Complain about a product or service

Fleet Auto Transport

Francois of Redding, CA July 6, 2009

Fleet United had given me the lowest quote on transporting my Subaru from Florida to Oregon, so I booked the service in March of 2005 and sent a deposit check to Fleet United for 150 to transport it. Their ad had said 1-8 days to deliver. I was told that they couldn’t do it at the original quote of 900 because the gas prices had shot up and they couldn't find a carrier, so they tried searching at an 80 increase. The advertised time still passed and the person who sold me the car on Ebay was moving and wanted the car to be taken ASAP, so I decided to go with another company.

I called Fleet United to cancel the service and not cash my deposit check. I was assured that it wouldn't be deposited, so, even though I had considered putting a stop-payment on the check, I decided to trust them. Later, I noticed the 150 was charged to my account. I told Fleet United about this and they denied cashing it, so I had my credit card company (since it was a convenience check) send me a copy of the cancelled check and I both emailed and faxed it to Fleet United. Fleet United then apologized and one of their employees even emailed me that he remembered seeing the check. I was told that it was inadvertently deposited and that my refund was on its way.

According to their own deposit stamp on the back of the check, it was deposited on April 9, 2005. I never received the refund! They told me it is their bank's incompetence (It was Suntrust Bank on the deposit stamp on the back of the check) for not verifying the deposit took place, but this never would have happened if Fleet United hadn't cashed it in the first place. I sent them the proof of the deposit and they admitted having the check, which they no longer have. In the beginning, I was told that it wouldn’t be deposited, and then, for several months, I was told that my refund was on its way.

I kept giving them the benefit of the doubt for several months. I even asked them by email to give me the phone number of the bank, so that I can contact the employee there about this situation. I received no number. I then called the owner of Fleet United directly and asked him to get me the number. He said that he would, but never gave it to me. On May 18, I received the following email from Antwan at Fleet United, copied directly from my email archive, first and foremost, my sincerest apologies on this matter.

As far as I knew the check was never cashed until I got ahold of the accountant's records. The check was cashed by mistake in a batch of checks that were sent to the bank. This has never happend before, and we have taken steps to insure that it doesnt happen in the future with any of our customers. I have spoken with the owner so he can remedy the situation. Once again I apologize for the mis-information and confusion.

On Aug. 8, I received the following email from him, "I agree it has taken way to long to have this rectified, but the representative at the bank couldn't understand that you sent in an actual check, not information for us to do a bank draft. So he basically was looking for something that didn't exist. We notified him of this before hand so such confusion could be avoided. There is no reason for alarm. If the situation was completely in our hands you would have had your refund by now. I personally saw the check you sent in from Capital One, so I now first hand whets going on. I apologize on his behalf for this fiasco. I have spoken to the owner and your refund is on its way."

Even after these admissions, I still received no refund. In a nutshell: They had advertised that they would get the car transported within 8 business days. They didn't, so I told them that I was cancelling and going with another company. I told them not to deposit the check, but they ended up doing that anyway (something I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as a mistake). They promised a refund, but never gave one.

After seven months without a refund, I decided to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. The owner responded by claiming that they kept my deposit for the work they did! He then claimed that a particular hurricane that struck their area delayed how they dealt with my refund! That particular hurricane happened in the fall of 2005, but I had been told in April of that year that my refund was coming! Unless it takes that many months to write a check for a refund, he was telling a lie. I only tried this company in the first place both because of the advertised 1-8 business days and because a search of prices had them with the lowest quote.

I suspect that Fleet United probably just gives the lowest quote to hook you, and then doesn't necessarily follow through on what they advertise. Supposedly, they are just "consultants," and not the actual carriers that transport the cars, meaning that all they do is find actual carriers for you. However, if they don't follow through on their advertised timeline, shouldn't that entitle you to a refund, when no carrier was found?

I can understand something happening for a company to not be able meet a timeline--that can happen to anyone--but when they don't refund you for the unmet advertised expectation, that part I don't understand. The Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida rates them with an F. Even though getting my refund back would be nice, I'm only writing this to warn others so that they are aware.

Gary of Bakersfield, CA September 10, 2007

Before leaving on an extended vacation in our motor home, the #2 plug blew out of my Ford V-10. Screwed the plug back in and went on my merry way. After 900 miles it blew again this time with the threads in the block stripped and coil messed up

Went to a small town mechanic and he recommended a Helicoil Kit. They ordered it and 1 day later, 160 lighter for the Helicoil Kit and Labor, plus 225 for a new coil I was under way again. Great shop in Raymond Oregon, Steve's Front End Repair. I am now in the process of purchasing additional helicoil to carry with me.

Willie of Brookline, MA August 21, 2006

We entered a written contract and paid 100 deposit for the Fleet United Auto Transport to schedule an authorized carrier to ship our Mercedes Benz C240 from Fremont CA. to Brookline MA. We have requested delivery date to be 6/22/2006. As the internet advertised Pickups in 1 to 8 business days, the company have never contacted us in regards to the shipment arrangements. We initiated the contact via e-mail, phone every 2 to 3 days. We consistently get excuses on why no arrangements have been made. Weeks and months have gone by, the company just took our non-refundable deposit of 100, and made no arrangements. The Fleet United Auto Transport is not only false advertising, but also collect the money without delivering any service.

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