Shalom/Quality Moving and Storage Hollywood & Tampa, FL
Steven of Sicklerville, NJ, writes: My wife and I moved from North Miami Beach, Florida to southern New Jersey. We contacted consumer agencies and followed their suggestions and finally picked Shalom Moving. The day of the move a company called Quality showed up, told us not to worry they were the same company.
Before loading they made us sign a paper for packing expenses that we agreed to as this was explained to us before hand in the contract, I also told them at that time I was on a very tight budget and if we were to go over by $1,000.00 over the estimate to let me know as this is all I budgeted for. I kept telling them this during the packing process as it appeared they were repacking things we had packed and using excessive packing materials, but was told not to worry repeatedly and called two times to the manager with my problem and again told not to worry until I was handed the final bill -- over three times the original estimate.
I told them to remove everything and I would pay for it but could not afford that amount, they left with our belongings telling me that we would work it out. I called the police and they told the police that our things were not stolen but on their way to New Jersey. We drove up to NJ, contacted the movers along the way trying to negotiate an amount that I could afford. I had kept telling the movers that I agreed to the 110% clause I had learned about from tv and the consumer protection agency I had contacted but was told this did not apply.
I then contacted an attorny in NJ who I new and he did get involved but told me he was limited as not being an attorny in Florida. Negotiations went back and forth until we got the federal motor carriers agency involved and they finally agreed to the 110% of the estimate plus over $1700.00 in packing materials. We agreed and they sent some of our belongings, keeping over 80 items, then after calling and fighting again they sent more items but still have kept over 20 items of ours including a 32-inch Sony color tv valued at over $1,000, plus many personal belongings.
We also received someone else's bicycle on the second delivery and part of someone else's dining room table on the first delivery that they never took back. We are at this time without over 20 items, are told by them we are not getting them and that we can not file any claims for the abundant damage they did to a major part of our belongings. We know at this time the only thing we can do is to take them to court it seems, but lack of funds at this time make it difficult to be able to do this.
We do not want this to happen to anyone else as I know it has with this company as told to me by the Department of Agriculture in the state of Florida that handles these comlaints but has no authority to do anything except send letters. They are aware of this company and their problems but appear not to be able or desire to do anything so it continues to happen to others.
We have been without many of our items, had to purchase new belongings to replace them. I am on a medical disability and had to move a lot of the furniture myself as they did not want to bring things upstairs (they were told it was a two-story house). Many of our belongings and furniture had to be thrown out due to the damage. We have gone without things also and do to the extra expenses we cannot afford an attorney at this time to file for damages or to get the rest of our belongings,
Consumer Affairs.Com is provided by ConsumerAffairs.com, Inc. in association with Joan E. Lisante LLC, licensed to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia and the Law Offices of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Ltd., licensed to practice in Illinois. ConsumerAffairs.com is an independent service not affiliated with any government agency. For more information see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice. ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as
to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof.
