Experience Moving

Description of Work: I moved from Las Vegas to Ca. My deadline for moving was 6/20/10. Called several movers and got quotes on the phone but I didn't trust a "blind" quote and wanted personal viewing to get an accurate estimate. Unfortunately the only person that showed up was the "owner" of the company. He gave me an estimate of $1,650. I asked him howtrue his estimate was and he explained that he had been "doing this" for many years and that if he was not on the dot, he would only be off by +$500.00. He also volunteered the fact that, in many years of doing this kind of service, there were only 5 complaints against them. It sounded like he had been in business for 20 years so I thought that was not bad because things get damaged during moves, so that 5 complaints is not too bad. I was pressed for time and being that he was the most reasonable and the only one that came as scheduled, I went with him. WHAT A MISTAKE!! When most of my goods were in a rented U-Haul truck, I was hit with the true bill. It was 100% more than the estimate. I was stuck because they ran a day late, therefore, making me in breach of contract with the new owners. My move was scheduled for 6/20 but, in fact it was 6/21 when they were done. Had I had more time, I would have had them unload the truck and would have hired more honest movers. It would have cost me, by their estimation, almost $1000.00 in packing materials and labor, however, I would have paid and fought it out in court because their original estimate said packing was included in their estimate. When the closing agent asked when I needed my things delivered, I told him that my house in Ca. was not ready and that I wanted storage for at least 6 months, so I asked him what their storage fees were and was told that they were between $100 to $150 per month. The fees were only $30 more than what I would have paid in Ca. so I said to go ahead and store in their facility. WHAT A MISTAKE!! Late September I got a call from a horrible clerk there (Danna) telling me that my things were going to be auctioned off for lack of storage fee payment and that I owed $1,100.00 for 2 months!! No previous contact or notification was ever received as to the 300% increase in fees or that I was about to lose my things. Again, I was stuck. Once I knew what these people were up to, I made arrangements to have space available in my garage for them to bring my things to Ca. I ended up paying another month of storage fees. What should have cost me $1,650 plus $150/per month storage, ended up costing me almost $5,000.00. They knew I am disabled and on a fixed income but they didn't care. They extort the money because they have your things. Because this is how they do business, they require cash or Post Office Money Orders so that the victim cannot stop payment. I was told that they had several customers do this to them so they got wiser. I am taking every step I can to let people know NOT to use them. After they have your prized possessions in their dirty hands, they know that they have their ill-gotten money in their pocket. PLEASE check the FDOT before you hire them so you can see that what I'm reporting is exactly what they have done to many (more than 5) people. They have only been in business (under this name and license for a few years so even if 5 is true, it's way too many. I'm sure that there are many more people that were taken advantage of that didn't document their experience. BEWARE!! They are very sweet BEFORE they have your goods in their possession-they are nasty, mean liars afterward.