Moving can be stressful and expensive.
Melissa Padaoan, a single mother in Bakersfield, contacted 17 News after her cross country move became a messy nightmare.
Padaoan hoped to be in Michigan by now. One month ago, the moving van arrived at her southwest Bakersfield home. Movers packed her things then changed her quote and contract. Since then, Padaoan says her life has been in limbo.
"I checked them out in the Better Business Bureau. They gave them an A- rating. Everything looked good."
Padaoan thought she was doing her homework when she checked out the moving company, All American Trusted Van Lines, Inc.
An A- rating on the Better Business Bureau site seemed like a good sign until the movers arrived June 21st.
"The truck was loaded and locked and he said your quote is no longer valid cause he said your cubic feet is over, you were quoted 900 cubic feet and you have over 1,500 cubic feet on the truck," she explained.
Padaoan said her nearly $3,000 quote doubled to $6,000. The driver left in a truck from Budget Rentals and she hasn't seen her possessions since.
That was a month ago.
"I contacted Budget and the truck that they ride was a 1,300 cubic foot truck and he made me pay 1,500 cubic feet, then I started calling numbers and no answer, no answer then all the numbers disconnected," said Padaoan.
17 News tried calling two numbers listed for All American Trusted Van Lines, Inc. But, both times the numbers were disconnected.
Then we re-visited the Better Business Bureau site and found eleven complaints against the company. In one complaint the customer says they too were given a low quote, then the company doubled it after their items were loaded.
Experts advise you should get referrals of moving companies from friends and get three estimates in person and in writing.
Reputable companies typically don't require big deposits and you should ask a lot of questions.
The company lists its address in Tarzana. But, according to the Dot's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration site, the company's license was revoked June 13, 2011. That was eight days before a driver moved Padaoan's belongings.
"I'm a single mom. Everything I ever worked for is on this truck. These people took everything I own, stuff that can't be bought from my son, memorabilia from when he was a baby."
Padaoan contacted the Bakersfield and Los Angeles Police Departments. They're investigating her case.
Source: http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/17-News-Investigation-Local-woman-battles-moving/pw6BiFFEHU2ZKUpPz3_y3A.cspx
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