Charles E. Groff & Sons, Inc.

The situation is currently being handled with **& *** ***We are doing what we can to bring this to a satisfactory conclusion with *** ***Thank you

The situation is currently being handled with **& *** ***We are doing what we can to bring this to a satisfactory conclusion with *** ***Thank you

Review: I am writing to alert you to a situation with my recent move from [redacted], PA to [redacted], WI with Groff Moving and Storage of [redacted]. The move went reasonably well but I feel that I have been subjected to what I would call, "bait and switch" in respect to the additional insurance. The representative of Groff moving and Storage, [redacted], who provided the moving estimate used a statement like, "...if the truck gets hit by a train and is destroyed," when discussing the additional insurance I could purchase for the move. He then provided a formula that I could use to calculate the cost of the insurance, but did not give me an approximate cost for the insurance as part of the move proposal. He was able to provide a moving weight and cost for the move which was close to the actual weight and cost, but did not provide a cost for the additional insurance options. That he did not provide this should have been a clue to me that something was amiss.

I had two moving firms visit my house to give me prices for the move and Groff was selected as they had the best cost. [redacted] could have easily provided cost options for the additional move insurance based on his estimate of the move weight with the caveat that the cost would be adjusted for the actual weight. As with the move weight, the insurance cost would have changed with the weight. Had he done so, I would have been able to make an informed decision, based on the cost, whether or not to purchase the additional insurance.

A similar situation occurred when the driver and I discussed the additional insurance at the end of the loading. He never gave me an answer about the cost ranges for the insurance when I asked about the magnitude of the cost. At the end of a busy 16+ hour day, and assuming, that the cost would be reasonable, I agreed to the $250 deductible for additional insurance. Imagine my surprise at delivery when the cost was $725 to cover my $125,000 valuation for four days! I would have expected under $100 for the added insurance. I have insurance on my house and belongings which covers liability, full replacement cost and belongings for less than the cost for the three day move of belongings valued at $125,000. I cannot believe that the risk of loss of a four day shipment is sufficient to justify $725 for the coverage.

I still have not received a policy for this insurance from Groff, just what may be considered a binder, so I don't even have detailed information about the coverage that I paid for.

The bottom line is that from my perspective, the insurance process was handled badly and did not provide me with cost and coverage information that would have been essential to my making an informed decision on the cost vs. coverage. I ask that you look into this situation. Feel free to call me with questions at the below number and to keep me informed as your investigation moves forward.Desired Settlement: What I would like is a reasonable cost for the moving insurance - as I stated in my initial correspondence with representatives of Groff, I insure my house and contents for a year for what they charged me for belongings only for a few days. Another way to look at this is that the cost of the insurance was 10% of the cost of the move.

The way the insurance was 'sold' Is also an issue as both the booking agent and the driver were not forthcoming in their discussions of the insurance cost. This is discussed in my initial e-mail exchange with them.

Business

Response:

August 16, 2013

Revdex.com

1337 North Front Street Harrisburg PA 17102

RE: [redacted]

ID [redacted]

To Whom It May Concern;

In response to complaint filed by [redacted] (ID#[redacted]);

Charles E Groff & Sons Inc are agents for [redacted] Worldwide Movers in [redacted] IN which means when our (Charles E Groff & Sons Inc) trucks travel interstate our company operates under their ([redacted]) authority, therefore we are in compliance with all interstate rules and regulations for household goods carriers. All shippers doing an interstate move are provided, by law, a packet of information that includes the carrier's level of liability or valuation as it is called in the moving industry, not to be confused with insurance. This packet is provided on the day of the in home estimate and signed for on the order for service acknowledging receipt of packet. When doing an interstate shipment, a shipper must declare a value on their shipment, either $0.60 per pound per article (required by law to be provided at no additional costs to the consumer) or full value replacement. If a shipper elects full value replacement he must declare a sum at least six times the weight of their shipment in dollar amounts (i.e.; a 5,000 lb shipment would require a declaration of at least $30,000 of full value replacement) [redacted] signed for full value replacement on the order for service and bill of lading. After the shipment is delivered shipper cannot go back and "change" their minds on their valuation selection based on any claims they may or may not have to make. One is not refunded their annual car insurance premiums if they do not need to make a claim, and unfortunately that is how this claiming process works. If a shipper signs for full value replacement and has no claims to make, there are not refunded that premium.

Please fee! free to give me a call with any other questions at ###-###-#### or by email at [redacted].

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: As stated in my original complaint; the issue is not requesting a post-move refund for the premium since I did not suffer a claim - as suggested in the Groff response, but one of: 1) The way the insurance options/costs were presented by the Goff agent - I received an accurate quote for the move cost. However, the "quote" for the insurance options was presented as a complex formula based on weight with no related costs; 2) The cost of the insurance, when presented at the delivery, was 10% of the move cost. The cost for the insurance, for four day transit, is equal to the cost insuring my house and contents for one year! it is also more than it costs me to insure my vehicle for a year! it is inconceivable to me that the underwriting exposure to the insurance carrier is so great as to cost as much as it did! Had the Groff agent or driver provided me with an estimated insurance cost, as they did for the move, I would have not accepted the additional insurance. A reasonable person would not think that insurance for a four day transit would be as much as a year of house and belongings insurance or for car insurance!