we heard multiple assurances from [NAME EDIT] and [NAME EDIT] that the matter would be looked into, the extra piano fee was not right, and paperwork would be sent promptly. We ultimately received e-mailed claim information for “lost items”(!?) We also called the moving company, owned by [NAME EDIT]. He claimed he gave us the entire revised estimate before packing — he did NOT — and that the extra $200 piano fee was actually to physically “pack” the piano! The reason for that hidden fee changed.

There has been no resolution regarding the low-ball estimate and hidden fees. We were told the owner of General Moving and Storage is [NAME EDIT], but “he doesn’t get on the phone” and customer service has “no contact information for him.” We have filed a complaint with the FL Better Business Bureau. Neither General Moving and Storage nor South Van Lines were forthright with us at virtually any point in our experience. We were the victims of a bait-and-switch. BEWARE! 

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $4900