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United Regions Van Lines has a problem with their estimates. My original estimate, done with a walk-through video was for approximately $10K. I paid the deposit, signed a
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United Regions Van Lines has a problem with their estimates. My original estimate, done with a walk-through video was for approximately $10K. I paid the deposit, signed and agreed. A few weeks later I got a call wanting to review my inventory. No video this time, just going through the list verbally. When I asked why they didn't just look at the video, they said they did not have access to it - apparently this was another office. Apparently, the original estimate missed some items, so it was increased to approx. $12K. I paid an additional deposit. Today the movers arrived, looked around and decided that my estimate was way too low. I now have more than one truck full of items. New estimate $18K, maybe more if they need a second truck. I was told I could agree to the new figure or decide which of my things I wanted to leave behind. I cancelled my move and forfeited the deposit. I will also lose my pet moving fee, and air fare. The amount of money is not the issue - the unprofessional handling of the whole estimate process just left me feeling like I was being taken advantage of.
I don't know who all the players were, but apparently there is zero communication between the estimator, the re-estimator, and the movers. I can understand that it is an "estimate," and that the price may be higher - thus my agreeing to the second estimate. But the final offer was almost twice the original estimate, despite doing a walk through, a video, and a verification of the inventory, AND they said it would likely be higher still as the new estimate was based on only using one truck, which they did not think would be enough space. I suspect they would have gotten it all into one truck and then I was supposed to be relieved that they did so well and saved me some money for the second truck!
For reference, my home is 1200 sq. ft., 3BR but only one bed as the other two bedrooms are used as offices (desks) - rather small, and I have about 200 cu. ft. of garage stuff.
I am not a novice at moving as I was in the military and moved, many, many times long distance. I read some other reviews that were not so good, but it seemed the good reviews outweighed the bad so I felt comfortable. What a mistake! Needless to say, I do not recommend this company.
In response to United Regions Van Lines rebuttal, I add the following:
Your rebuttal states: " the circumstances leading to the situation were a direct result of discrepancies between the inventory you initially provided and the actual volume of goods to be moved."
There was no discrepancy between the inventory provided and the actual volume of goods as the inventory was never checked against my household goods. The driver came in - walked through the house and decided it was underestimated. He did not check the items against the inventory list or do any type of item count assessment - just a quick walk through looking at each room for a few seconds. This gave me the impression that he was going to raise the price no matter what he found as the assumption at that point is that I have already invested my deposit, made my plans for travel, etc., and that I was between a rock and a hard place. Sadly for him I was not, and I decided I would rather lose the $3,000+ deposit, rather than an additional $6,000 ($8,000 if you go by the initial video estimate). While you may be in compliance with the letter of the law, there is also a level of trust and confidence required for a transaction of this type. You no longer have my trust and confidence.
Move size: 3 Bedroom Home
Service cost:
$12000
