Submitted by
Linda R
from
:
Subject
: damaged my things
These people showed up for my move from one state to a bordering state, two years ago. I contracted with Colonial which hired Apple. They damaged my old home several thousand dollars and my new home flooring, walls, and possessions to the tune of over $5,000. No remedy...not responsible for any damage done to either home...ie we don't care, we have no incentive to care because hidden deep inside the contracts is a little paragraph saying not responsible.
One clown didn't even bother to close the door of the moving truck and lost several boxes of my items along the highway.
I had a loaded 357 in a gun safe sitting next to my purse and contracts laying on a table not being moved. I was taking those items with me in my car. The gun safe and contracts disappeared. It took me almost four weeks to finally find them buried in a box, almost as if hidden. Those contracts had instructions on what to do along with time limits, if a problem. Hidden.
I had expensive cork tongue and groove flooring throught my old home...to damage one piece was to cause the entire floor to be redone to access that piece, if not on the finished end. I provided large blankets so they flooring would not be gouged, scratched, or torn. The blankets were kicked out of the way and the flooring damaged, of course.
Then the arrival to the new house...my things would not be unloaded until I provided them a final cashier's check or cash based on their amount. I also had to sign all paperwork up front before the unload began. Turns out they jacked my price over $600 plus transporting items not to be included in the move I paid weight on and incurred cost to ship back.
I had blankets and plastic down to protect the carpeting in my new home. Newly painted walls, new carpet. Blankets and plastic kicked out of the way, greasy wheel marks all over my flooring, including a circular doughnut in my closet from dolly wheels. The damage was so severe, carpet from garage through dining room to outside was destroyed. Could not be cleaned nor repaired, had to be replaced...again, not their problem. It was too hard, waaaah, to go through the outside gate to the back yard so destroyed flooring and didn't care. It was slightly a longer walk...not too hard but laziness.
The "boss" of the three clowns, once paid and papers signed, then said he was returning the additional rental truck, supposedly two miles away, only to return it to Phoenix 250 miles away...this was an hour into the unload. Never saw him again. He took all paperwork with him and I received a copy of nothing.
Colonial called while this was occurring and while sobbing, I explained what they were doing to belongings my late husband and I spent 36 years collecting. The rep informed me the total they made me pay was $600 too much and to please start taking photographs.
I purchased $1,200 worth of extra insurance on several items valued well over $10,000 each. The policy explained those items must be packed by movers or damages would not be covered. The movers would know how to pack to not cause damage. Therein lies another little cheat these people used...they violated the insurance policy by not packing those items per the policy. Again, I had no control over the "professional" packing and six out of 15 antique or expensive custom built items were damaged without care knowing I would not be able to receive even a token amount. 100% under their control.
Almost 200 photographs showing where movers ran dolly wheels 18 inches up painted walls, greasy filthy handprints on doors, walls, and the inside icemaker of my brand new ice/water in the door refrigerator not involved the move, chips in paint, drywall damaged, boxes and possessions thrown, crushed, and destroyed.
As this was my first and only move, I was naive and ignorant. I missed time limits because of missing moving forms, getting professional estimates, another added expense, etc. I did get three estimates on my old home to repair the damaged flooring at the request of both the insurance people and Colonial. When I submitted the estimates they requested and required, was advised, oh that isn't covered because of the paragraph hidden in the contract stating not responsible.
Then began a two year attempt to be treated fairly, being lied to on a weekly basis...check is in the mail, deliver to my old home, already sent but unable to produce a cashed check as proof. Out of $7,000 worth of damages to my homes and belongings and $600 stealing by overcharging, I finally received the $600 back and as payment for damages...a whopping $500.
What have I learned...take any moving and moving insurance contracts to an attorney before signing, never move again, and if I have to move again, hire a couple of street corner winos instead. They will be more professional. One of these professional jerks even asked how much I paid for my new home. (more)
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