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It's no secret that consumers are almost completely at the mercy of movers these days (see Movers Hold Consumers Hostage). So, hoping to avoid disaster, many consumers choose a well-known brand name mover, thinking they will be more reliable. As many Bekins movers have learned, this isn't always the case.
Many then go a step further and purchase premium insurance. Bekins calls theirs "For All It's Worth" and the implication is that the consumer's good are covered up to their full replacement value. Sadly, this is often not the case.
Marcia of Antioch, TN December 31, 2008
Thank you for publishing the complaint I sent last week. Today when I returned to my house, there was a large Fed Ex box on my front porch. It's return address was that of the Bekins driver who was in charge of my move and the person I suspected of stealing the safe. It was shipped to me from him from the state of Pennsylvania, not Florida, where the move originated. I moved to Tennessee. No reference to Bekins is on the box. There was no paperwork with the box.
When I opened the box, the safe was still sealed but it had obvious marks where someone had attempted to pry off the back of it, and there were also scratches around the hinges on the front. And I've still never talked to anyone from Bekins except ladies who work in the office at the corporate office. The local person I dealt with (Carol) was an agent which I found out is different than an employee of Bekins--the middleman, I guess. No one has even called me back about my complaint. Move your valuable things yourself! Don't trust these companies to hire honest people and make sure you have full insurance coverage on valuable with someone.
Emotional wear and tear over this, and a definite level of discomfort about the driver and the fact he knows where I live, went through my personal things and stole from me!
Marcia of Antioch, TN December 25, 2008
The driver was rude and aggressive to me when my furniture was delivered Also personal things of an intimate nature had been gone through and some of my items were left in my MAILBOX! But upon unpacking I discovered that a Sentry home safe I owned and was clearly listed on the inventory was missing. I do not believe this was an accident that the item of most potential value was lost.
From the conduct of the driver, I'm sure the safe was stolen. After phone calls to Bekins AND filing a police report for insurance (ALTHOUGH MOST ITEMS WEREN'T INSURED) I filed a report to the Better Business Burea. The day after I did that, Bekins called me to tell me that had SUDDENLY found the safe and had it in their warehouse. Since that time, I haven't been able to get them to make arrangements to ship it back to me.
They wanted the driver to return it to me (from Florida to Tennessee!) which was not satisfactory to me at all. This man had already been intimidating and threatening to me and not someone I wanted any contact with. I'e had some phone response frm the Bekins corporate office but haven't had my property returned to me. There were also more normal house items missing i.s. vaccuum cleaner, artists easel, etc.
The safe contained alot of jewelry. The most expensive item was a men's Baume Mercier 18k watch valued at 10,000. It was not insured since my husband is deceased and it wasn't worn by anyone. There were family jewelry items such as a diamond ring that belonged to my great grandmother valued at around 2000. I would estimate the contents totaled around 25,000.
Also there were letters to me from my daughter and other family keepsakes of non monetary value. I am deeply, deeply saddened by this loss. I've spent hours trying to pursue the return of the safe and dealing with insurance before Bekins told me the safe had been in their possession all the time. The mental strain of an interstate move plus theft of this nature is significant. Tommie of Desert Hot Springs, CA December 10, 2008
I recently moved into a house and needed my beds. I called and spoke with Erma, we went over the packing slip that I had together with her copy. I requested half of the crates (the ones with the beds listed). when the crates were delivered, there were no beds and some boxes had two and three tags on one box. When I called and inquired about what items were in the crate, from my packing slip, I was told that the packing slips don't mean nothing because they packed the crates according to what space they could put something in.
I have no bed to sleep on and at this time I cannot afford to have the entire shipment delivered.
Jennifer of Farmington, UT October 22, 2008
I hired Bekins to move all of my stuff including my car from Florida to Utah. I paid for the 100K insurance with no deductible. I made a call and showed the driver all of the damages I could see the same day of delivery but was told by corporate I had to file a claim in writing and that it couldn't be done over the phone. I wanted to make sure I got everything in the claim so I quickly un packed and found even more items. I have calculated over 30K in damages and my car is not part of that amount. The only thing I got lucky about was that my car was fine. I have been staring at a big screen tv with a rainbow and double images since May of 2008 when this happened and my toddler has been on a mattress on the floor because her crib was ruined. They even used my hamper and garbage cans to stuff things in instead of boxing them up when I paid for full packing service!
I filed the claim within 7 days of delivery. I followed up several times and was told that they had 90 days to respond. And they used up every single day of that 90 days only to send me a letter on the last day denying my entire claim stating it wasn't written on the documentation. First of all, they ask you to sign paperwork saying how great the service is right after they drop the last package before you even have time to look around. Not to mention the items in boxes that are ruined. How are you to know what is ruined or missing until you unpack and I did point out the damages I did see and was told that pertains to the other driver and not the service of the delivery guy. The driver also hired 2 guys from a local temp agency to unload the truck that were not Bekins employees and looked like they were on Heroin!
So I sent an appeal letter that is 3 pages long. I followed up on that letter and was told they now have ANOTHER 90 days to respond. So it has been over 6 months living like this when I paid extra for not only their packing service so they couldn't blame my packing skils but also for a 0 deductible insurance in the amount of 100,000 more than enough to cover the damages.
They have now missed their self proclaimed 90 day allowance and I am ready to find them in default and require them to pay full damages. I just need to find a way to do it pro se because I don't have the money for an attorney. How this company has earned it's reputation is beyond me!
35K in property damages. Potential eye damage from staring at this TV in this conditions because I was told by Bekins in writing that I could not repair or replace anything until they have made their judgement.
Uday of Fremont, CA October 20, 2008
Cox is a broker for Bekins. Both Cox and Bekins are culprits but I want to let consumers know that these brokers are absolutely useless and especially this one - Cox. I was looking for a moving company to move my 4 bedroom house full of items from Tampa to the SF bay area in CA. I got quotes ranging from 2000 to 5000 - the latter being from Cox/Bekins. I decided to go with a reputed company given that I already had a taste of moving blues with my cars being delayed by nearly two weeks beyond the promised date.
The President of this company - Mr.Cox - himself came to my home to give me the quote and assured me that I am dealing with a high integrity professional company. The goods arrived two weeks late and my dining set was ruined. They took 2 months to settle my claim and paid me 48. That is based on the insurance of 60 cents per pound and since they only runined my four chairs - that is all I was going to get. I couldn't find the set in CA and that I have to chuck the table, buffet and all six chairs.
Not once could I have a decent conversation on the phone with either Cox or Bekins folks who at times were downright rude. Horrible horrible people in both places.
My dining set that is worth 2000 is now ruined. We had to wait for two extra weeks for our goods and ended up living horribly - sleeping on the floor, buying some essentials all over again eventhough we already had them.
Kathleen of Gleason, TN August 25, 2008
bekins moved us from Pa to TN what a disaster we have 7 boxes missing, 958.00 in broken items,and they want to settle with us for 86.00 what a JOKE. I cannot believe that anyone would not go after them for all the complaints filed here.
Caren of Westford, MA July 7, 2008
Movers picked up furniture on 6/21 and guaranteed delivery by 6/28 at the latest. After losing our furniture, we were notified that the goods would arrive by 7/9. We have tried several times to contact the local mover and the corp. headquarters and NO ONE will return our calls. You get automated info that your goods are on the way.
Unfortunately, we were only able to stay in a hotel until 7/2 and had to leave for other commitments out of the country and can't be back until 7/21. We have no idea if our furnture will be put in storage or left in the driveway! Worst experience I've ever had moving. Worst customer service ever encountered! I recommend NEVER using Bekins or ABC Movers.
Cheryl of North Hollywood, CA April 21, 2008
We used Bekins twice. The first time the moving van had a roof leak and ruined our furniture. We did get a settlement from this. I decided to use them again several years later and I had furniture damage and a 3,000 mattress ripped and soiled. I called and made a complaint. The local mover gave me the information to contact the main office. This has been over a year and I still have not received a settlement or had ANYONE come out to look at the damages.
Phone call after phone call over the year, plus I wrote a letter to Bekins' president Michael Petersen. He forwarded the letter onto their legal department, who says they are not at fault and I should be speaking with Bekins A-1 Movers. More phone calls and e-mails and still nothing. I have now come to the realization that I will have to sue. They don't care and you shouldn't care about using them. These people are liars at best. PLEASE DO NOT USE THEM
Anita of San Diego, CA March 11, 2008
I used Bekins to move from Atlanta to San Diego. (I am a cancer survivor as well.) As the driver and I wait 2 hours for one person to show up, I was left with him after the driver left to finish up moving my items into the house. Of course, things were broken, but the real insult came when the young man asked if I had real breast--as if I have not suffered enough. After speaking to Terasa Brown, she further insulted me. She called without doing any homework--told me they would not give me back the money I paid them. To add to the upset as well, they left ten boxes of books outside, which I had to bring into my home because his preacher wanted my boxes, and wanted him to help him move. I am upset...
Sexual comments are not part of their job description. I want my money back. I want them closed....
Peggy of Nashville, TN March 9, 2008
No insurance was offered, and we have a long list of damaged articles. Movers left items in garage at new site so as not to carry them upstairs. Items packed at origination by company were destroyed in move. They generally treated my containers and furniture without regard.
I have a long list of damaged items and sent a CD of all damages to company claims office. Both are available upon request.
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