Royal Relocation

I'm completely unsure of how to handle the situation I'm in.

When the movers showed up, they went through, looked at everything, identified a few additional charges (minor), and then started working. When they got ~25% through loading up the truck I was told that my quote was going to go from $2,600 to $4,580 because of some furniture wrapping that I didn't take care of myself. It was not mentioned beforehand, and I felt genuinely worried for my stuff that they'd packed if I didn't' agree to it, but I made it 100% clear that I refused to pay even a penny more for any additional charge that they could possibly come up with. The guy told me that under no circumstance would I be charged for anything else in addition.

It's been 2 weeks and first of all, the company almost never answers the phone if I don't call from a different number than my own. I'm now being told that I have to pay $100 for a COI that I told them upfront was required by my building. The COI costs them absolutely nothing to obtain from their insurance company. I also required them to include the shuttle costs in my original quote, but now I'm being told that I need to pay an additional shuttle fee because the one in the quote was "only for pickup". I have a very clear email record of the quote and me making it clear to the rep (Kim) that I wanted those fees included in said quote.

The guy who called me today (from a DIFFERENT moving company) told me that if I didn't want to pay it all, I wasn't going to get my stuff. I explained my original quote and he said he didn't care, and the next thing he said was "Well, do you want all your stuff or not? We can leave it on the street for you if you'd prefer that"

They told me that for delivery I need to pay cash upfront, and I'm absolutely not comfortable doing this. This entire experience has been a scam, and the more research I've done into the company, it seems as if almost every customer of theirs has had this exact experience.

I'd love to know what my options are here to deal with getting my things. I'm more than happy to pay the remaining balance for my things, but I refuse to be bribed for more. .

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5500

If I could give them negative stars they'd rate -20. They were rude, damaged many items, destroyed some, and charged more than originally quoted. They took almost a MONTH to go from LA to Kalamazoo, MI. Some items are missing. They subcontracted to a company, UZB out of Brooklyn, NY, that I can't even find online. When they finally arrived in MI, I was called by the dispatcher (an evil woman even by her voice) and given 5 mins. to pay DOUBLE the contract amount of $1236 or they'd dump it all. I said I'd call 911 and you should've seen those guys race out of there! These people are crooks, degenerates (left empty booze can in a wooden chest and another can in my raincoat pocket--what were they doing wearing it?), liars, thieves. Have nothing to do with them.Photo below, 1 of the boxes they opened, resealed (different tape than I'd used) then opened again! They sorted through all of them!

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2872

Our apologies and thanks to the determined and persistent staff of “Royal Relocation” in Tarzana, California for their patience and sympathetic support.
 
After our move, we discovered a precious piece of antique furniture was what we thought, “lost forever.” My Wife and I were unquestionably upset and probably not too understanding during our inquire to “Royal Relocation.” They convincingly assured us that they could and would find our lost item and ship it to us. They encouraged us to be patient and they would do their job.
Their diligent efforts and persistence in finding our lost furniture really payed off. Several weeks later our lost furniture showed up at our doorstep! “Royal Relocation" really came through as promised. We can't thank them enough for their understanding, patience and devotion in helping us get through this ordeal. “Thank you Royal Relocation” and please except our sincere apologies.

Service cost: $3900

I chose this company because they seem the most trust worthy ones. Everything was great until the pick up. I was not present during the pick up and had my parents present. The foreman , who was the owner as well was awful. He was yelling at my parents for asking questions and verifying the move. When they had to sign the contract, My parents wanted to take time to read it. The foreman said to just sign it or he will unload all my personal effects and go. 
I tried to speak to the sales person Irena and she did apologize for their action, but there is more horror coming up.
My personal effects arrived damaged the the movers are trying to charge me extra to move my items into the house. They said I signed the contract which explained this. We did sign the contract by FORCE! I tried calling Irena and Royal Relocation to speak to them and they just hung up on me and yelled at me.They told me to pay OR ELSE!
It was truly a horrifying experience, not only to myself but to my friends and family who was present at both scene. 
** BE CAUTIOUS WITH THIS COMPANY **
Cross your "I's and make sure you get everything in writing. .

Service cost: $2077

We entered into a contract with a Columbia, SC  company, America’s Moving Services, which seemed to have good online ratings and credentials.   America’s Moving  Services’   polite salesperson verbally informed us that they were the  only company with which we would be dealing throughout the move.  However, as we learned later, their contract provides that they may instead hire a subcontractor to actually be the carrier and move our belongings.  Their contract also provided that we would receive 24-48 hrs. advance notice of when our belongings would be picked up during  a 2 day window of time. 
At noon on the Friday before the weekend  during which our things were to be loaded on the truck, America’s Moving asked if the movers could come to the house “to get started.”   At 3:00 pm, the truck arrived and, for the 1st time, we learned that America’s Moving had hired a subcontractor, Royal Relocation Systems  of Brooklyn, NY to move our things.  Royal’s crew were all Russian and E. European immigrants, most with limited English skills.  After arriving at our house, Royal informed us that they intended that afternoon/evening to complete loading all of our belongings  on their truck. 
As we had not received any advance notice as America’s Moving Services had promised, we had not finished packing.  As a result, the moving crew simply tossed our unpacked items into boxes as we frantically tried to finish packing ahead of the movers.  Several times, over the movers’ objections, we  had to climb on the truck to open and search through boxes to remove things that they had packed without asking us.
Royal Relocation Systems  were the most  unprofessional movers imaginable.  Their crew damaged our home’s wooden floors by dragging instead of lifting furniture and  picked up none of the trash and empty water bottles that they tossed to the floor of every room.  Although I had moved a box spring into the house years ago, the movers could not fit it out of the same house and it ended up being cut in two and discarded.  Legs were broken  off a bookcase and armoire. 
At 10:00 p.m. that night, after all of our things were loaded on the truck,  the crew leader met with us to negotiate a new “deal” by which he would give us  take it or leave it price as opposed to determining cost by having the truck weighed, as set out in America’s Moving’s contract.  He blatantly told us that, if we accepted his “deal” they would expect a higher tip. 
Five days later, despite our prior arrangements  with both them and America’s Moving  to pay via bank cashier’s check,  Royal Relocations Systems’ truckdriver called to demand that we pay them via cash so that he could “buy gas.”
It had taken a 4 man crew to load our belongings on the truck. When the truck  arrived  at our new home a week later,  it was manned by only  Royal Relocation Systems’   truckdriver and one laborer.  The truckdriver  informed me that he had to find and hire two men in order to  unload  our belongings.  At his request, and wanting to get our things unloaded and the movers out of our lives, an hour later I was driving the truckdriver around local Wal Mart and Home Depot parking lots as he propositioned any able bodied minority male whom he thought might want an immediate job  unloading  a truck.  When that yielded no results, I called an appliance store I had dealt with the prior day and asked if they knew of anyone who might help.  Fortunately, an hour later two men appeared at our new home and helped Royal Relocation Services do  the job for which we paid Royal $6900 and American Moving Services an $800 fee. 
We cannot  be more emphatic, do not make the same mistake we did,  DO NOT HIRE EITHER AMERICA’S MOVING SERVICES OR ROYAL RELOCATION SYSTEMS.  If you must hire America’s Moving, do so only if they agree in advance to actually perform the move and waive that part of their contract which allows them to hire a subcontractor to  be the carrier. 
 
 .

Service cost: $7700

Almost all furniture of wood content was damaged and noted to driver, some beyond repair including many storage boxes in which most internal items were broken and crushed. Sub Contractor (A.B. Van Lines who hauls for Royal Relocation) also refused to inventory any furnishings or moving boxes during unloading. We are still missing a dresser and five storage boxes. We were told to "file a complaint" for any loss or damages of goods. After researching the damage claim option of .60 cents per lbs less depreciation as stated, our furnishings are now worthless after being damaged by this moving company through its carelessness and unprofessional neglect and disregard of personal property. "DO NOT HIRE!".

Service cost: $3900

I hired First Call Movers in mid-April for a move that would take place late July. Vernon Little, the representative that helped me set-up my contract, assured me that they were a top-notch moving company that offers the best price and assures that all my belongings will arrive in tip-top shape in a timely manner. First Call Movers told me that they were picking up my household items on July 19th or 20th and would update me as the move got closer. I received a phone call from a company called ‘priority insurance’ or something like that, to review my inventory list before the move. I had added some items and another stop where I needed items picked up from. They told me the difference in price, since it would be more and asked that I put down more of a deposit because the overall total was increasing. I agreed and made another deposit payment with my credit card. On moving day, another company showed up in a Budget rental truck. The company was called Royal Relocation’ based out of Tarzana, California. They demanded that I agree to pay an additional $5,933,65, or they would not move my stuff. I immediately reached out to First Call Movers to gain an understanding of how the new cost could be so far off from my binding moving estimate. I was unable to reach Vernon Little who I had been communicating with for several months. Instead, I talked to a very unhelpful and rude representative who told me that I had no choice but to pay the difference and that the company that showed up (Royal Relocation) was telling them that I had way more than what the estimate said. I felt stuck, only having 2 weeks to move across the country for school. Royal Relocation demanded that I pay $1,000 cash before they would load my things and that I could pay the remaining balance upon delivery ($4,933.65), with a credit card. After paying the $1,000, the three movers started loading my stuff. I started doing research and found that other moving companies would have charged me far-less, based on the weight and distance of my move. I began to think that not only was I pressured to pay such a huge difference in price, but the price that they gave me may not have even been practical (as confirmed by other moving companies). Trying to gain a better understanding of the situation, I continued to reach out to both First Call Movers and Royal Relocation. First Call Movers answered one of my several phone calls and messages, only to tell me that I had to speak with Royal Relocation and that I should have fully read my contract and known that they were only a broker, not the actual moving company. I emailed Vernon Little who I felt was very helpful in the past, but he suddenly disappeared. and was completely unreachable. According to Royal Relocation, First Call Movers is an over-priced Broker, with higher rates than most brokers and it was my fault that I did not know they were a broker and that Royal Relocation would have to honor First Call's rates and nothing could be done. The woman from Royal Relocation that I spoke with, Irena, kept putting me down in a condescending manner, saying that I was 'just another customer trying to get out of paying what I owed.' She yelled and cussed at me and my boyfriend several times over the phone. After a week of not hearing from Royal Relocation, I received a phone call that my stuff would be delivered in about a week, ONLY if I had the balance, otherwise my possessions would be put in storage and I would be forced to pay additional fees for redelivery later on. After a week, I received a phone call that my stuff would be delivered in another week approximately. Come August 7th and I receive a call that my stuff would be delivered the next day. I confirmed that I could pay with a credit card, because I was actually supposed to be out of the country for a wedding and was going to leave my credit card with my boyfriend to use for the balance upon arrival. Unfortunately, Royal Relocation changed their tune and Irena was suddenly flabbergasted that I wanted to pay the balance with a credit card. She demanded either cash or a postal money order or my stuff would be placed into storage. After going in circles with her I said, 'fine, ill pay upon delivery with a postal money order. I had to cancel my trip to Europe last minute, losing $1,746 on nonrefundable airline tickets and 1 hotel room that I had for 1 night, because every last penny of mine was going to have to go to Royal Relocation. The next day the movers arrived, but it was another company and not Royal Relocation. This company was called 'Michaels.' Very confused, I called Irena and asked why a) another moving company was delivering my things and b) why she wants me to pay some new company and not her company. I told her I did not feel comfortable paying a company that I had no contract with and that I did not have any knowledge of. This is where her yelling and cussing became unbearable. She demanded that I pay the company and I do it now or my stuff would be held in storage until I could come up with however much more money (she estimated in the thousands), was racked up while my stuff was in storage. I could not deal with her anymore and really just wanted my things once and for all. So I paid the new movers the balance that Royal asked me for ($4,933.65) in the form of a postal money order. Once the movers started bringing stuff in, they and myself noticed a lot of broken or damaged items. My kitchen table was scratched, my brand new couch damaged from tape, my jewelry armoire, overstuffed chair and steam mop were completely broken. The movers from Michaels started telling me about how horrible of a packing job Royal Relocation and how terrible of a company they are in general considering how they rip people off all the time and do not handle household goods with care. The man I did paperwork with told me that he wrote up all the damages in a report that he would be sending to Royal Relocation but he would not show me his report and insisted that they needed to hurry and leave for another job that they were late to. While unpacking I realized that a lot of my kitchen items and family heirlooms were missing and many items (mostly dishes) were broken. My estimated cost of my broken, damaged and lost items is $500.00 I feel that I was overcharged, misinformed regarding acceptable forms of payment and who was actually moving my things across the country, mistreated and coerced. Upon doing research I found that Royal Relocation had a legal obligation to come to my home and give me and on-site estimate BEFORE moving day, rather than changing the estimate the day of my move. If an on-site estimate would have been done before my moving day, I would have made the decision to hire another moving company or move my items myself, and lose my deposit with First Call Movers ($1066.35). Unfortunately, time did not permit for me to cancel on the day of.

Service cost: $7000

I would like to thank to Royal and their team for the wonderful move that they did for me.Besides a couple of dishes broken, everything else arrived in one piece, without a scratch.I also want to apologize for being so impatient and  probably driving them crazy.After all the horror stories that I read on line, I was really nervous for my relocation but it turned to be not that a big deal.I guess its is all about luck to get the right company and then everything will be ok.Thank you again Diana, and all the rest for being so patient and taking care of my belongings.I hope never to move again but if I will I will definitely use you guys.

Service cost: $7658

I used Royal Relocation last summer to move across the country. After giving them an inventory of my items on the phone, they quoted me a cheap price and I hired them. When they arrived for the move (hours late) the mover glanced at my items and quoted me a price that was $1200 more than the quote I got over the phone. He quoted me this price before taking an inventory and once the inventory was taken it turned out that I had only a few small items that weren't on the original inventory. There is no way those items cost $1200 extra to move. Anyway, when I objected to the price, the mover told me straight up that I would not be able to find another mover on such short notice and I could take it or leave it. I felt trapped. I took it. When I brought it up with the customer service rep she was EXTREMELY rude. The delivery was made late, with broken items, but that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was being OBVIOUSLY and unapologetically scammed. When I filed a complaint with the BBB, the company tried to claim I had filed it about the wrong company. When I persisted, they admitted that I was a customer of theirs but claimed it is fine to charge someone a surprise $1200 at the last minute just because you can. It may be legal but if you want to avoid it, please avoid this company. .

Service cost: $2100

If you want to save yourself thousands of dollars and 5 years worth of stress, DO NOT book with this company. My mom used this company for her move across the country, and it was a nightmare (which is an understatement). Aside from the actual experience, their customer service is HORRENDOUS. They have this witch of a lady, her name is Irena, and she is literally the devil. One day my mom called to figure out when our shipment was going to arrive, and she started yelling at her and then hung up. It was like my mom was talking to a 5 year old who just threw a temper tantrum. It was impressive service. Aside from that though, the move itself was awful.

First, they estimated our cost at around $2,000. Then the day before the move, they called for an updated list of inventory. After that conversation they increased our estimate to $4,000. Fine. We were pissed off because that is a big jump and my inventory didn't change. After that call, I actually got rid of some of my stuff to make sure the price wouldn't be that high. Day of the move, the movers arrive and park RIGHT IN FRONT of my house--in the driveway basically. They come in and start wrapping up my couch and my tv and taking packed boxes. About an hour into all of this action, the mover comes to us and says that based on how much space our stuff takes up, the price is actually over $7,000. WHAT THE F**. At that point, some of our stuff was packed, our flights were booked, and we literally had no other option. At that point we thought, well at least the worst is over right? NOPE.

When the movers arrive at our new home, they get there at 10PM--I'm sorry but that in itself is unacceptable. We had paid for an entire move, so they were required to move everything into the home and reassemble all of our furniture. Only two movers were present, and at that hour, there was NO WAY they were going to get everything unpacked at a decent hour. I called some of my friends and we all helped unpack the truck. So, we paid for them to do it, instead we ended up doing it ourself anyway. All of a sudden it's 2AM and the movers come to us and say "we can't reassemble anything, it is too hard and we do not have the right tools." UM WHAT? It's 2 in the freaking morning and they leave us with a house full of parts. Oh, and the parts were all broken. We moved 3 beds and they broke all 3 of them. We moved pieces of glass, mirrors, and tables. They broke those too.

The movers left. Over the next few weeks, we went back and forth with Royal Relocation (and unfortunately Irena -.- ) on whether or not they owe us money for the broken furniture. We also contacted the Attorney General in both CA and MN, and they sent them letters requiring action. Royal Relocation never even answered.

This is a joke of a company. We are in the process of trying to get a lawsuit going and getting our money back. They will get what is coming to them.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7600