Schea Van Lines

Schea Van Lines / Silverback Moving grossly underestimated my move and lost several valuables!

6/6: After working with two VERY helpful women, Kim and Karen, I chose Schea Van Lines. Their customer service during stressful time was great. Quote: 2 teams of 2 movers w/2 - 26’ trucks for @ 6-8 hrs.

Mid March: Cam, “the assessor” (and the owner) spent @ 30 minutes reviewing my home and quoting same as above. He seemed very customer focused. I also hired packing services. After 3 Schea professionals spent 8+ hours in my home, no one stated my move would take more than quoted.

6/22 Moving Day: Silverback Moving (not Schea Van Lines) arrived. After lunch, movers stated, “we will be here until 2:00am. This should have been a 2 day or 3 team job” then joked about Cam’s inability to assess jobs.

6/22 Midnight: After adding 3rd team, the move taking 2x longer than assessed, and paying to get movers to leave, Jim calls and becomes aggravated when I challenge costs.

Cam is NOT customer focused. When I questioned misquote, he replied rudely, “The contract states in PLAIN English the quote is non-binding – and the hours may change!!” After arrogantly boasting of moving 12,000+ families/year, he could only say, “Moves are hard to estimate.” Jim blamed extra time on storage items (items took less than 1/3 of a truck, less than 50 min. to move 5 miles).

6/26: I noticed several belongings missing (irreplaceable jewelry worth @ $1820, a box of movies/video games and a bag of leather boots).

7/13: Upon request, I supplied Jim proof, photos and information re: my belongings.

9/20: Jim finally emails invoice and itemized charges.

10/4: Still no answer re: my valuables or WHY move was grossly underestimated.

10/5: FINALLY an answer re: valuables. Jim can “try to reimburse me $0.60/pound for my belongings.”

Jim will likely say “Discounts!” This is their MO. The complaints are all similar.

Beware of Schea Van Lines AND Silverback Moving – they are same. DO NOT TRUST THEM WITH YOU VALUABLES!

Service cost: $8895

Silverback Moving did well over $10,000 in damage to our property, and has not responded to our claim of damages; screening phone calls and ignoring emails for 30+ days.

Schea Van Lines managed our move from Columbus to Cleveland; however, Silverback Moving showed up to execute the move. During the move, the staff ran out of shrink wrap, and could only cover our furniture with blankets. They promised to fully wrap everything when it went into storage. This did not happen. Upon arrival to our new home, pieces came off the truck unwrapped, chipped, broken and damaged beyond repair.

The boxes packed in the truck were dropped and handled in a less than professional manner; based on the significant dents, collapses and tears in the cardboard. This is beyond the damage consistent with normal handling. Upon opening the boxes, the damage to our property continued.

The added pleasure has been the discovery of multiple cockroaches in our belongings.

The worst personal violation was finding that our property had been rummaged through. We found items from latched bins scattered about the truck, purses and personal property turned inside out and searched and jewelry boxes had been ripped apart. The appearance of the truck, and the treatment of our property is nothing short of negligence.

Since our move, we have filed a claim for damages with Silverback Moving, and the owner Cam Schea. To date, we have had no response from the company in any form. They have screened our calls and emails go unanswered. I have escalated this case with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and will pursue legal action if necessary.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3200

Schea Van Lines made me feel very comfortable when I called them for my move. They showed up on time and were very polite. They got started and things were going well. Then it took a major turn for the worse. The guys that were moving my furniture started to become careless with my belongings. I heard this loud banging. I went over to the stairwell to see what all the noise was to discover them slamming my beautiful, expensive dresser down the steps. They were not lifting it down the stairs they were pushing it down the stairs (hence, the noise). I asked what they were doing and why they were moving it that way and they just looked at me. I told them that was unacceptable. I contacted the dispatcher and made her aware of my dissatisfaction. At another point during my move noticed that they had turned my file cabinet upside down. I asked the guy if he knew what that piece of furniture was and what was inside of it. I explained that it was a file cabinet full of files (paper) and that now it would be all over the place because he turned the piece upside down. Again, a blank stare. Another time during the move I looked out the window to see that same file cabinet roll off the ramp of truck. UGH! I was extremely frustrated as I have (had) very nice furniture and they were not handling with care at all. Well they got the truck loaded and we were on our way to my new condo. As they unloaded I was very unhappy to see multiple pieces of my furniture damaged. I was taking pictures and sending them to the dispatcher as they were placing them in the proper place in my new condo. They finished unloading the truck and we had one more quick trip to make to a storage unit for a few more items. As they were backing up the truck, I began honking my horn and waving my hands as they were about to hit my parents car. They did not hear me. They hit my parents parked car with the moving truck. It has been 5 weeks now and I still cannot get the owner, Jim, to call my parents with his insurance information. They had to file a police report. He will not cooperate. I have also been battling it out with him on my damaged furniture. All I want is for him to send a company over to my home to make repairs to my furniture that his company damaged. He will not answer his phone and he will not respond to text messages. He has given me the runaround and accused me of being a fraud. I am not sure where he is getting his information. I paid my bill in full. I also paid for the insurance thru his company to protect my items. This means that if he damages my property his company is responsible to repair it or to pay $.60 per pound if it cannot be repaired. I just want him to stand up to HIS policy. The pictures I attached are just two of about 48. He is a shady man running a shady company. BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE!!

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1600

Hired Schea Van Lines for a quick move from Hamilton to Hamilton. The gentlemen arrived on time and we got to work. I initially planned on taking care of the majority of the move myself. Unfortunately, due to time restraints and work, I was unable to take care of the majority I planned to. Fortunately Schea Van Lines picked up the slack with no additional fees. They simply billed hourly for the extra service. I was very pleased with the service of Shea Van Lines. They did a wonderful job in my book.

Service cost: $1735