Lee Nelson of Good Ol' Boys Moving and Storage was contacted from a Yellow Pages ad in early May. They called us back and offered to send an e.mail about their company. It read well. It offered Peace of Mind Quality Service and a great price and great service, assurance of no hidden costs outside of their estimate, etc. They sent an estimate and asked for a deposit of 22% of the final cost. We used Pay Pal to forward an amount of $332.00 They called on the phone and asked a few questions of what was to be shipped. The estimate was based on this phone call. Even though in their information on the web they boldly in red stated:
"We always offer to do Free in home surveys and we strongly recommend this as it often elimintes problems later on. Warning: customers lists often miss small items and customers are poor estimators of numbers of boxes. ALWAYS HAVE IN HOME ESTIMATES AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR A MOVER NOT TO DO SO. IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE SERVICE".
They were given the option of when the furniture should be picked up, since it was all ready in early May. We asked for delivery on June 12th, 2006. They picked it up on June 5th, 2006 as that would give enough time for it all to arrive on June 12th, according to Lee Nelson.
After their first estimate and the business was asked to move our stuff, they added in an extra cost. When I pointed out that they claimed in their e.mail that there were no hidden costs, Lee said "I am trying to do my best to help you". I agreed to the costs, and a pick up date was set, and a deposit made via internet.
On June 5th, 2006, a truck with the name ALLIANCE VAN LINES and two young men, arrived. They loaded all of our belongings and gave us a number of sheets of paper listing the items loaded, asked us to sign them, gave us copies and took off.
June 12th, in our new location we waited for our shipment. Nothing arrived. We called Lee Nelson. He said it was still in Toronto and would be another week or so. We bought an air mattress to sleep on and waited in an empty home.
June 17th, with no word from them, we called Lee Nelson. We stated that he promised June 12th and it is now the 17th. He yelled that he never made such a promise and that his computer says June 12-19th, he was speaking firmly standing his ground when my husband gave me the phone as I made the arrangements. Lee was speaking so loudly, he would not stop to hear a different person on the phone and ignored my repeated "Hellos". I hung up. He called back and I could hear him yelling at my husband from sitting next to him in our car. My husband yelled back and they both hung up.
Later an e.mail from Lee saying to talk to Sean Singh at Alliance Van Lines as there was a problem with our furniture.
We called Lee and we were now panicking. Lee offered nothing. Instead, stated that he was yelled at by us, and since he was mistreated this way he wanted nothing to do with us.
We asked about a refund if he did not want to deal with us and he offered half of the deposit. After sometime he refunded half. As the story got hotter, he offered to refund all of the money to get him off the hook. He pushed the responsibiliy over to ALLIANCE VAN LINES, who pointed us back to the one who made the arrangements - Good Ol' Boys.
Sean said finally that there was an accident and he knew for sure that our leather couch was mangled as the truck landed just where it was packed in the truck. He would forward the other stuff by another carrier. No further information.
Cutting to the chase weeks and weeks went by with not being able to reach Sean, promises of a police report that would be faxed and never was, no details of the accident whatsoever. Lee again telling us that he was the good guy here and was trying to help, even though he was yelled at, offered us the name of the insurance for Alliance Van Lines - Lombard Insurance. We tracked down his broker and asked about an accident. They had no knowledge of an accident with Alliance Van Lines whom they insured. Sean later called warning us never to talk to his insurance company again. The broker now refused to talk further when he realized what was going on.
Endless calls to the police who said it was a Civil matter, the MP's in our area, etc. etc.
Sean then gave us the name of River City Movers and said they would bring our stuff. Elaine was the organizer and was often drunk on the phone. She did not want anything to do with it but said she would help Sean out. She gave the business to a Paul Legge (not his real name when the number was checked on Canada411. Many call exchanged, numbers disconnected etc. Paul along the way in this mess, demanded the cost of the full shipment even though items were missing.
Sean finally told him to reduce it by $500. We now owed him $1945.00 and had a money order ready with the amount if only we could get our stuff. Paul threatened to take us to court for the full amount if we did not pay. After a few weeks of promises to receive our stuff, Sean got him o the phone and said he confirmed with Paul and Elaine, that it would be at our door on JULY 24TH, 2006.
They arrived with a small trailer and demanded payment before it was opened. On opeing, there was about 5% of what we originally had loaded in the ALLIANCE VAN LINES MOVING TRUCK. There were only 30 boxes repacked into their own boxes, a broken and damaged king bed with broken box springs, 4 broken lamps, broken patio furniture, bits and pieces of other items all bent and broken. Everything in the boxes was broken to bits, clothes torn and soiled. The RCMP came to the scene, and while they were speaking with us inside the building, the two movers placed all boxes and items on the grass in front of the apartment building and took off.
Sean informed us to make a claim within 30 days for the basic insurance of 60 cents per pound and he would do better to help us out. We had this claim sent by a lawyer on August 11th, 2006.
TO DATE NEVER ANOTHER WORD FROM ALLIANCE VAN LINES OR GOOD OL'BOYS OR LOMBARD INSURANCE REGARDING ANY OF OUR MONEY OR FURNITURE.
ON PLACING INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC LEE NELSON IS THREATENING US, FAXING THE LAWYER WE USED TO WRITE THE LETTER AND CLAIMING SLANDER.
WE ARE MAKING THIS PUBLIC AS WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO OUR NAMES OF FURNITURE OR BELONGINGS AND ARE ONLY RECEIVING FURTHER ABUSE FROM LEE NELSON, AS IF HE HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE BY CLAIMING TO BE A MOVER AND HAVING OUR STUFF PICKED UP AND US NEVER SEEING IT AGAIN.
The most recent word from Lee is that we signed off on the insurance and I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHERE I SIGNED WHEN WE NEVER MET OR DID ANYMORE THAN RECEIVE HIS ESTIMATE ON THE INTERNET AND USED PAY PAL TO MAKE A DEPOSIT. ON THE PHONE WHEN HE DID HIS ESTIMATE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN HOME, HE NEVER ONCE I SWEAR TO GOD, MENTIONED THE WORD INSURANCE.
So what about the 60 cents required by law? What about the $1945.00 for a few broken items? Where are the other items they climed were damaged, like my 32 inch Sony T.V.? My Stainless steel barbecue, my computer, my leather couch, my bedroom dresser and mirror, my wing chair, microwave, toaster over etc. etc. etc. WHAT ABOUT THE ACCIDENT REPORT FROM THE POLICE? What about some sort of compensation?
The law is there and I will use it to the fullest. Do you know Donna Cansfield?
SEAN SINGH - PAY UP NOW!! MINIMUM $4, 000 - $30, 000 IS OUTSTANDING AND I WILL GET MY MONEY'S WORTH.
Wendy
EDSON, Alberta
Canada
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