True Blue Moving Group

BEWARE of apparent Fraud and Predatory Practices by True Blue Moving Group, LLC of Greenacres, Florida, hereafter called TBMG.

We were originally quoted a total of $4621.60 for the move what was the equivalent of a Studio Apartment (actually a One Bedroom, but no bed, chest of drawers or bedside tables). I had forgotten a couple of items and called back and got a new Estimate/Bill of Lading for $5232.50

This was in line with other estimates we had received and so we paid a deposit of $1881.00 by credit card and booked a pack up date of either the 28th or 29th of May, 2022.

We were supposed to have our total broken into three payments. Deposit, Pickup, Delivery. More on that later.

Without calling us, the packers showed up on the 27th and said that they were there to pack us and move us. Well, we were certainly not happy with that, as we had given two dates, as they had specified. The packers came up to the apartment and looked through all the rooms to “make sure they had the stuff they needed and that it looked the right amount etc.” They also indicated that we would be the first pack and load of the day, so we should see them fairly early.

On the 28th, they did not show up on time and we called the Driver/Lead. He said that they “decided to pack someone else first in another location”. We raised the roof, and they reluctantly agreed to come to us first.

On arrival, they said that someone had stolen their packing supplies and that they had to “buy more” and began the “sob story”.

After packing up and loading 80% of the boxes etc., the Driver/Lead said that we had way more stuff than was on the original estimate/bill of lading. He then said that it was almost DOUBLE what we had told the sales/scheduling person at TBMG at the beginning. He said we could agree to the increase, with a new Bill of Lading and cost OR they could unload it all on the street. His excuse was that he was only a contractor and could not fix anything. He also continued the sob story about how much work it had been and hinted that if they did not get a good tip, they would not be incented to take good care of our belongings.

I complained to the corporate office/Manager at TBMG and they said there was nothing that they could do, because the packer/mover was a contractor and not them.

We were already incredibly stressed and out of time, so we agreed.

This brought the estimate to $10,279.00!! a MORE THAN DOUBLING of the original estimate.

More predatory practices ensued at this point. The Driver/Lead went through a bunch of garbage about how much he was “taking off” of the bill for this that and the other thing, so it was so good… NOT.

Additionally, at this point, the Driver/Lead also insisted on CASH payment or a Postal Money Order and of course that is the same as cash. I called again to the corporate office and even though we were previously assured we could use credit card or a check, they said again, “nothing we can do, as the packer is an independent contractor. In the end, we went to the bank and got cash before they closed and paid over $4K in cash. I insisted on him signing the documents showing receipt of the cash.

We were told multiple times, that our shipment was going to go in a small truck direct and that this is the best way for it to not get damaged. However, we had put Apple Tracking Tabs in some of the boxes and saw that they unloaded the shipment, across the bay in Richmond, California and there it sat for over a month.

We called multiple times to TBMG and then to their consigned shipper, Movers and Packers Relocations Specialists out of New York, to pressure them to finish the shipment. We were promised dozens of times that they were “checking with dispatch” and would get back to me. They NEVER called me. I always called them.

Eventually, we were told that the shipment was being delivered on August 19th. Then the next part of the saga begins, where another “independent contractor” delivered our household goods to a storage facility where we met them.

As they opened the back of a rented truck, we see our belongings and immediately knew that they were almost totally destroyed.

In the end, it was another insistence on CASH and no credit card or check allowed. This is obviously a tactic to prevent you from cancelling charges or checks due to their gross negligence. Additionally, even after the original shipper/packer said we could keep the few, old blankets used (we insisted on this as the items were going to storage) and said he put it in the documents.

So, at the end of this sad tale, is that we paid a total of $9,611.00 plus about $1K in tips (supposedly for taking good care of our stuff!).

Bottom line: We paid over $10K to ship a studio apartment amount of household good, a total of 1316 miles. To add insult to injury, we also paid that exorbitant, predatory figure AND had over $30K in damages through their and their agent’s gross negligence.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $10000

If you don’t read anything else, you’d better read this! It will save you a world of stress, heartache, and worries! We had a move date of 6/22/22. Company promised they would move us that day. Never did! Promised they would move us the next day. Never did! This went on for a solid week! Every day it was the same story! They caused the buyer of our house to withhold funding until we showed the house was empty. This kept us from purchasing our new home because of that. After many many conversations with the manager, Robin, I told her that we were done with them and their lies, and we’re hiring a new company. She refused to return our deposit of $2730 stating it was non refundable because they provided a service. They provided absolutely nothing! This was the worst moving experience I have ever had! However, after arguing with Robin for almost an hour and threatening her with legal action, she finally refunded us $1200 of our deposit! With that, she actually admitted that they were a scam, and provided nothing! I’m still not done with her and this brokerage! She held us hostage for over a week with useless promised, only to be called out as the liar she and her representatives are, Jessica, Nichole and Jared! We have lived primitively out of boxes for a week with promises every single day, only to discover they were never going to provide a mover!! At all cost, avoid this company like the plague!! They will just take your money and produce nothing!! We finally fired them and found a reputable mover, Apex Movers, and they are coming tomorrow to finally complete our move! True Blue Moving is a broker and does not deliver, EVER! I promise you, use them, and you will be regretting life for a very long time!!!

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7000

I contacted True Blue because the company had great reviews and I was in need a quick move. The sales associate I spoke with was very helpful oand broke down how their process works. I was given a quote and paid my initial payment (~$1,300). The expected timeframe was 2-4 days (this duration was communicated to me several times) to deliver all of my belongings to my destination (only 700 miles away). Everything was going smoothly until the movers showed up and informed me this would likely take 2-4 weeks. It goes without saying that I cancelled immediately. At no point was any timeframe over a week even mentioned. I have yet to receive any of my phone recordings with the sales team even though I have requested them multiple times. The only response that I receive from the company is that I cancelled on the day of delivery. Understandable in most cases... just not in my case considering I was flat out lied to. I would highly advise hiring a different moving company, specifically a company that doesn't lie to customers and take their money.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1300

I was quoted a price, double checked with the sales team that this price would remain the same throughout the move. I am out of state and my things are being picked up in a storage unit. I have no ability make sure my things are organized. I was charged $800 more upon pick up for space, although I did give them dimensions of the unit and was assured that it would be fine. Things were picked up on August 8th & I am still sitting in an apartment across the country without a bed or any furniture. I have inquired daily about the status of drop off, it has not left the pickup destination and has not been assigned a driver. I understand they have a wide timeframe to deliver (31 days they most recently told me, however after reviewing my contract I knew it was 15 days - pic attached) but I was assured by the sales team that this was a worst case scenario ( literally they said a tornado or car accident) and I should expect deliver in 3-5 days of pickup. I am not sure if this is normal but for what I am paying (nearly 5k, I anticipated a more timely deliver or at least a more clear timeframe)

I’ve called customer service and apparently she is fed up with me, after waiting on hold for 25 min she answers and immediately hangs up. I feel like I’m getting messed with and I can’t think of a worse way to operate a business.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5000

They have nothing to do with your move except for taking your money. I booked my move with them without realizing they were a broker. I gave them a deposit after receiving initial quote. The morning before my move, I spoke with a QA and my moving fee went from $4700 to $6700 as I had more items to move than intended. The evening before my move, I received another call to tell me that the movers would need payment in cash, money order, bank check or Zelle as they did not accept credit cards. The day of the move, 3 guys show up in a Penske truck, tell me they are called "Out of State Moving Services" and I have way more stuff than they were told. According to their calculations, my move was going to cost $9900. I had gone to the bank the day before to have a bank check for the intended amount. I owed another $1899. The man in charge of this operation agreed to allowing me to send it the next day. I did attempt to do an electronic payment through my bank but ended up having to pay it the day my belongings were delivered. My belongings were delivered by a different crew than who picked up.

I was told by True Blue my household goods would stay in the partitioned moving truck for the 7 to 10 days it would take to go from NY to AL as they would be completing other moving jobs along the way. "Out of State Moving Services" informed me they would be taking my belongings back to their warehouse, unloading them into a POD, and reloading them when they could deliver them to me.

My belongings did arrive in entirety. I had a furniture piece damaged, and attempted to put in a claim, but their claim company website is a joke. You never get through the registration/verification process.

I did complain to True Blue that there are 11 boxes on the inventory list provided by "Out of State Moving Services" for which I know they added in to create a reason to charge me $3000 more than the QA quote. The complaint fell on deaf ears. No surprise. I also asked True Blue to reinstate the links to my initial quote as well as the QA quote as they both became "inactive links" the day of my move, but that request was ignored as well.

I learned a valuable and expensive lesson.

I will be following up with this with the US DOT OIG as well as law enforcement agencies suggested by OIG.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $9900

Worst company I have dealt with. For 700 miles distance, they stated in the contract the delivery would be within 15 business days from the first available pick up date. They ask for 80% upfront. I received my delivery after 46 days that too after calling and begging for them to deliver. Very unprofessionally handled service. These broker hire company that doesn’t even deliver so it was a third company and I had to deal with different person every-time. Moreover closer to the delivery, the driver never contacted. At the end when I finally received, I didn’t even check and bothered to let them know of any Damages done to the furniture.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5600