Safe Guard Van Lines

Not sure where to start. Started searching for a long distance moving company on 4/8/2020. 1st time moving long distance. Came across several companies (I know now that they were brokers). Move Smart made me feel comfortable and I trusted “Paul Trent”. Told him EVERYTHING were we moving. Small 2 bedroom apartment. Quoted $1578 for 286 cuft. I don’t know what 286 cubic feet looks like, but I trusted Move Smart. Movers (Safeguard Vanlines from NJ) arrive in NY on 4/25/2020. Large Budget truck. They start moving and tell me we were taking up A LOT more space than they quoted. At the time, we knew we owed $1000 to complete the move. Already paid Move Smart $578. I asked how much is our total? $2900!!!! INSANE. That’s even after my mother left 3 dressers, couch and recliner behind so the price didn’t get jacked up even more. My response? “You’re out of your mind! Y’all can unload the truck and I’ll go get a ***.” They didn’t want to do that. I talked him all the way down to $1800 total. They were able to take $1100 off without any problems. I even spoke with “Britt” from Move Smart customer service. She acted like there was nothing she could do about it. Items finally arrived 5/8/2020 in the morning. After reading other reviews, sounds like Move Smart quotes most people at 286cuft. Also, the “Tariff Discount” number on the quote. If they discount 61.88%, that leaves 38.12%. I was told, my quote includes 38.12% of the truck. HAHA!!! There were about 5 houses on that truck. Safeguard Vanlines said that the “Tariff” doesn’t mean anything to them. All of these companies scam 1st time movers! They are a fraud!

Safeguard Van Lines was ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. Not only did they damage the majority of my items during my move, but my items were delivered a week later than I was told and I was unable to get through to any one person to talk about my concerns. I filed a claim and after 90 days they offered me $32.00- they easily damaged hundreds of dollars of my things. Such a terrible experience. Absolutely DO NOT HIRE THEM!

They added fees to inflate their cost and threatened not to leave the furniture if I didn't agree to pay it.

These guys are a complete joke and have ZERO professionalism!! I convinced my wife to let someone else move us back to Arkansas from Ohio (2 year stay that we moved up ourselves) and reluctantly she agreed. The movers immediately started asking for tips and how much they'd be tipped before they even began. We were quoted two different numbers and when it came time to pay, half of what was due was the total original quote. They said it would take no more than 3 days to get delivered and it FINALLY showed up a full week after they told us. One driver arrived and was expected to unload the entire truck. I helped him only because I wanted to get a giant semi out of my neighborhood as quickly as possible. Now the fun stuff: two broken TVs (both 60" and I paid extra for the packing materials), damaged nursery furniture that was literally brand new, scratched and chipped dining room set, shattered picture frames and dishes, and we are still finding more as we unpack. I spoke with the office multiple times during the umpire and was told "damage happens on every move, no matter how professional of a company they are". I'll be filing a claim Monday and will see what excuse they come up with. Will never recommend to use again.

The biggest rip off ever. Do not use! They charged me nearly double of what was quoted and insurance would not cover items that were missing and destroyed.

Do not use these people. 4 of my boxes were lost and I have gotten no response. Half the time when I call, a recording says they are closed. When they picked up my small load, they tried to charge me an additional $1,000. The driver who delivered some, but not all, my boxes was rude and barely spoke English. They were subcontracted by *** Van Lines. Beware of both.

SCAM!! FRAUD!!! SHUT THEM DOWN ALONG WITH MOVE SMART IN BOCA FLORIDA! THEY USE PRESSURE TACTICS AND MAKE YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO NEVER GIVE YOU YOUR STUFF, THEY CHANGED MY DATES OF MOVING SAYING THE COULD NOT BE THERE ON THE DAY ORIGINALLY QUOTED THEN THEY DO SHOW UP HOPING YOU WILL MISS THE TRUCK BC THEY TACK ON MORE MONEY IF YOU DO, THEY STATED I WOULD BE LAST ON THE TRUCK WHICH WAS A HALF SEMI AND FIRST OFF, MY STUFF LITERALLY WAS MOVED 4 TIMES AND EACH TIME I WOULD GET A CALL STATING I HAD TO PAY MORE MONEY AND MORE MONEY THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THEY HAVE YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS I WAS QUOTED 1602 FOR 18 BOXES A BED AND SMALL DRESSER BY THE TIME THEY FINISHED WITH ME BULLYING AND CHEATING ME OUT OF MY DUE SERVICE I PAID 3200, THE FINALLY MOVERS WHERE IN A FULL 70 FOOT SEMI AND COULD NOT FIT ON MY STREET THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AN ADDITIONAL 700 DOLLARS TO GET IT FROM THE TRUCK TO MY HOUSE!! THEY KNOW THE ADDRESS THEY ARE GOING TO WHEN YOU BOOK WITH MOVE SMART WHICH IS A SCAM IN ITS SELF IT IS A BROKER AND THEY DO NOT COME TO THE HOUSE TO MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH SPACE YOU NEED ON TRUCK SO THEY DO A 268 CU FT AND THEN WHEN THEY MOVE YOU TO THE TRUCK THEY SAY YOU USED 500 CU FT I DID THE MATH AND I WAS WELL BELOW THE 268 YET THEY STILL CHANGE THE CONTRACT AFTER YOU HAVE ALL YOUR STUFF ON THE TRUCK AND YOU THEN GET SIGNED OVER TO SAFEGUARD AND YOU HAVE NO TIME TO READ THINGS OVER ITS ALL PRESSURE TACTICS WHEN MY STUFF FINALLY GOT HERE IT WAS EXTREMELY DAMAGED EVEN HEAVY DUTY RUBBER MAID BINS WHERE BROKEN IN PIECES I LOST A BUNCH OF PERSONAL PICTURES AND EXPENSIVE ART BECAUSE A BOX WAS WIDE OPEN AND HALF OF IT FELL OUT SOMEWHERE, THEY TAKE NO OWNERSHIP THEY JUST THREATENED YOU ITS INSANE AND THE MORE YOU COMPLAIN THE MORE MONEY THE ADD YOU WILL THINK IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO YOU BUT TRUST ME THEY ARE A FRAUD AND THEY SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS BUT THEY WILL JUST OPEN UNDER ANOTHER NAME!! NEVER USE MOVERS JUST GET A SMARTBOX WITH USHIP OR SOMETHING IF THE PRICE SEEMS TO GOOD - IT IS - DO NOT DO IT!!! RESEARCH THE BROKERS MAKE IT LIKE THEY ARE THE MOVERS AND YOUR STUFF WILL BE BID OUT OVER AND OVER AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE STRESSFUL IS BEYOND AND MAKES THE WHOLE MOVE A NIGHTMARE AND YOU CAN SUE BUT I DOUBT YOU WILL WIN BECAUSE THE CONTRACTS YOU SIGN WILL TELL YOU BASICALLY YOU HAVE TO ACT IMMEDIATELY EVEN IF THE DRIVERS TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TIME!! THE DRIVERS WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T LOOK AT YOUR STUFF TO SEE IF IT IS DAMAGED BEFORE THEY LEAVE BUT YOU CAN'T PUT A CLAIM IN UNLESS YOU WRITE IT ON THE LOG BEFORE THEY LEAVE!! ITS A SCAM!!!! PLEASE, SOMEONE, PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS AND ARREST THEM ALL THEIFS!!

Safeguard Van lines provided a cost much higher than the estimate on the pick up date. They informed me that the quote was inaccurate. They provided me with a revised estimate form and reminded that if I did not sign it, I would forfeit my deposit. They told me that they would "work" with me if I added a nice tip for them. They offered to take additional items in exchange for this tip. They offered and packed an additional large size box with items that were not intended to be shipped. They packed the box and suggested I add more items as well. Upon delivery on 10/16/19, I noticed that this box was not included in my shipment. It is my claim that I am a victim of theft as the movers saw the items in this box, having packed it themselves, and knowingly withheld/took the box.

I stored all of my items in a 400 cubic feet storage unit which was not full. I had 4 tires in addition to those items. The van line loaded my items and then charged me for 549 cubic feet. This resulted in doubling my price, I was willing to pay what is fair but as they charged me over 149 cubic feet that I did not use

I have agreed to pay 2418$ to move my belongings (Specific list of items provided below) from ***, *** to ***, *** on 08/26/2019 with ***. I paid 950$ to *** america ***. I received a call that the *** is scheduled on sep 5th by safeguard vanlines (Third party company. Looks like *** outsourced). The stuff that was loaded into the truck was not the stuff that I had in the contract. I requested them to bring only the stuff thats in the contract. I was asked to pay 270$ by to unload and load which I agreed to pay.. However as soon as the conversation with the company is over the driver demanded over 700$ which I disagreed to pay. The driver left with what ever stuff he picked up. I have not been provided or signed any bill of lading at that point(Later when I complained to DOT, I received a copy which was forged by safegaursvanlines). I received a call demanding around 4000$ on top of the previously agreed mony by safeguard vanlines a week later. After that I told them that I will loadge a police complaint. And on friday 20th of sep 2019, they asked me to pay the remaining balance and they will ship the stuff which I currently in New Jersey (Which I came to know based on my conversation with safeguard vanlines). I haven't made the payment as they are not bringing the all the stuff thats in our contract and they are calling me over the phone with out anything in writing.. Once DOT Personnel recommended to pay the balance, I have made the payment and received a confirmation from the safeguardvanlines employee. Now the problem is they have disclosed the address and the unit number.. For me to get to the location, I need the access code to enter the gate..Which they are not providing.. Also they have breached the contract by not delivering to final address. They made me pay for storage location and also have to pay again to move to my home. And bring the rest of my stuff again from *** to ***.

BIG FRAUD ALERT! HORRIBLE SERVICE. THEY CHEATED IN GETTING THE BUSINESS FROM US. REFUSED TO REFUND DEPOSIT. PICKED UP STUFF A DAY BEFORE THE CONFIRMED DATE (which added a lot of mental and physical stress for us) , THEN STARTED PRESSURISING US TO TAKE THE DELIVERY 2 DAYS BEFORE THE CONFIRMED DATE. WE REFUSED TO TAKE THE DELIVERY BECUASE WE WERE STAYING IN THE HOTEL.THEN DELAYED THE DELIVERY BY 2 DAYS. MEANWHILE CHANGED THE CONTAINER FROM 20’ to 40’ AND THEN TOLD US IT WON’T COME INSIDE THE HOUSING COMMUNITY. THEN THEY CHARGED US EXTRA FOR THAT. WE HAVE PAID 3 TIMES THE MONEY FROM THE INTIAL QUOTE JUST TO GET OUR STUFF SAFE.
THE GUY CARLOS AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY MISBEHAVED, THREATHNED TO LEAVE THE STUFF ON THE ROAD.
I WOULD SINCERELY RECOMMEND TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE GUYS!

This company Safe Guard Van Lines was hired by the broker *** Moving and Storage. My couch was damaged and I wish that was the only complaint but my 47 inch tv never showed up and after numerous calls they were absolutely not concerned and never returned my phone calls. I also called the driver of the truck and he never answered or returned my call. The most important box that was I really concerned about not showing up had my teaching license, bank account information as well as other sentimental things that I cant get back. I called them and talked to Myra and begged her to please try and locate the box because of the important contents in it. She never returned my phone call so I called them back the next day to let them know that I had filed a police report and that bank fraud could be one of the charges. They weren't concerned and now I don't have my teaching license and have had to go through the process of changing bank info which isn't an easy or fun process. Upon unpacking my things, I discovered MANY things missing out of my plastic storage containers which were labeled with what was inside. I packed this way for the long trip and to know what was in each container to make unpacking easier and keep things from breaking etc. I didn't know that these people would take it upon themselves to take the lids off and get whatever they wanted out. There were also a couple of clear containers that they could see the contents such as a speaker and video camera that they took. The other items they took include, perfume and three nice winter coats. I have called them numerous times and they said that I was just looking for compensation. They also never asked how big the tv was so that they could try to locate it, they never asked what items were missing or anything. The broker told me to file a claim with Safe Guards insurance. I can only file one claim and I'm waiting to unpack the rest of my things to see what else was stolen.