Sky Moving & Storage Inc

I was quoted an estimate for the move and decided to use thier services. Several days before my move, I called to confirm the time I could expect them to arrive. I was told approx 9am, but they would contact me the day before. I never recieved a phone. The day of the move I recieved a phone call from the driver shortly after 9am informing me that they were several hundred miles away in another city. He then proceeded to ask me the price I was quoted. When I told him he told me that it would cost a lot more, and that the office did this all the time. (Give low estimates) When they finally arrived that afternoon, (I paid for three movers, but only two arrived, the third arrived later) he told me that the move would take twice as long as the time I was told my the office staff.When I asked to speak to the manager he told me no one was available on a Saturday. When I gave him a discount coupon, he just laughed and said "do you really think they are going to let you use that?"Sky Moving and Storeage require payment in cash. I had enough available cash to cover the original price quoted me. However, I did not have enough to cover the new price. I told the driver (who seemed to be the lead person) that I would have to go to the ATM, he said that was fine, and them proceeded to follow me, getting out of the truck as I was removing cash and told me not to forget about the tip. (At this point, I was not only upset about the moving experience, I felt that I was being threated) Once we got to my new home I noticed several pieces of furniture were damaged, as well as some small items left behind. When I questions the missing items I was told, we forgot them. The day following the move I wrote to the company regarding my concerns, but never recieved any compensation or an apology, despite following thier complaint procedure guidlelines, which included submitting pictures of damaged furniture. This is by far the worst moving experince I've encounted, apart from the intial contact for an estimate, everything about this company is unprofessional and unthical and they have no regard for the customer. Don't be fooled by lower price quotes.

It is a local company. I spent about a $1000 but they had told me that it would be $700 and I wasn’t real happy with that. The men were good. I spent more than what I thought and when they came here they wouldn’t take my credit card and wanted cash. They didn’t quite tell me that beforehand. I wouldn’t use them again. They broke few things. They were several hours late. The leader of the truck told me that they expected a tip and that was unprofessional.

I am writing in hopes that you may be of assistance of helping expose and resolve another scam artist company that is not only taking people’s money, but their property. After doing much too late research, I have come to realize I am not the only victim. I am also concerned in the fact that the company is run by many foreigners, whom lie about their identity and names. It truly is a circus. I had called several moving companies in the area of Florida, as well as checking online with various companies from P.O.D.S. to U-Haul. However, moving from PA to Fl, I felt it was best to use a moving company for the first time. In order to simplify the entire situation, please review below the events and problems in chronological order. • August 31st, 2009 I called several moving companies to check for prices. Several companies gave me quotes, Sky Moving was the lowest. I spoke to “Shiri”, who was extremely polite and explained the moving process, as per her company operates. • Shiri asked if I needed the moving people to pack for me. I told her no. Shiri and I discussed a general, on the moment inventory of my items in order to give me an “estimate”. Asking how the move is priced, Shiri stated that the price goes by the “weight” of all my belongings. At no time did she discuss any other way that the move could be charged. After going through a semi detailed thought of what I have, she told me she could give me a “very close” price for the move. At that time, this was the ONLY way that I was to be charged for the move was in according to the weight. Shiri did explain to me the rate could be higher if the weight was greater. Shiri said it should not be off by much. She stated she had given my stuff “extra” weight, so the total cost is probably going to be lower! Shiri also explained that there was an extra charge of $75 for extra steps if I had more than 16. I told her I was not sure, but if there was more, than the $75 was ok. She also EXPRESSLY explained that beyond the extra steps (if any), and only by the weight of more items, or change of destination (for example anther state), could the estimate of $1,667.00 go higher. Shiri said she would email me the estimate we discussed so I could see in writing what the charges were. Excited about the move, and pushing a close date to move, Shiri said the “first priority”, was to go into my email, and e-sign the document she sent to guarantee my move, which was very quick to the date. Apparently she had my email address wrong, because I did not get it. I called the next day and we both realized “Shiri” had the wrong email address. She sent it to me while I was on the phone with her and I did receive it. I verified the amount on the estimate, clicked he link to e-sign and let her know by phone or email it was signed. I will check phone records and emails to be sure. • Other general questions discussed were moving to and from locations, the date of the move, which was agreed to be on Saturday, September 5th, 2009, if they were able to carry cars (I was considering to fly down but needed my car), and I was also told that 3 men were to be moving my items. At that time, Shiri asked if I was flexible for that day before, Friday, Sept. 4th, 2009. I told her it was not a problem to be Friday, but at least have me ready for Saturday pick up. When discussing payment, Shiri told me that she was going to take a deposit for the move, but she did not state how much, she would need to ask a manager. I then asked if the total balance was due at the time of delivery, which she stated yes. As we agreed on the price, as well as the purchase of service, I provided her with my credit card information and told her I could not have the card charged for the deposit until the day before the move because I had to put money in my bank and there were no branches of PNC Bank in Florida. The closest one was over 140 miles away. She said it was not a problem, and told me I could pay for the move with the card I provided for her. I truly believed my move was going to be great considering the fact Shiri expressed no hidden charges. • On September 1st, 2009, I arrived in Philadelphia from my flight to go home and start packing. I emailed Shiri and asked how much it would cost to have Sky Moving transport my car. She feverishly called and emailed me many times to quickly provide a price of $895. I told her that was way too high and she said she would talk to a manager and call me back. Within a few minutes the phone and email was buzzing. She gave me a new price of $795.00. I told her I could not afford it and she said ok. I questioned her again for my own security about my move on the 5th. Shiri told me everything was great and she personally would call me the day before the move in case I had any other questions. • September 5th, 2009, I emailed Shiri to see if she heard any word on when the truck was coming. I had not heard from her all day, and it was already Friday. I decided to call. Shiri had a brand new attitude on the phone with me. She was very quick and cold and said “Dispatch will call you”. I heard people in the background laughing and Shiri even made fun of my politeness by imitating me and mocking me. Startled at what I heard, I paused and realized Shiri had already hung up the phone. • September 6th, 2009, I waited patiently and really believing that they were not going to show up, I called Sky Moving to see if they were coming. Early afternoon I was getting worried when no one came. Again, I was told by someone else who answered the phone “dispatch will call you”. In order to not start a fight, I cautiously said ok and waited. Around 3:30 p.m. I saw the truck pull up. They stayed inside the truck for a few minutes. I was beginning to wonder if they were coming out. Finally they did. • The first worker upstairs was “Joe”. There was another male in the truck who stayed inside for quite sometime. “Joe” came up and did a brief walk through of my apartment. In LESS than one minute, Joe stated that I have too much stuff and he immediately laid a lot of paperwork on my kitchen table. He then asked that I sit down so we can discuss the price of the move. I had no idea what he was talking about and said I had the price and payment worked out with the office. He stated that what “Shiri” gave me was a rough estimate, it didn’t matter, and he was now going to charge me by “Volume” of space I used in the truck. I got upset right away as he sprawled out papers and calculators and smooth talk. It is apparent he was going to change the price the minute he walked in. Furthermore, I am misunderstood how they could check the weight of my items with no scale present, and how they planned on moving me with one guy sitting in the truck and no tools present to be ready to move. It was nearing 4:00 p.m., which was considerably late starting a move. • “Joe” then explained to me that the price would be ok and he was saving me money. He also explained that there would now be charges for packing materials as well as the fact that I MUST pay him in cash or money order or he would not move my items. I was furious over the ride he was trying to take me on. I told him it was NEVER explained to me that I need to have cash on hand or a postal money order in order for them to move. If he needed payment, I authorized him to charge my card. I told him Shiri has my VISA number and she was taking care of it. He told me no, and whatever the total cost of the move was to be today, as per his determination, half of that amount was due now in cash or postal money order. It was Saturday, at 4:00. There were no banks open, no post offices open, and everything I own in boxes. I got very upset and told him “Here’s my card- Charge my card”. At which time he refused and said he could not accept it. He took my card when he first arrived to receive an “imprint” of the card and made me sign my receipt which was already charged for $333. I later realized the online contract provided to me did not state this. If you look at the new Revised written estimate, it states there that this is the policy. • “Joe” and I began to get into an argument verbally and I told him he was scamming me and this was NEVER discussed with me by Shiri. Joe decided to play good cop bad cop by stating she must be “new” and that is the policy. However, he quickly pulled out his I-touch and called his “boss”, as I insisted thinking this was the driver scamming people. After Joe hung up with his boss, he told me not to worry about the money now, it would all be due on the time of delivery. He stated that everything he told me was Sky Moving Policy and they should have explained it to me. • Joe started to write a new estimate by “Volume”, which is completely unfamiliar territory to me. He insisted the move may even be cheaper in the end. He told me for sure, “I will not know the total cost until it is all loaded in the truck”. He told me I had to sign the paperwork in order for them to start even loading the truck. I got even more angry and confused to this “policy”, considering he did not even have a rough idea of how much and why I have to sign a “non-binding” estimate in order for them to start loading. He explained he could not fill in the price until the truck was loaded, as volume goes by the amount of space used. After I got into another verbal argument with him, he stated the estimate was non-binding and even though there was no price on it. Again, we argued back and forth about me signing the document because I didn’t want to agree to terms under these pressures, and I don’t like signing my name to new policies I don’t agree with, AND there were no prices on the estimate.. He stated “Everything was the same with the move, but we cannot move anything until you sign the paperwork”. Nearing 40 minutes of arguing, my entire house in boxes, and Joe stating repeatedly that this was only an estimate and not final, I felt had no other option but to sign the papers. He reminded me the sooner I sign, the sooner he can start. To my huge regret, I started to sign the papers. • Even more so, Joe handed me a letterhead paper stating “Gratuity Policy”. The paper, as well as “Joe” explained that the drivers only work for a small salary, and they believe they do a good job. The paper (still in my possession) requested that I give “10-15% of the TOTAL cost of the move. Not knowing yet my bill was to become $4,200.00 Later, the audacity of even $420 per driver is absolutely INSANE. “Joe” also reminded me to tip him on the way out the door, as well as the other mover. • After signing the paperwork, Joe hopped up and called his “boss” again, before the ink could dry! Joe’s snake like attitude became quite happy in a turn around and he called the other man up to start helping. The other man came up and looked around and started to bang around my boxes and move them downstairs. BEFORE they moved any of them, they brought up a huge box of packaging tape and started to open all of then. Joe and the other mover taped every box I had over and over and over again, even though I already did that. Laughing to myself and noticing it was a bit strange, I didn’t ask why. I felt if they wanted to go overboard taping and taping, ok then. I did find it bizarre. • Another deceit on paperwork, came to be that “Joe” had a different name, Yoshi. The other guy kept trying to get his attention, and he kept hollering “Yoshi, I need you”. When Yoshi realized that he was exposed as to his name, he quickly went over to the other mover and whispered something to him. From then on, and as signed on Sky Moving’s “Legal” documents, he was again known as Joe. How is a document legal if you sign a ficticous name? I can verify the driver to this day by looks in case they provide some other person named Joe as a worker. The other mover continued to call him Joe for the remainder of the move. As I was making phone calls to friends and family in Florida, and no one available to help me, Yoshi was marking up inventory on the charge paper. He did forget to keep marking my items with my inventory stickers. Every time I mentioned it, he said he got them all. • Halfway through the move, Yoshi asked me to come and look at the truck. He was explaining the volume I used (which I have no CLUE as to what any of that means). He also kept expressing how good of a job his partner did packing the truck. In between running around and making my phone calls, Yoshi was sneaking in texts or emails to someone. Perhaps a friend, but my belief is it was the office. Again, the payment issue was not resolved yet and Yoshi knew that. • After all my items were packed into the truck, Yoshi and his friend left a mess in the front of my apartment building, as well as in the house. There were tape rolls everywhere and garbage all over. I suppose that was my job to clean it up. • Fear beyond everything I know, Yoshi sent the other mover into the truck to drive and wait for him. Yoshi filled in the paperwork with numbers and handed me the paper. The new price was $4,922.04! I started to get very upset and argue with Yoshi that he scammed me. However, it was too late. With the truck running, the other mover out already, Yoshi handed me my paper and told me he would call me personally 24-48 hours prior to delivery, and that I MUST have cash or Postal Money order in order for delivery, OR I WILL NOT RECEIVE MY ITEMS!. Frustrated, exhausted, angry, and beyond upset, Yoshi left with a smile. • Tuesday, September 08, 2009, I had spoken to many friends and family about what happened to me. Carefully trying to pick what I should say, I asked my fiancé to call and ask to speak to a supervisor about what happened. After some hours, “Shiri”, who is also “Kim” by email and voice (yes- 2 identities!), called back. I sat there in my office and placed her on speakerphone. Kim, Shiri, whomever she really is, again had an attitude from H*** and started stating contract talk. Talking over top of him, she then stated she would need to talk to me as it is my account. I told my fiancé to hang up and I immediately redialed and put her again on speakerphone. Kim, whom is really Shiri pretended to be a supervisor and explain that I signed a contract and that’s the way it was. I brought up the payment scam and the price and told her I was contacting my attorney. She was rude as can be and said go ahead, offering little to none explanation over the phone as anyone who is scamming would, due to people tape recording phone calls. Seeing it was not going no where, I PURPOSELY kept a cool head and stated “If there is nothing you will do to rectify this problem, and you are telling me to go to an attorney, then I am hanging up the phone in order to avoid fighting, you will be hearing from my attorney”. From the date of this letter, I have saved emails, “contracts”, and all paperwork given to me by Sky Moving. It is now Tuesday and I still have not received a call from Yoshi, who told me my things would be delivered by Monday, “Maybe Tuesday the latest”. Without the money to pay for the new amount due, OBVIOUS smarts that they will be damaging, selling, or losing my property, I have ran out of options on whom to contact. I also see that if I pay the attorney, I can be easily bled dry and have definitely NO money left to receive my goods. How do I tell my 9 year old all his toys, memories, clothes and everything he has ever owned is now gone? How would you tell yours? Nobody deserves this “Domestic Terrorism” from foreigners coming into our states and raping peoples wallets and personal possessions. I am hoping that these dirtbag, low class company is exposed so that this STOPS happening to people. I have googled the complaints and I am horrified as to what others have gone through. I will make it my personal goal to see that they are exposed for their illegal business practices, ethics, theft, and emotional harm they are out giving. These people are head hunters, and before they take someone YOU know for everything they own, LITERALLY, please consider this situation for someone older, or handicapped, or a baby losing even their bottles and clothes- all to blackmail and scam money from people. Good people with families. I hope you can pass this message along. My contact information is above. I am anxiously waiting for any response. Thank you in advance for your time.