Unified Moving Services

Review: Moved on 29 July, conf #[redacted]. Used company in 2010 w/ great results, so came back. Repeat 4 mile move, so packed in same manner as 2010. - Movers showed up 45 mins late - Movers took already packed/labeled boxes & put into their boxes saying it was unorganized (wasted effort/time & they didn't label the new boxes they used) - Movers took breaks smoking/talking & charged for this time - Careless moving caused damage to stair rail in residence moved out of - Careless moving caused scuffs on walls, and scratches & tears in flooring of new residence - Many items broken during move - Took 9 hours to move an already packed townhome 4 miles (took 4 hours to move the same in 2010) Emailed Marc (Moving Co. Sales Rep) w/in 24 hours explaining the situation, w/ pics attached. He responded they would look into it & respond. Followed up on 11 & 12 Aug, w/ a response on 15 Aug for $150 reimbursement & release of liability to the moving company. Responded stating this was unsatisfactory & the wasted time reboxing/smoking should be reimbursed & damage to residences should be reimbursed. $150 was for broken goods - some of which were irreplaceable deployment gifts. On 20 Aug, Gary, the owner sent an insurance form stating we need to fill it out for reimbursement, yet it says we need to have the broken items. Responded explaining we don't have them - this is something told immediately, not 22 days later when the items were disposed of, but regardless, how do they intend to reimburse for the time wasted & damage to residences (one of which is fixed & now occupied by a new tenant as it was the residence moved out of). The company pushed the $150 reimbursement & release of liability, so we are now following up with Revdex.com, hoping we don't have to resort to legal action.Desired Settlement: Request the company reimburse the $150 they agreed for broken items, but also for the wasted time/labor charged reboxing already boxed items for a 4 mile move (our packing method was acceptable to the same moving company in 2010, but somehow "unorganized" this time). Also request reimbursement for the time/labor charged while the movers were chatting/smoking outside the residence. Money should be offered to repair the flooring and walls in the new residence and to pay for the damaged stair railing in the residence moved out of. Bottom line is that 2 hours of time/labor should be reimbursed, along with the $150 for damaged items, and an additional $150 for damage to both residences (wall painting/scratched & chipped flooring/handywork & staining on stair rail).

Business

Response:

To whom it may concern,

I requested assistance with a move. The owner called me "hon", which is entirely inappropriate. I asked them to come out and give me a bid. The owner kept asking me for a phone call. I'm very busy and didn't have time to sit down and have a long protracted conversation. He kept calling me and E-mailing me incessantly. When I finally called him, he said he needed to make sure I had a good enough job before he would commit to coming out to my house. When I told him I wanted to have him pack and move a 3 bedroom house, he said no, called me "hon" and hung up on me. I found the entire experience inappropriate, off putting and down right sleezy.

Review: Moved on 29 July, conf #[redacted]. Used company in 2010 w/ great results, so came back. Repeat 4 mile move, so packed in same manner as 2010.

- Movers showed up 45 mins late

- Movers took already packed/labeled boxes & put into their boxes saying it was unorganized (wasted effort/time & they didn't label the new boxes they used)

- Movers took breaks smoking/talking & charged for this time

- Careless moving caused damage to stair rail in residence moved out of

- Careless moving caused scuffs on walls, and scratches & tears in flooring of new residence

- Many items broken during move

- Took 9 hours to move an already packed townhome 4 miles (took 4 hours to move the same in 2010)

Emailed Marc (Moving Co. Sales Rep) w/in 24 hours explaining the situation, w/ pics attached. He responded they would look into it & respond. Followed up on 11 & 12 Aug, w/ a response on 15 Aug for $150 reimbursement & release of liability to the moving company. Responded stating this was unsatisfactory & the wasted time reboxing/smoking should be reimbursed & damage to residences should be reimbursed. $150 was for broken goods - some of which were irreplaceable deployment gifts. On 20 Aug, Gary, the owner sent an insurance form stating we need to fill it out for reimbursement, yet it says we need to have the broken items. Responded explaining we don't have them - this is something told immediately, not 22 days later when the items were disposed of, but regardless, how do they intend to reimburse for the time wasted & damage to residences (one of which is fixed & now occupied by a new tenant as it was the residence moved out of). The company pushed the $150 reimbursement & release of liability, so we are now following up with Revdex.com, hoping we don't have to resort to legal action.Desired Settlement: Request the company reimburse the $150 they agreed for broken items, but also for the wasted time/labor charged reboxing already boxed items for a 4 mile move (our packing method was acceptable to the same moving company in 2010, but somehow "unorganized" this time). Also request reimbursement for the time/labor charged while the movers were chatting/smoking outside the residence. Money should be offered to repair the flooring and walls in the new residence and to pay for the damaged stair railing in the residence moved out of. Bottom line is that 2 hours of time/labor should be reimbursed, along with the $150 for damaged items, and an additional $150 for damage to both residences (wall painting/scratched & chipped flooring/handywork & staining on stair rail).

Business

Response:

We need this complaint to be submitted under [redacted]'s name because move was completed under order # [redacted] for [redacted]'s name and supervision. We completed move in the past for [redacted] with satisfactory service. complaint must be resubmitted under correct individual whom work was performed. We will await correct response and will apply accordingly.

Review: I was very disappointed at the lack of communication regarding how things would be packed, what would be moved, and the care taken to move our things. We hired a moving company because we have nice things and were worried that we would not be able to securely move everything ourselves. We hired United Moving Services at $135.00 per hour for full packing. When speaking to [redacted], the General Manager on the phone, he said that we would not have to pack a thing, the movers would arrive with packing materials and take care of everything.

The moving company sent one van with three movers. Their packing skills were atrocious. Books were thrown into boxes. Kitchen ingredients like olive oil and vanilla were thrown into boxes. Thankfully, when I unpacked my kitchen nothing was broken. It was just covered in liquid cooking ingredients that had leaked all over. The pages and covers to my books were all bent and mangled. Not to mention the holes left in my graduate diploma. We have a number of custom framed pictures. These were not wrapped properly. Frames were scratched. The frames with sealed paper backings were punctured. The frames were thrown one on top of another, not even wrapped in bubble wrap.

They did not move everything. Apparently they do not move plants. This was never communicated to us. I have a number of large potted plants that the movers refused to move. One of the reasons we hired movers was to help with the heavy plants. By the way, I was six months pregnant at the time of the move. I'm not about move house plants on my own. Also, we have a large wind-up wall clock. They would not move the clock. I was actually happy they didn't move the clock because they probably would have damaged it - but they should have told us they don't move clocks with moving parts.

Some of my furniture my great grandmother had custom made. It is beautiful antique furniture. It now has scratches and chunks of wood missing. We purposely hired movers because we did not want our furniture damaged.

Finally, the movers absolutely destroyed the walls of our new house when they moved the furniture in. Large chunks of dry wall were removed in addition to scratches all over the place. I could go on and on about the condition in which our furniture arrived.

The General Manager [redacted] seems very professional and accommodating on the phone. He apologized for the movers. He sent me a form to fill out to settle the damages. All in all, the company is willing to give us $195 for the damage. They explained that they do not cover damage to walls (never communicated to us). Also, they can depreciate the age of furniture when determining how much to settle. Since my great grandmother's furniture is so old, they don't really have to pay anything for it. This is stuff that is supposed to be passed down for generations. Also, the estimate we got from a painting company to repair the scratches and knicks to the walls was over $700.Desired Settlement: We would at least like the company to pay for the damage to our walls. They have already agreed to pay $195.00. It will cost $774.31 to repair our walls. We would like an additional $579.31.

I am not asking for the company to reframe any pictures or attempt to fix or replace damaged furniture.

Business

Response:

Hi [redacted],

We have all ready issued credit for this relocation last week. We have received signed release for from customer 11/04/13. [See below release form stipulations.]

Review: On Sunday, October 20, 2013, Unified Moving Services, LLC a three (3) men crew arrived at my previous residence in [redacted], MD at 8:30am. An hour in to the packing and moving process, I noticed the Foreman literally started to throw packed boxes in to the main hallway outside my Apartment door for two (2) the other crew members to transport without regard. Watching this haphazard was truly astonishing.

I then watched the Foreman disassemble my Sleigh bed and noticed he did not use any covers or bubble wrap on the mattress top or box spring; and he struggled with the undoing of the bed slats/panel. This seemed unusual, so I asked if I could help or does he plan on covering the slats and he declined. The Foreman and mover number #2 (I don’t have a record of his name. He wore shorts and a knee brace) began to move my sofa out of the living in to the hallway, and I asked if they were going to wrap of cover my sofa with a blanket, because it’s butter soft leather and bruises quite easily. The Forman simply said, “no”. This was my second flag.

At 12:00pm, upon arrival at the new residence, the Forman estimated their finish time would be 2:30pm and Invoiced me accordingly before the job or service was complete. The Forman attempted to pre-bill me for services NOT rendered and demanded a credit card before the job was complete. This was an attempt to price gauge and overcharge the customer which is unacceptable. NOTE: the move service wa complete at 1:00pm - not 2:30pm.

Once the movers began to unload the truck at my new home in [redacted], MD furniture arrived damaged beyond what is acceptable to ANY customer. Futhermore, I witnessed the movers drop several boxes and several pieces of furniture throughout the move in to the new house AGAIN, including dropping the soft leather sofa on to the pavement slab in front of my home.

Here is the detailed claim submitted to Unified Moving Services, LLC for the following loss and damged items:

1) DAMAGE: Severe damage to the bed paneling slat – a huge gash through the dark wood surface down to bare wood along the entire right panel. Claim amount $80.00

2) DAMAGE: Leather sofa suffered major abrasions and tears on both ends of the couch. Repairs will for this type of upholstery repair is exorbitant. Claim amount $154.00

3) LOSS: Torchiere Floor Lamp w/ Glass Shade is completely broken. The lamp was dropped by the movers causing the glass shade to shatter into pieces and the inner coil to break. The floor lamp is unfixable, and therefore a complete loss. (The glass shade was swept up on the truck bed by the mover). $50.00

4) REFUND /MISCHARGE: The Foreman charge me in the amount of $10.50 for a mattress cover, however the top mattress or box was not covered. $10.50

I am requesting a refund in the total amount of $294.50 to repair and/or replace the aforementioned items.Desired Settlement: Here is the detailed claim submitted to Unified Moving Services, LLC for my loss and damged items. I am requesting a refund in the total amount of 294.50 as follows:

1) DAMAGE: Severe damage to the bed paneling slat – a huge gash through the dark wood surface down to bare wood along the entire right panel. Claim amount $80.00

2) DAMAGE: Leather sofa suffered major abrasions and tears on both ends of the couch. Repairs will for this type of upholstery repair is exorbitant. Claim amount $154.00

3) LOSS: Torchiere Floor Lamp w/ Glass Shade is completely broken. The lamp was dropped by the movers causing the glass shade to shatter into pieces and the inner coil to break. The floor lamp is unfixable, and therefore a complete loss. (The glass shade was swept up on the truck bed by the mover). $50.00

4) REFUND /MISCHARGE: The Foreman charge me in the amount of $10.50 for a mattress cover, however the top mattress or box was not covered. $10.50

Overall, this was a horrfic experince.

Business

Response:

Hi [redacted],

Have already received release form from customer on 11/05/13. Credit has already been issued. [See below release form clause.]

Review: My dealings with this company fall into several of the complaint categories above. Mid-January we scheduled my move from MD to Chicago for 2/1, with a back up of 2/2. I impressed upon both Marc, the general manager, and Gary, the operations manager it was imperative I move over the weekend - that I had arranged time off, etc., etc. They said they understood and would do everything possible to make that happen.

On 1/31, UMS began telling me they "might not" arrive until 2/2, and that a "3-5 day window" was standard practice. 1/31 was the first time they mentioned anything about 3-5 days.

1) 1/31 I was told there would be a 90% chance the driver would arrive 2/1. He didn't make it.

2) 2/1 afternoon I was told there was a 90% chance the driver would arrive end of day 2/2. Driver called at 9 am to say he was not going to make it that day due to "ICY" roads in Ohio. Temperatures were in the 50's, and Ohio weather cam showed clear roads, as did Indiana's, which I shared with UMS mgt.

3) 2/3 morning I was told they now wouldn't be arriving in Chicago until Wednesday - "at the time of my choosing." (I asked for 2 pm). Party accepting another delivery along the way did not have a key to their space, so driver couldn't continue on to Chicago.

4) 2/5 morning UMS confirmed driver was in Chicago. He and 3 helpers were ready and waiting for 2 pm delivery. Should I be able to arrive early they could start early.

5) I took time off work and arrived at my residence at 2 pm. Driver and 1 helper arrived at my residence close to 3 pm, sitting in their truck waiting for 2 more helpers. Shared that original driver never made it to Chicago as UMS indicated, that he halted his trip 60 miles east of Gary IN and this new driver/truck had to travel there to take over the delivery of my furnishings. Told them I had allowed a 4 hour window (should have been plenty of time), and they needed to get started. One other helper (not 2, as I was told) showed up at 4 pm.

6) Driver and 2 helpers left approx. 5 hours later. (Fortunately my appt. cancelled and I didn't have to leave).

7) Hardware did not arrive with my dining room table, so the top was left sitting upside down on the floor, legs beside. Driver stated I'd need to contact UMS to send someone "tomorrow" to help me. After trying to cram part of my sectional through the back door, driver removed legs, and left without putting them back on. Driver assembled 2 beds, but mismatched box springs, so I was left with the job of switching back/forth.

Before starting to unload my belongings, I endorsed payment of our originally agreed upon price of $2600.00, less $150.00 discount (I originally requested a 10% of $260., but was told that wasn't possible.)

There are several of my belongings that did not arrive with the shipment, the most expensive being a flat screen TV and a very expensive tool caddy. Nearly every piece of furniture UMS handled for me is damaged in some way. I am in the process of gathering estimates for furniture repair and replacement/filing an insurance claim. UMS Operations Mgr. Gary stated that they would "try to get as much money as possible from insurance."

Thousands of dollars will be required to repair and replace all that UMS is responsible for. Based upon their unprofessionalism and dishonesty to date, I am very, very concerned they are not going to do what is necessary to assist me.Desired Settlement: I am very upset about UMS receiving $2450.00 of my money, with the path of destruction they left behind. I contracted them to carefully and safely handle my furniture, and to deliver it to me in a timely manner, which did not happen. I would like to request that 50% ($1250.00) of my money be refunded for: 1) misrepresentation of services, 2) my having to miss 4 hours of work, 3) my having to hire help and pay for materials to take care of the jobs they did not complete ($200.00), 4) my having to take my time to compile damage/replacement claim information (4 hours).

I would also like to request a secure and substantial level of assurance that 100% of the cost to repair and replacement my furnishings will most definitely be covered - whether by insurance, or by UMS.

Business

Response:

Hi [redacted], hope things are going well. " We received this Revdex.com complaint before we received claim form from customer that was issued immediately after customers complaint with delivery. All claim forms are processed within 30-60 days from receipt. Claim form is in process currently. (See our response below point by point below:

Review: I am writing to re-open a prior complaint against UMS - #[redacted].

I would like to request Revdex.com mediation to assist me in obtaining monies UMS rightfully owes me following a horribly negative moving experience with their company.

1) UMS did not honor terms of their agreement: a. They did not take good care of my belongings as [redacted] (mgr.) promised me they would, b. They did not arrive in [redacted] with my belongings 2/1 (backup of 2/2), as [redacted] and [redacted] (ops mgr.) promised, and we agreed to one month prior, c. They hired outside contractors to complete my move, which their website clearly states they do not do, transferred my belongings to another truck at least once, which undoubtedly resulted in additional damage incurred.

2) UMS movers were clearly dishonest with regard to reasons why they were 3 days late with my delivery. When questioned about timing, [redacted] stated they were operating according to some national code of movers - information which was never mentioned nor shared with me prior to this time. Because UMS was 3 days late, I was forced to very abruptly ask my company for time off, which put me in a very uncomfortable position with my employer - with whom I started working with just a few weeks prior. Had UMS been honest and fair with regard to our agreement, this upsetting situation could have been avoided.

3) UMS movers did not deliver several of my belongings I witnessed them loading onto their truck when they packed my apt. in MD - aka UMS movers lost or stole my $500.00 flat screen television, my $500.00 tool caddy, and several additional household items. Total UMS owes me for these items is $1148.00.

4) UMS movers damaged 75% of my belongings during the move, some items family heirlooms, for which I submitted detailed claim forms, photos, and repair/replacement quotes 3/11/14. For damage they caused to my belongings, UMS rightfully owes me $2840. for items damaged beyond repair, and $13,545 for repair of additional items - including bedroom wood floor their movers badly dented upon move-in.

5) I paid UMS movers $2450. to unload my belongings upon arrival in [redacted]. After falling short of their obligation, my spending 5 days in total frustration with regard to their deficient scheduling, lack of commitment, they deducted a mere $150.00 to offset frustration. That reduction in amount due was not the least bit fair in my opinion.

6) UMS hired movers did not complete move responsibilities before they left my home on that day. Upon contacting Operations Mgr. ([redacted]) I told to hire local help and they would reimburse me. I submitted an invoice for 3 hours of time/paid $225.00. Despite [redacted] authorizing, they have yet to reimburse me.

7) Despite UMS movers indicating they were going to be helpful despite all my misfortune, I have just received notice they are offering me a mere $315.00 to settle, which is absolutely and totally unacceptable.Desired Settlement: UMS fulfilling their obligation to me as a paying customer with whom they did not honor terms of their contract, making things right regarding my move, with a reimbursement paid to me in the amount of $17,533.00 - the above stated amount it will take for me to put my home back together again.

No one should be put thru such a miserable situation when hiring a company to help with a move.

For this outcome, I would like to request the assistance of Revdex.com mediation.

Business

Response:

Hi [redacted], Never received 2nd complaint notice. This is 1st notice we have received. Our organization has made and offer above our related responsibility in regards to this matter and customer turned offer down. As stated before customer had valuation insurance not full coverage insurance for items that are professionally packed not minimal blanket wrapping. There will be no other offer in this matter. Our previous offer will be rescinded and reduced to reflect actual valuation insurance compensation.