“Moving Scam- Can you help?”

“Dear PoPville,

I signed a BINDING not to exceed estimate with a broker (didn’t advertise themselves as such but here we are). The total was not to exceed $1782 which I was to pay in 3 increments- one as a deposit, one at pick up, and one at delivery. The broker then subcontracted the job. The day they were to arrive I called bc they were late, they said sorry it’ll be another hour. Ok, np. Then they called back and said their truck broke down but they could be there the next day. It was a hassle but what are you going to do.

Four teenagers arrived at my apt, argued with me about taking an item of furniture apart (a service I paid for), left my belongings in the street in SE DC without supervision, and then hurled boxes marked fragile into a truck. They told me not to pay them bc I shouldn’t have my CC info written on their forms and they’ll call the next day to get payment. Okie dokie.

The next day someone called me and threatened that my belongings wouldn’t leave the area until they received payment. I had already tried to call and pay them but no one answered. I explained this, happily paid them, and confirmed my delivery window would not be affected. They said it would be 7-10 business days from when they received the payment. I was told at booking my things would arrive 5-7 days after paying the deposit- I actually made arrangements to work all night and drive from DC to FL the next day so I would be there in time for the first delivery date (8.1-8.5). They kept giving me the run around, talking over me, mocking me, ya know. Normal misogynistic bs you sometimes run into when trying to stick up for yourself to a male dominated industry.

I went back and forth with them and the company I booked with and still couldn’t get any further details. After both companies dodged my phone calls and emails I got an email from the billing dept saying I needed to clear my balance before they would even put me on the schedule for delivery. I was told the remaining would be paid AT delivery, so I was anxious to do so but did. Hoping I would get my things back.

They continued to give me the run around about dates and went back to dodging my calls. Finally, out of sheer desperation and knowing a patronizing douchebag when I talk to one (or 3) I had my father call. They told him my belongings were STILL at a storage facility in Maryland and that I never gave them a first available delivery date. Not only is it in my contract, but we argued about it over the phone multiple times as I begged them to bring my things.

I took off an entire week of work to be available for their delivery. They’ve now sent me an email trying to extort me for an additional $850 at delivery. The things on that truck can’t all be simply replaced- art, family photo albums pre-digital eta- and I suspect they know that and are using it to their advantage.

Do you have any advice? Sorry for the length of this message. I left out quite a few unnerving details for ‘brevity’ if you’d believe it.”