Nope, not again. This was our third time using Collegiate movers and is the worst moving experience…read morewe have had. For reference we have lived 5 times over the last six years.
Asked for a quote, received it, but did not get anything in writing. Adrian said he needed $1200, for deposit, but explained there is a 3% charge for credit cards and asked for Zelle or Venmo payments. By the time we transferred the money over to that account, for the deposit m, the deposit was. $1500,. Thus was to be applied at the end. He had us send the money to his wife, not even to a business account.. Still nothing in writing, asked for this to be in writing, he sent an email with grey type on a white background.
There was little communication after that. Even after reaching out the Friday before the move set to be on Tuesday, there was no response. He calls after 2 on Monday, to say the truck is getting repaired and still not back asking to adjust our move date. We had a short window, but was able to shift it a day. Asking us for places to stop for the night, putting their poor planning onto us.
When they called to confirm the time was firm, they asked what kind of carts were available to move stuff out. They used a hotel cart that belonged to our building and got a shopping cart out of the alley, because they did not have a dolly or anything to move things with. I was surprised they had moving blankets at this point.
They arrived 30 minutes later the time they were supposed to arrive and the set time we had access to the freight elevator. After showing them what they had to move, I suggested they not leave the truck where they had it parked, that things might walk off. They did not move it, felt it was okay (this was in Chicagoland). We made the block to see they left it there. They called when they finished moving out, no other communication until move in day.
They sent a message the day if move in. They said they would be at the move in about noon and would give a call when they were 30 minutes out. At 1pm, we received that call, they were 30 minutes out.
They arrived without a lock on the back. When asked, they said they park it so it is tight against a wall.
We helped them unload the truck, because we were worried about the incoming rain.
We changed nothing about our packing. Until this move we have only had one cereal bowl break. This time we had multiple glasses, a platter, a 5 gallon antique water jug and more. Also, completely missing whole boxes and at last count, at least $1,000 of our belongings. Several of which are family heirlooms that cannot be replaced.
When we went to pay, Adrian wanted to add $450 for gas, to what he stated when he gave the estimate, was a fixed rate and is in the email he sent that is barely readable. Then wanted to change the additional credit card charge from 3% to 4%. I did the math for him and rounded up a few dollars, just to be done and stop the conversation.