My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: CA
State before moving: California
State after moving: Idaho
State of moving company: MD
My friend is having trouble because a moving company gave her one quote and then charged her basically double on the day they got there. She was moving from central California to Idaho. She was stuck with them and HAD to move that day or she would have lost her new job in Idaho. She already had given them a big deposit which consisted of most of her cash at the time. If anyone would be so kind as to go over this information and offer any advice for recourse in any form, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it!!
I have a copy of the email moving estimate they sent her. All her information that she used was correct (contact info etc.) The distance of the move was correct. They estimated the volume at 661 cf. at $3.64 per cf which comes out to $2,406.04 which is exactly what they have listed as the Basic Estimate Price. Along with a $192.48 fuel surcharge, $84.00 for packing materials, minus a promotional discount = $2480.00. It also lists all the services they include such as staff, gas, mileage, temp storage etc.
But where it says this total it does NOT say estimate it specifically says "Total Binding Quote: $2480.00" So wouldn't that be basically the total, maybe with a little wiggle room for extra boxes? Well she did end up having extra stuff on the day of, but not a lot.There are notes/fine print under the quote.
Relevant parts:
"We are happy to provide you, the Customer, this estimate based on the list of items and services you requested at the time this estimate was prepared. This BINDING estimate is based upon the specific items to be moved and services ordered as listed on the estimate. Your estimated price is guaranteed not to change unless you order additional services, add additional items to be moved, or additional weight to be moved which are not specifically listed on the estimate."
"If you make any changes to the list of services ordered or the items to be moved, you must notify the estimator prior to your move date so an updated estimate can be issued to you and last minute price changes can be avoided. Accuracy of your estimate is wholly dependent upon the completeness of the specific items you inform the estimator that you are moving. Be advised that any changes to your order will result in a change to your estimated price. For example, if you add additional items to be moved or order additional services at the last minute your price will increase accordingly. In order to avoid last minute price changes we urge you to notify your salesperson if you wish to make any changes to the services ordered and number of items to be moved. If on the date of the move you order last minute services or tender additional items to be moved the mover will issue you a new updated written estimate reflecting the change to the total estimated price. In such a case, a revised written visual estimate must be approved by you and signed prior to any services being performed. The Estimated Transportation Cost is BINDING based on the total Cu. Ft. (Volume Amount) provided by customer prior to move date. This document is an estimate only and not a contract. Packing labor and materials are not included unless specifically itemized on the estimate."
So I realize there is good language here to protect the company. But it seems what they did was unreasonable, as I will explain.
When they got there, they were in an Economy truck (like a rental) and apparently they (the movers) are just all contracted out depending on the area. On the day of, she had some extra items – 12 medium sized moving boxes, two floor fans and a few very small things. Of course they have the right to charge a little more but they tacked on 200 cu ft at $7.00 per cu ft for a total of an extra $1,400! This was on top of the existing $2,406.09 (661 cu ft at just $3.64 per cu ft). This caused her total misery, I can’t underemphasize that. For some reason they also charged her a $304.81 fuel surcharge. All this information is on a written document that she signed on the day of. Wasn’t the extra $1,400 unreasonable?
[I think] the movers included a form for something called MovingClaims.net and the first paragraph says that in the unlikely event etc…if you feel that you have been over-charged they must initially give the service provider (Moving Company) the first right to full investigate in writing. But if we haven’t filed a claim with this company, is that binding?
Now all this is in top of damage done to some of the cabinets she had moved, a few dings to the wall of her new apartment, and a bunch of LARGE scuffs to a decorative floor vase.
Should we contact the company first? What recourse do you think we have in this situation?
Thank you!
State before moving: California
State after moving: Idaho
State of moving company: MD
My friend is having trouble because a moving company gave her one quote and then charged her basically double on the day they got there. She was moving from central California to Idaho. She was stuck with them and HAD to move that day or she would have lost her new job in Idaho. She already had given them a big deposit which consisted of most of her cash at the time. If anyone would be so kind as to go over this information and offer any advice for recourse in any form, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate it!!
I have a copy of the email moving estimate they sent her. All her information that she used was correct (contact info etc.) The distance of the move was correct. They estimated the volume at 661 cf. at $3.64 per cf which comes out to $2,406.04 which is exactly what they have listed as the Basic Estimate Price. Along with a $192.48 fuel surcharge, $84.00 for packing materials, minus a promotional discount = $2480.00. It also lists all the services they include such as staff, gas, mileage, temp storage etc.
But where it says this total it does NOT say estimate it specifically says "Total Binding Quote: $2480.00" So wouldn't that be basically the total, maybe with a little wiggle room for extra boxes? Well she did end up having extra stuff on the day of, but not a lot.There are notes/fine print under the quote.
Relevant parts:
"We are happy to provide you, the Customer, this estimate based on the list of items and services you requested at the time this estimate was prepared. This BINDING estimate is based upon the specific items to be moved and services ordered as listed on the estimate. Your estimated price is guaranteed not to change unless you order additional services, add additional items to be moved, or additional weight to be moved which are not specifically listed on the estimate."
"If you make any changes to the list of services ordered or the items to be moved, you must notify the estimator prior to your move date so an updated estimate can be issued to you and last minute price changes can be avoided. Accuracy of your estimate is wholly dependent upon the completeness of the specific items you inform the estimator that you are moving. Be advised that any changes to your order will result in a change to your estimated price. For example, if you add additional items to be moved or order additional services at the last minute your price will increase accordingly. In order to avoid last minute price changes we urge you to notify your salesperson if you wish to make any changes to the services ordered and number of items to be moved. If on the date of the move you order last minute services or tender additional items to be moved the mover will issue you a new updated written estimate reflecting the change to the total estimated price. In such a case, a revised written visual estimate must be approved by you and signed prior to any services being performed. The Estimated Transportation Cost is BINDING based on the total Cu. Ft. (Volume Amount) provided by customer prior to move date. This document is an estimate only and not a contract. Packing labor and materials are not included unless specifically itemized on the estimate."
So I realize there is good language here to protect the company. But it seems what they did was unreasonable, as I will explain.
When they got there, they were in an Economy truck (like a rental) and apparently they (the movers) are just all contracted out depending on the area. On the day of, she had some extra items – 12 medium sized moving boxes, two floor fans and a few very small things. Of course they have the right to charge a little more but they tacked on 200 cu ft at $7.00 per cu ft for a total of an extra $1,400! This was on top of the existing $2,406.09 (661 cu ft at just $3.64 per cu ft). This caused her total misery, I can’t underemphasize that. For some reason they also charged her a $304.81 fuel surcharge. All this information is on a written document that she signed on the day of. Wasn’t the extra $1,400 unreasonable?
[I think] the movers included a form for something called MovingClaims.net and the first paragraph says that in the unlikely event etc…if you feel that you have been over-charged they must initially give the service provider (Moving Company) the first right to full investigate in writing. But if we haven’t filed a claim with this company, is that binding?
Now all this is in top of damage done to some of the cabinets she had moved, a few dings to the wall of her new apartment, and a bunch of LARGE scuffs to a decorative floor vase.
Should we contact the company first? What recourse do you think we have in this situation?
Thank you!
Service Providers: Was My Friend Scammed/Overcharged by a Moving Company
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