Southern Guarantee Moving and Storage

I received a pick up window from 8:00am-12:00pm today. It is now noon. No show. No call. So, I called. Could not get a firm answer out of them. Just probables. I asked if a courtesy call was too much to ask. Basically, they said yes.

I made my reservation months ago. Gave them my deposit. They only accept CASH. I can see why now. Two weeks before the move they tried to shake me down for another $500.00. “ Absolutely not “ I said. The contract says in bold letters “BINDING”. When I sign the contract I was told I didn’t even come close to the minimum. Why are they asking me for more money? The service does not match the reviews I researched. Obviously fake.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $2335

Horrible company! They provided an incorrect contract, When asked if they could revise it, I was told we don't worry about the small items or big items. We are closing and the price is only good for today. An outright lie to obtain my signature on a contract and my money. In addition, I was told I could obtain insurance and that was a huge issue. I suspect the carriers were not insurable. I was told I don't need insurance. Look them up on the Depart of DOT and Federal Motor carrier safety administration. Many many complaints.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3200

There is not nearly enough space here to list all of the ways this company dropped the ball. Paid almost double the original quote, didn’t show up when they were supposed to, straight up lied to by the sales agent who now is not answering the phone, all sorts of hidden fees, we are STILL waiting for our truck to deliver our things over a week after pick up. It’s all just sitting in a warehouse until they “happen to find a semi heading in our direction.” All they do is broker the deal and then contract out your job to a sketchy moving company.

Complete scam.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $13000

I had the joy of supposedly speaking with "Robert Knight". He was very salesman-y from the get go, which I did my best to ignore. Complete with being put on hold numerous times for him to "get confirmation from downstairs" and then loud shuffling of papers as he "confirmed my awesome deal".

The deal was roughly the same quote as I got from another company (that actually provided storage, and moving of outdoor furniture I didn't tell the SG salesman about)

I thanked him and asked him to email me the quote, as I was still in the process of finding the company that suited me best, and couldn't make my decision on that call. And that's when he got snide, and condescending...badgering me about "what was I expecting by getting more quotes" and basically saying I should be grateful they could fit me in...saying what would it take? A price cut off a couple grand? At which point I told him I didn't like the hard sell tactic and really needed time to examine my quotes...at which point he proceeded to tell me he wasn't a new salesman, and had the car and watch to prove it, and that he didn't need a hard sell...and basically refused to send me the quote and said I could call him back and hope I'd still get the same quote, to which I said "sounds good, thank you"

And he hung up on me.

So I wrote a big ol "NO" on my list, next to their name.

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $13900

They are a scam!!!! They gave us a quote for our move based on all the items we listed out for them over the phone that we had including king bed, dressers, treadmill, bow flex, 50 boxes, bikes, strollers, toys, etc….

When the contracted movers arrived they had a tiny little section for us in a moving truck and claimed we had way more than they expected and had to do an “onsite adjustment”. They came back with a price of $4000 more/additional to what they quoted us!! We called the company to complain and they were incredibly rude and disrespectful. They kept saying things like “well, we can’t force people to read the emails me send, and to read the contracts…”

Or “we have no idea what you have until we arrive…” which is a complete lie and a bunch of B.S..

The section they had for us wouldn’t even fit my single treadmill. The entire “quoted” area would maybe fit two dressers and a couple boxes and that’s it! My king sized mattress would of taken up the whole space on its own! Such a complete joke!! They offered to only take what would fit at our quoted price of $2400- or else we’d have to pay the ridiculous upgrade to over $6300 to move our stuff. Scam!!!! We sent them packing and are going to fight to get back the deposit we put down. This is how they get you! Do not fall for this and give them a dime! Even the mover guy said “this happens all the time” in regards to the jacked up prices and on-site revision quotes to higher prices. Their “customer service” reps on the phone are liars, rude, condescending, and unprofessional. They clearly do not care and know exactly what they are doing to people. They sucker you in with a phony quote, take your deposit, then try and rip you off when they arrive. Luckily, we can just get a moving trailer and just do it ourselves. Unfortunately, for most they probably get stuck and basically get black mailed into their move.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $6300

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. This was my first long distance move, and I had to use the cheapest company due to my limited funds. It is not worth it, especially since the movers will tack on extra charges. Go with a bit pricier and more reliable company, you will not regret it!

The sales people at S.G. are pushy and reassure you there will be enough space. They even added an extra 25 boxes (total 35) to my inventory just to make sure. After packing everything, I was EXTREMELY under my estimated inventory (10 boxes, and all furniture listed on my initial estimate).

When the movers arrived (giving me 20 minutes notice, after Southern Guarantee said they would give 1 hour), they said there would definitely NOT be enough space. They encouraged me to bribe them with a $150 tip each, so that they would pretend like it was fine. Instead, I removed three hefty pieces of furniture from my inventory, and it fit within the limits according to the two movers.

They called their boss for final checkout, and he said I was not within the limit because 2 lines of the truck was 400 cubic feet, and I was only allotted 268, so I was charged an extra $430. It defeated the entire purpose of the low estimate, and there was no way my estimate would accurately fit my inventory despite the salesperson assuring me it would (I was literally TWENTY FIVE BOXES BELOW MY ESTIMATE).

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2636

Scam. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! They will tell you whatever you want to hear and will outright lie to get you to sign up. They are a broker, not a moving company. They will quote you the lowest price possible, then take a non-refundable deposit. This money is their brokerage fee, not to pay the moving company. Despite telling you the exact opposite, the actual contract you sign basically says that they don't know when you'll get picked up, they don't know if the moving company will do it for the price quoted, and they don't know when you'll get your stuff delivered. We had a pick up window of 7/29-7/31. We called every day and were told they were definitely arriving the next day. No call, no show each day. By 8/1 we had to make other arrangements to move from Texas to Florida. As of 8/11, we have still had no contact from Southern Guarantee, and we are out $4200. If they have done this to you, file a complaint with the BBB and the FMCSA. If you want to file a claim in court, it has to be filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts, and the resident agent to be named is Bethany Cook. It will likely do no good, but the more complaints there are on record, the less likely it is that someone else will get scammed.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $9800

Anthony the broker gave me a price. When the movers came the price was $1,500.00 more. Anthony wrote down incorrect information as to the size of my load, which led in part to the increase. He also told me that the price he gave me included everything if I booked with him right then! Before prices go up. I had pottery that needed to be wrapped and boxed.He also told me that it was included in my price. I questioned this numerous times. I actually had less pottery and less boxes than in the original document. I also called 2 times prior to the move to verify and double check that what had been told me was a fact. Both times I got "Don't worry it is good it will be fine" Today I sent a copy of the original bill and the new one and just received a phone call from a woman that was very nice . I do not remember her name. She kept saying she understood my frustration but pretty much it was my problem and they were not going to do anything. It would not have been a huge deal if it was a few hundred dollar difference , but $1,500.00 . I assumed they knew what they were doing when it came to pricing. I counted on them because they should have been the experts. I have never moved before so I feel as though someone at Southern should take responsibility. So buyer beware. I feel as though they would have told me anything to make the sale. I had also shopped for price. I guess you get what you pay for.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $219300