Business ProfileforIndependence Van Lines

Beware-None of what the Independence Van Lines salesman says really matters because they are a broker who will take your move and subcontract it to moving company that is literally rated an "F" by the better business bureau. They won't mention they aren't a moving company. Their business model is is to keep a higher online rating than other competitors to shield us, the consumer, the truth that they not any better than other moving companies. In fact the sales rep, ******, told me several times he was proud of IVL's three star rating because, "happy customers don't write reviews".

In my case, they subcontracted my move to USA Logistics which is a company I NEVER would have picked to move my stuff-just look at their rating and reputation on any website.

A couple things to remember when dealing with any of these companies:
-Their "binding" contract only applies to them. It's designed to make sure THEY get paid but offers very little remedy for folks who are moving across the country. They fully realize you most folks have time constraints and won't be able to go through the processes outlined in the contract.

-They promise to send professional packers with "three years minimum experience in a warehouse environment". My packers were from Guatemala, didn't speak English and were on a three year work visa. They didn't wrap or pad any of my personal items and just literally threw my stuff in boxes. They smoked and littered all over my yard.

-The foreman's job is to lie to you about how much cubic feet you have. What the foreman will do is put all your stuff in the driveway so he can get a "good" estimate on cubic footage. Once he sees everything, he will deliver the "bad" news that you are over your estimates and there will be additional costs. My estimate with UVL was approximately 1,700 cubic feet but the USA Logistics foreman estimated somewhere around 2,100-which ended up being a 7k dollar difference in cost.

-Make no mistake, they know they have you at a disadvantage (as they certainly had me). With my back up against a move-out date and all my stuff packed and in the driveway, they give people their customers no choice but to accept the new price of the binding contract. This is a predatory business model.

-Storage-your storage fees will also go up commensurate with your new cubic footage. My storage fees went from a quoted $750 to around $1,200. Please don't call and ask for any proof of how it went up so much though. They purposely don't give the customer service people any paperwork other than, I quote, "they just tell me how much and that's what I bill you". If you press them too hard, they'll just hang up on you.

-Delivery. Delivery basically occurs when it is convenient for the company. Again, read your "binding" contract. Mine was two weeks after my already scheduled date.

-Also on delivery-I found it really interesting is my original 1,700 cubic foot estimate turned out to be true as they delivered my household goods on a truck that held a max of 1,800 cubic feet (to add insult to injury, my stuff was on the truck with another delivery too). I am still in awe how they could fit my 2,100 cubic feet of stuff on a truck with a max capacity of 1,800 cubic feet. NASA should hire some of the IVL as packers for the space shuttle with credentials like those.

I would file a complaint instead of leaving review but I don't think I can stomach the "cut and paste" deflection responses (check it out). Suffice to say I was taken for a ride along with everyone else it seems. Bottom line-everything the sales rep from IVL ******** told me was a lie except for the three star rating. Enjoy your one star ******. You certainly earned it.