Moving from Pasadena, CA to Atlanta GA. Any Good Movers?

[AdamB]

I had no idea there was so much unscrupulousness in moving until I looked around the Web. I am moving a 3 bedroom from Pasadena CA to Atlanta Georgia Aug. 1. So far I've had a high onsite estimate from Town & Country based in Azusa. I feel fairly confident with them, but the estimate was $5280. Another company, based I believe on the Westside of L.A., Millennium Moving & Storage, would only give me a phone estimate. They wouldn't come out to my house. But it was so much lower, $2832. I found some info about them on the site, but it was 3 years old. Though, I don't feel very confident about them not wanting to come out to my house and them making an estimate based on a list of furniture I gave over the phone, they did email me a long list of references with phone #s, which I haven't called yet. Does anyone have experience with these two movers? Can anyone recommend movers in the L.A. or Pasadena area that I should call? Thanks so much.

[Nancy]

Drop Millenium immediately, anyone who refuses to come to your home is not reputable.

Town & Country ~ do they still represent Atlas Van Lines? They are one of the major van lines. Pull out your local yellow pages and call two more major van line agents to come to your home.

The majors are: North American, United, Mayflower, Allied, Atlas.

[medic]

See, that is what is frustrating here. Statements like "drop them immediately they are not reputable"...NOT all movers will come to your house, especially if they are not from close by. Ideally you would like them to come, to avoid surprises, but I say don't drop them because someone said it like that! Now, if they have a lot of complaints with BBB or, even more importantly, with numerous people here, then think twice.

I am preparing a cross country move and I have seen movers get "trashed" here without any real bad experiences (I will post more questions elsewhere on this).

Good luck.

[Nancy]

Medic ~ If you read Tim's article on the top of this page, a company refusing to do an IN HOME estimate is entirely a reason to discard them.

Well anyone is free to use the search function!

I can't think of any specific names to steer you towards, but I can tell you to NOT use Millenium Moving. First of all, they've had two license numbers, one's permanently revoked, and the other's already had two revocations. The owner, Eli Cohen, is a known name involving scammers in CA. This is a direct quote from their website (even though I know you are not moving long-distance, it shows they are most DEFINETLY not out for good) Quote:
All long distance charges are computed according to volume (cubic feet) and not by weight.
THey've got 26 compalints at the BBB, yet are still members. Complaint Experience wrote:
Some complainants allege the actual charges are higher than the quoted amount and the price difference is not disclosed until after the items are loaded onto the trucks. Customers also allege the company charges exhorbitant fees for packing materials, or applies additional fees they thought were included in the price of the move. Other complaints allege damages or missing items and difficulty settling claims. The company responds to complaints by explaining that customers are informed of the cost of packing materials in advance and that these fees are in addition to the estimated price for the move. The company responds to other complaints by offering discounts, issuing credits, stating that actual moving charges were less than the estimated amount or explaining customers must pay for packing materials used. To complaints regarding damages, the company responds by sending claims forms or indicating that customers do not return the claim forms.
This thread shows Eli Cohen as being involved with SouthWest Van Lines: http://www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1610

[medic]

Now with all those complaints, I agree, stay away from them!!

In general, though, not being present for an estimate, is not a reason to ignore a company! A company "blessed" by people and this forum (Mooving, Inc) often gives over the phone binding estimates - and I am also considering using them for my move.

[Diane]

Millennium was blacklisted on www.movingadvocateteam.com and there is even a complaint about them on the www.123movers.com messageboard (which I didn't know existed):

Posted on January 30, 2006 at 08:07 by About Millennium Moving

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Comments:
I wanted to pass along this info about Millennium Moving and Storage of Los Angeles. I used your site and chose them for my move. I scheduled an appointment with them and four days before the move they called to cancel because they now had another move to do. I think it is unprofessional to schedule a move and then cancel it. They lost my business.

So I'm glad you've seen the light about them. Companies never change their spots. If this company was bad three years ago it is still bad.

Moovers, Inc. is a special case where I know the owners and they have almost three dozen rave reviews on this website. Even very reputable companies sometimes have to give phone estimates. Sterling Van Lines in Los Angeles is another one that I know about. Nancy knows the owner and can vouch for him. But normally, people should not accept a phone estimate from some random company located who knows where - it could be in the Middle East for all we know, because of call forwarding.

Yes, go ahead and get an estimate from Moovers. You can also look at my summary post on CA moving companies by clicking on the link below my signature.

[BigLeeCalif]

medic I have worked in the moving industry since 1989, and I can tell you that movers that want your business (legitimate movers) will come to your home and give you an inhome visual estimate..

Why? Because if they are van line affilliated, and their estimate is off, and the driver challenges the estimate, the van line pays the driver, and the agent that was off gets charged back the difference in what was paid to the driver.

A legitimate mover will not risk phone estimates.

Let me ask you this.. Have you found someone willing to give you a binding not-to-exceed estimate on a phone quote?

If you have, then I suggest you book immediately.

Moving industry sales people are under immense pressure to be accurate at this time of year.. Being off by just a few hundred pounds could mean the difference in a shipment not being picked up, or at the least maybe having a leaveover.

They might not be able to come out immediately, and some may have 2 - 3 week waiting periods for appointments now..

But I personally wouldn't trust a company that doesn't think my goods are important enough to come out and look at them.

They might not think they are good enough to be treated like valuable family items.

[MusicMom]

In general, the blanket statement to not use any mover who is not local and cannot do an in-home estimate is a good and solid statement. Now, since Medic is specifically considering one company for is own personal preferences, he will have to ignore that rule and deal with the over-the-phone estimate. Medic will have to be extremely patient and careful when preparing the inventory, since problems can arise when a non-professional tries to name very piece of furniture he has. Moovers has had only one reported case where the actual weight went over what the estimated weight is, so they are doing a pretty good job of keeping the phone estimates in line.

That being said, Medic, it still goes to say that any mover who REFUSES to come to your home to view all of you belongings, especially when they are in the same town as you, should be tossed away. There is even a new law requiring movers to get a signed waiver from the customer if they do not do an in-home estimate for someone living within 50 miles of their offices.

[BigLeeCalif]

medic said...

NOT all movers will come to your house, especially if they are not from close by.

I seem to recall that Adam said he was moving from Pasadena...

Every major Van Line has an agency just about somewhere in the Los Angeles basin.

With so many scammers operating out of the same area, it magnifies the need to deal with someone face to face. The internet in Los Angeles is NOT a place to find a reputable mover.

Even though I worked for Van Lines I'm not on anybody's payroll, and I don't get a kickback from them, so I am not on anyone's side except what is right.

But I think the chances of being taken in by a dubious mover are lessened when dealing with a van line if you have to use a mover.

[Guest]

Thanks for all the info. Millennium is out. I will contact Moovers Inc., as well as some of the local companies with good reviews mentioned in Diane's thread.

Thanks again.

[rt57413]

Try calling Gemini or S & M Moving Systems. Most honest so far. Both United agents.

I spoke with the Moovers and they priced my move a little higher based on the lbs I told them from other bids.

[Guest]

Also, I'd like to recommend Ben Hur in L.A. I used them for two short local moves some years ago and they did a perfect job each time. It wasn't expensive and they helped me put together a piece of furniture for no extra cost. Long distance, they said 7-14 days, so that didn't work for me. I made appointments with the companies mentioned above. Thanks.

[BigLeeCalif]

You need to give the complete name for Ben Hur in L.A. The one I find on Saferweb is based in Bronx, and only has 1 truck.

Besides that they have 28 truck inspections, and 42 driver inspections in just 24 months.

Doesn't say much about their operation.

and they are shown as a broker, with several license revocations...

Please give us the full name and/or DOT/MC Numbers so we can make sure this company in L.A. is not the same company.

[MusicMom]

Is this the one you're talking about? Their address says San Francisco, but it's the only Ben Hur listed in CA. There is no LICENSED comapny named Ben Hur anywhere in CA.

http://www.goldengatebbb.org/commonrepo ... ?bid=27511

[Diane]

Ben Hur states on its website at www.benhur.com that it has an office both in NYC (it's in the Bronx) and in Los Angeles:
http://www.benhur.com/contact.aspx

The Los Angeles office used to be listed by the LA area BBB. In January 2005 it was rated A (!), which I complained about here, and then by April 2005 it had dropped to a CCC rating, and now it's apparently not listed at all. (Although I can't seem to bring up ANY companies on the LA area BBB website right now.) Go figure. But I see Ben Hur's trucks on the freeways and I'm pretty sure it has a presence here. The Los Angeles-NYC lane is very well traveled and lucrative for the scammers.

Despite the above poster's recommendation, I advise people to avoid Ben Hur. It has complaints both here and on RipoffReport.