Our experience started in a very positive way. C&F was recommended by our highly trusted real estate agent. Our move was complicated and required flexibility, and we appreciated the experience and efficiency exhibited in the pre-move process. The moving crew was efficient and professional and rolled with some very unexpected difficulties over our two day move.
The surprises occurred subsequent. We were not told that we had to deliver our two cars that C&F was transporting to C&F's facility. We agreed to have C&F transport them, at above-market rates, because Frank assured us C&F was transporting them. We later found out the transport was a subcontracted job. In the midst of moving out of our home, we then had to deliver two cars to C&F's facility, a process which took over six hours.
We were traveling home by motor home and encountered a disaster. We ended up stuck in Georgia for almost two weeks while our motor home was being repaired. We kept in touch with C&F about our dilemma, concerned about the timing of the delivery of our cars as well as our household goods.
In the midst of this crisis, we received a surprise bill by email, for an extra 20% over the already very high amount we already paid. This additional bill was a flat price invoice with no description of the charges. We had paid the original invoice in full in advance, in good faith, by wire. We knew we had some overages, but not to that extent. No one had called to warn us of this bill, and when we called to ask for details, the response was not exactly warm.
Frank, the owner, called back, screaming and cursing, berating us for having the nerve to "insult" his team without asking a question, accusing us of using foul language and being unappreciative of their hard work. In fact, we had only called to understand the additional charges before paying them. We were in the midst of our own nightmare and were surprised by high additional surcharges but would pay what was fair if the charges were supported. We understand that moving is expensive. He berated me so much that I could no longer talk to him, and he called my partner.
Frank apologized, eventually, for his rudeness, his tone, his insults, for hanging up on me twice. After he listened for five minutes to the incredible stress we were under and how concerned we were about the impact on upholding our end of the moving deliverables, he agreed to reassess the charges and told us not to worry about paying the additional invoice immediately.
True to our word, we found a friend to take delivery of our cars. We called regularly to let C&F know of our progress, and when we would be home, as we promised. When we had a firm date, we had another incredibly unpleasant encounter, this time with Frank's daughter, who simply demanded the extra charges be paid immediately or "no delivery". There were verbal threats that the moving trucks would be turned around and returned to Florida and our entire household goods would be held hostage in a warehouse. Frank made a few calls, between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., replacing a "hello" greeting with "what the hell is wrong with you?".
We arrived home, finally, about 36 hours before the eventual delivery of our household goods. We had a tragic family death the day before and were making funeral arrangements, and Frank called at 5:55 a.m. the day of delivery (a day earlier than originally agreed) screaming nothing would be delivered till the wire was confirmed.
The movers on the delivery end themselves did a fine job. Nothing was broken or mistreated. They were polite and courteous and friendly and clearly had many years experience, although only one of them was a direct employee of C&F.
We have both moved many times, in all manners, from friends with trucks and cars to high end professional movers. I once moved internationally. I even moved in a nor'easter with less stress. But, never, have I encountered the vitriol and poison and rudeness exhibited by the owner of a company. It's a shame too, because his wife / partner is professional and deals with the chaos of the operations. His employees are professional and competent and in our difficult circumstances, adapted to those circumstances on the spot.
AVOID C&F Movers because if you move one inch out of Frank's favor, your precious household goods may be threatened, you yourself may be threatened and if you comparison shop, you may find his rates very high and the service simply not worth being eviscerated before sunrise. read more