First, Federal Law mandates that customers have the right to be present for a re-weight for interstate moves! Loving Hand Moving and Storage set my weight at 3,840 lbs when in fact it should have weighed less than 2,500 lbs. When a move is more than your estimate they can then overcharge based on weight and not your estimate and you can end paying 2x the estimate. That's how they get you. To protect yourself read on.
I hired Budget Van Lines, a moving broker, to handle my move because I worked with them in June 2014 to handle my move from NYC to Philadelphia, where I moved the exact same items (less my daughter's items who went to college). Everything went smoothly and the total weight was 2,555 lbs. This time, from beginning to end, my move was handled very poorly leading up to this complaint against a) the moving company (Loving Hand Moving & Storage), and b) the moving broker (Budget Van Lines). 1) My move was estimated at $1,800 up to 2,079 lbs. 2) Loving Hand Moving & Storage claimed my weight was 3,840 lbs and continuously refused to re-weigh my load. They ignored my requests, Budget's Customer Service Manager, Mr. Donald Battles' requests, and the request by the driver. I tried right up until 7/28/17, the delivery date. I researched and verified that I could get a weigh-in at a local facility; USA Truck Service Plaza, Hialeah, FL. However, Ramy, who claims to be the owner at Loving Hand emailed me on 7/21/17, not realizing emails have a time stamp, to notify me that my re-weight would take place that day 7/20/17 in Jersey City, NJ. Beyond deceptive! I had already left a message telling them I had a flight from PHL to FLL 7/20 at 5pm and needed my re-weight time and date in advance, therefore, it would be impossible for me to be there. I have a stamped weight ticket with 4:58pm as the time of weighting on 7/24/17. However, after this they lowered the weight to 3,500 lbs. I knew this was still inaccurate (due to my 2014 move) and insisted on a re-weigh where I could be present. This apparently upset Ramy, who claimed he was doing me several favors and my final balance suddenly went from $1,116.20 to $1,645.35. They said my things would go back to NJ if I didn't pay. I told Budget I didn't have the money and would have to borrow. My balance went down by$ 245.53 to $1,400. To get more into detail, Budget called me on 7/27 to give me a final delivery date of 7/31. The same day the driver called to say my things were arriving the next day - first thing in the morning. This all during the time that we are all unable to contact Loving Hand regarding the re-weigh. I feel they were trying to narrow the window to get the re-weight done and my ability to do anything about because once your things are unloaded that's it!
Finally, a 60 ft. trailer arrives to a gated apartment community and the drivers are adding on additional costs. Finally, I pleaded with them and told them the situation. They stopped asking for money, took my cashier's check, and unloaded my things. They said they would take any additional costs from Loving Hand for carrying up flights of stairs (although 75 ft long carry was included in my original estimate), etc. They arrived at approx. 7pm after waiting all day and stated they might need to come back the next day, so myself and my daughter had to help unload and carry items into the apartment to ensure it was finalized that same night. They were there until about 10:30pm (very late and unauthorized move). It rained damaging my things sitting in the parking lot. However, I thanked them and tipped them $200 (2 guys) because I was just happy to be united with my belongings. I have serval more details regarding Budget's involvement in this. I started to think they were working together because they did so little to help me. I felt they were really insincere and coerced the confusion starting with the inventory on my estimate. When I brought it to their attention, they told me it doesn't matter because the move was based on the total weight and not the actual items. There are several other details to this complaint, including - because the weight was over the estimate the movers were then able to tack on overcharges for diesel fuel and elevator fees. They also tried to charge me at a rate of $4.80 per lb, which I caught and Donald Battles brought to their attention bringing the price down from $4.80 per lb to $.65 per lb. I have it all in emails. Truly criminal and felt like extortion.
In the end, I never got the re-weight and whatever final amount they say you owe is what you have to pay! There's nothing you can do about it until after it's all said and done. They know this and are taking complete advantage of this loophole in the system, and unsuspecting people moving across state lines!
Loving Hand Moving and storage Reviews
First, Federal Law mandates that customers have the right to be present for a re-weight for interstate moves! Loving Hand Moving and Storage set my weight at 3,840 lbs when in fact it should have weighed less than 2,500 lbs. When a move is more than your estimate they can then overcharge based on weight and not your estimate and you can end paying 2x the estimate. That's how they get you. To protect yourself read on.
I hired Budget Van Lines, a moving broker, to handle my move because I worked with them in June 2014 to handle my move from NYC to Philadelphia, where I moved the exact same items (less my daughter's items who went to college). Everything went smoothly and the total weight was 2,555 lbs. This time, from beginning to end, my move was handled very poorly leading up to this complaint against a) the moving company (Loving Hand Moving & Storage), and b) the moving broker (Budget Van Lines). 1) My move was estimated at $1,800 up to 2,079 lbs. 2) Loving Hand Moving & Storage claimed my weight was 3,840 lbs and continuously refused to re-weigh my load. They ignored my requests, Budget's Customer Service Manager, Mr. Donald Battles' requests, and the request by the driver. I tried right up until 7/28/17, the delivery date. I researched and verified that I could get a weigh-in at a local facility; USA Truck Service Plaza, Hialeah, FL. However, Ramy, who claims to be the owner at Loving Hand emailed me on 7/21/17, not realizing emails have a time stamp, to notify me that my re-weight would take place that day 7/20/17 in Jersey City, NJ. Beyond deceptive! I had already left a message telling them I had a flight from PHL to FLL 7/20 at 5pm and needed my re-weight time and date in advance, therefore, it would be impossible for me to be there. I have a stamped weight ticket with 4:58pm as the time of weighting on 7/24/17. However, after this they lowered the weight to 3,500 lbs. I knew this was still inaccurate (due to my 2014 move) and insisted on a re-weigh where I could be present. This apparently upset Ramy, who claimed he was doing me several favors and my final balance suddenly went from $1,116.20 to $1,645.35. They said my things would go back to NJ if I didn't pay. I told Budget I didn't have the money and would have to borrow. My balance went down by$ 245.53 to $1,400. To get more into detail, Budget called me on 7/27 to give me a final delivery date of 7/31. The same day the driver called to say my things were arriving the next day - first thing in the morning. This all during the time that we are all unable to contact Loving Hand regarding the re-weigh. I feel they were trying to narrow the window to get the re-weight done and my ability to do anything about because once your things are unloaded that's it!
Finally, a 60 ft. trailer arrives to a gated apartment community and the drivers are adding on additional costs. Finally, I pleaded with them and told them the situation. They stopped asking for money, took my cashier's check, and unloaded my things. They said they would take any additional costs from Loving Hand for carrying up flights of stairs (although 75 ft long carry was included in my original estimate), etc. They arrived at approx. 7pm after waiting all day and stated they might need to come back the next day, so myself and my daughter had to help unload and carry items into the apartment to ensure it was finalized that same night. They were there until about 10:30pm (very late and unauthorized move). It rained damaging my things sitting in the parking lot. However, I thanked them and tipped them $200 (2 guys) because I was just happy to be united with my belongings. I have serval more details regarding Budget's involvement in this. I started to think they were working together because they did so little to help me. I felt they were really insincere and coerced the confusion starting with the inventory on my estimate. When I brought it to their attention, they told me it doesn't matter because the move was based on the total weight and not the actual items. There are several other details to this complaint, including - because the weight was over the estimate the movers were then able to tack on overcharges for diesel fuel and elevator fees. They also tried to charge me at a rate of $4.80 per lb, which I caught and Donald Battles brought to their attention bringing the price down from $4.80 per lb to $.65 per lb. I have it all in emails. Truly criminal and felt like extortion.
In the end, I never got the re-weight and whatever final amount they say you owe is what you have to pay! There's nothing you can do about it until after it's all said and done. They know this and are taking complete advantage of this loophole in the system, and unsuspecting people moving across state lines!