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This is the short version of a complaint against a Florida-based moving broker, Gold Standard Relocation (GSR) (and New Jersey-based mover, Direct Movers (DM)) I filed with the BBB; there is so much more to complain about and I did with the Florida AG, who is investigating it further; the DOT; and the FTC.
7-16-19, 2018, I researched moving trucks for my nephew's move from NY to NM the end of July. I knew I could rent a truck for $2300 with unlimited mileage and my nephew would drive it. But I researched other options seeking the best deal using credit card only. One of the "moving" companies' reps I talked to was Garin Combs, GSR, who convinced me he could beat the $2300 because "they" had a full-service, direct-route truck, almost full, ready to head out by the end of July. But to get the 50% off and beat the $2300, I would have to sign the agreement now. I explained I hadn't talked to my nephew about the timing of the move or what household goods he needed to ship, but Garin told me because we were working with poundage (later to be changed to 1000 cubic feet without my knowledge/approval), the agreement for $826 down and the remainder ($1300) due at the end of the move would remain the same as long as we were at 2000 lbs or less ($.70/lb over that). Even after I provided a better, but far from complete, inventory, Garin noted I was still okay. I quickly reviewed the agreement and noted for the first time, GSR was a broker, not the actual carrier, but since the agreement appeared to be okay, I assumed these were all the charges, including the broker fees and mover's (still unknown to me). GSR had a good BBB and other ratings, so I assumed, wrongly, that GSR would contract with a reputable carrier. I signed the agreement and had 72 hours to back out. For the next 3 days, I couldn't reach anyone when my first credit card charge came in for $966.49, instead of $826, per the binding estimate. From this point on, every e-mail/agreement included a change, increase, etc. The next increase I paid was $1000 by cc. I've disputed this charge (really both cc charges) because it was charged by Liberty Bell Moving Group which I've since found out is owned/registered agent by the same person, but it has horrible ratings (also check out LB Moving Group). Since then I've also talked with the FL AG's Office, and if I'd known what I know now, I would have run from this company.
The next big surprise is when the mover, Direct Movers (DM) (Union City, NJ) (I'll be filing separate complaints on the mover's tactics) showed up late 7/29 (Sunday night), and after loading up my nephew's stuff, demanded $1500 in cash. He called me and I immediately called GSR (Caitlin) who "negotiated" MY payment in cash for later. I never agreed to pay any cash; I didn't have any. Everything would have to be credit card or it was a no go and Garin knew that (but I was no longer working with Garin)! I had to use a convenience check from my cc company (at usury interest rates), wait for the money to get put in my checking account to wire $1500 (the only acceptable way for the mover), which took a few days. I continued to argue with GSR (mostly Caitlin, but two others as well) to no avail. The $2300 move was now $3, 466.90 and I still owed another $1500 if we wanted my nephew's belongings. His belongings were now the hostage of two shoddy businesses and there was no way we were getting them back unless we paid more money. (I even tried telling them to offload his belongings, charge me for that and storage (whatever) and I'd find another mover...but no.) GSR, Caitlin, assured me they'd keep me informed of the move, but late 8-5, Sunday, I received a call from the DM driver. They'd be delivering on 8-7 (Tuesday), and $5, 000 in cash or PO money order to DM had to be paid if we wanted my nephew's stuff offloaded. Calls, arguments, etc. followed. GSR, Caitlin, "negotiated" the $5K down to $2K. When the truck arrived, we negotiated it to $1600 CASH (if I'd had a money order drawn for $2K, I wouldn't have had negotiation ability; thus, I chose to negotiate with cash (not a great way of doing business in my mind)). Now that we have my nephew's stuff, we're filing our numerous complaints with the DOT, FTC, State AGs, etc.
My dispute for $140.49 was not resolved in my favor because I gave them my credit card information for the $826 (but again, I didn't give it to them for the $966.49), but for the $1000 charge, it was resolved in my favor because it was a fraudulent charge by Liberty Bell Moving Group. My $2300 move actually cost $4066.49. But if GSR hadn't accidentally billed me $1000 using one of its other poorly-rated companies' services, which I successfully beat disputing the charge through my cc company (versus signing the non-disclosure agreement GSR, Sharon, offered me to not complain), and if I had had to pay $5k to get my nephew's belongings off of the truck, this move would have been $8466.49. A little higher than the promised $2300!
I doubt I'll ever get another cent back, but this broker (and this mover) needs to be red-flagged like its sister companies.
Call the FL AG's Office and check this site before you sign anything with this company. https://www.bizapedia.com/people/margaret-drayton.html
I will never use a broker for a move again, especially those located in Florida. I wish Pam Bondi, the FL AG, good luck in cleaning up this industry in her state. I doubt I'll ever use a mover again, but if I do, I'll be sure I'm working with the mover, not a broker. And I can assure you DM is the last mover on earth I'd use.
Gold Standard Relocation and I came to an agreeable resolution to my complaint. My part of the agreement is to remove all negative reviews/complaints where I can, or at least note Gold Standard Relocation's efforts to make the situation right (per me, the customer). I appreciate GSR's efforts in this regard. PH
This company is a joke and a scam, I've been dealing with them for a month, everything was said to be good, we had to pay by credit card, they said they would provide that service, but the truck that did that, got pushed back a couple days, Sent another truck, they didn't take that kind of payment, and just left, I asked for a refund, and they said only 20%, we can give you, since they drove there, but yet did nothing, and left. Mind you we have to be out of our house we sold, by the 27th. Terrible company, and lots of hidden fee's. I feel very angry about this.
Scam...
What a Scam! I am so angry not only because this is the worst moving company I have ever seen, but because I believed Mike, the person I dealt with. I am moving only a portion of my home and we went over each item individually even giving them measurements. I got a quote of $6000. A week before they were to move my stuff we reviewed the list. He said he would have to recalculate everything. When this guy got back on the phone he told me it would now cost me $13, 000!Of course I blew my top. You would expect the the original person giving me the estimate would know what he was doing! he told me he worked in the industry. HAHA! Now looking for recourse, I am coming up with all of these negative reviews and reports! Class action suits! This company misrepresented itself! Not that if there was a minor adjustment I would have accepted, but it was not explained to me that there would be any adjustments. Then to charge more than double the estimated was a travesty! of course they are telling my that I cannot cancel and get my $2500 down payment refunded. There is so much fraud in this transaction I could go on and on. There's interstate commerce rules and regulations. They said they had an A+ rating with the BBB ( they are not even affiliated with the BBB). They have sub contract out the move with inferior companies who break things, steal items and just don't care about your furnishings. As I said I will be going to every agency I can find to file complaints. First is going to be the Floridas Attorney Generals office . This company has to be stopped so they don't continue to scam unsuspecting people who are moving and dealing with the stress of moving!
Any luck getting money back yet?
Held my furniture hostage in an egregious violation of both federal law and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. I used this moving broker company to set up a move for today. I had a binding estimate for approximate $3500 for an approximately 30 mile move of one bedroom apartment. This is approximately double the standard rate for this area. I needed a mover that same day, so was amendable to paying the higher rate. I emailed back and forth with a representative of Gold Standard Relocation regarding additional items to be added to the estimate. The movers arrived 5 hours late with an outdated copy of the contract. After disassembling and loading all of my belongings into the moving truck, they told me that I needed to pay $11, 000 in cash immediately to them. I said no, as this was over triple the BINDING estimate--which pursuant to federal law cannot be adjusted in such instances--and they told me that they were not releasing my belongings. The cops were called and the movers demanded $7000 just to release my belongings. In addition to my $1900 deposit. Ultimately I was forced to pay $700 just to get my disassembled furniture back.
I’m going on 50 days with no delivery and nothing but lies and lack of communication. Demanding exuberant amounts of money.
I feel so foolish that I didn’t trust my gut! I tried to call back and cancel since the check had not hit my bank yet. But “Charlie” if that is really his name, he even gave me his personal number telling me to “Call anytime, no reason to feel unsure about anything. You know how salty some people get when things don’t go their way” what the heck! Of course they get salty. Your company takes half of my money, telling me I have 3 days to cancel. I call to cancel the next day but I am told I can’t cancel cause my check hasn’t cleared your bank yet. And you can’t refund something you don’t have. OMG HOW STUPID COULD I HAVE BEEN! I should have stopped payment on my check, even though the paperwork states not to. That should have been red flag 502!
So I waited till I saw it was cashed, and I called to cancel. The lady was so nice. She informed me that it would be 7-14 business days or something like that. My paperwork was perfect. Yes indeed, I was ANOTHER PERFECT SUCKER! I was just another senior citizen that Gold Standard Moving had scammed. You took my money with no intention of ever giving it back. And when I call to find out where my refund was, I am told by customer service that they just had a meeting regarding the refund department. It seems the refund department is running behind, it may be 4-6 weeks. I should have known that would be the response because it was what I read in most of the comments. So I called “CHARLIE” up on his personal phone number he gave me, I got a machine. Big Surprise!
So many of the folks on here lost their household belongings, memories of their lives…it is not just stuff. These crooks have taken our money and so many other folks money. They have held people’s items hostage and they have refused folks the courtesy of the truth. They are out and out thieves without a gun. How do folks feel good about themselves when they hang up the phone. Knowing full well they are scamming innocent people.
These people need to be but out of business. Is there a Class Action Lawsuit I can join in on?
I vote for a Class Action Lawsuit!
I have a long string of incriminating emails; plus I had my financial institution on the phone every time I called, so every call was recorded.
I was quoted $4, 300 for cross country move. I gave a $1, 966 deposit. when movers came, they said my stuff would not fit. movers demanded an extra $2, 000. I refused to pay so movers just left! now gold standard moving and storage is refusing to return my deposit saying that I recused service.
Has anyone ever got their money back? did anyone have success through small claims court?
This is the federal governing body for moving brokers and moving carrier services as it relates to moving fraud incidences.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/file-a-complaint?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ar-fy22pym&utm_content=post&gclid=CjwKCAiAv_KMBhAzEiwAs-rX1ARMTfHqLcetHgOXe0gMzRPuakaHJDX_wcqTHG3Z-z60AHGKxItk9xoCTeIQAvD_BwE
Do not use gold standard relocation! worst experience from the moment I paid the deposit. do not trust them, do not buy their lies and business practices. they are not rated "a" with the bbb they are rated d - I have all the documentation that this company sold me and now will say it wasn't them. they lie. they cheat. customer service is a joke. don't let "bob" sell you anything. he's not there to help, just to make a sale with lies! just don't even call them. ever. if you end up with a shady company called speedy movers llc out of jersey, they are a sub contractor, but will take as much money as they can over and above the cost quoted. just don't do it. call someone else! do research, read reviews. good luck!
I moved from colorado to michigan back in may-june 2021. They quickly and poorly packed up my things in a truck while rushing me through new paperwork saying the stuff was over estimate. I was forced to sign a contract $600 more after they loaded the truck. They told me they would do inventory at the warehouse. They did not weigh anything. While my things were in storage there was a warehouse fire which they did not inform me about. They demanded I pay before they opened the truck when they got to Michigan. I got basically half of my things delivered ( late ). Everything was smoke and water damaged. I still had to go get multiple item from a family in michigan that also had damage. I could not live in my apt as there was cleaning chemicals and foul smells. Still had to pay more to get it moved again. I have filed a claim through the bs movingclaims.net. In October, I got a settlement offer of $115.
I am looking for anyone that was involved in that warehouse fire in Colorado from May-June.
Anyone know of a property damage lawyer in Colorado? Please help.
I'm still waiting for my belongings and priceless items how to file a claim for all my expenses
I received a moving estimate with Gold Standard Moving and Storage and paid a deposit of $2,147.37 on 9/2/2022. On 9/7/2022, I called Gold Standard to cancel my contract. I received an e-mail on that day stating that I would receive my refund. I called Gold Standard Moving and Storage monthly to inquire about my refund and was told many times that the refund was delayed. Of course, I've never received my refund. I've retained an attorney and am in the process of filing a complaint with the BBB and Florida Office of the Attorney General, Ashley Moody.
Good luck. I filed with the BBB over a year ago and they haven’t done a damn thing.
They got me for half upfront before I woke up and smelled the coffee. I called them out on it and all of a sudden, numbers are disconnected. You’re not going to see a cent back unless you hire an attorney. The cost doesn’t outweigh the pursuit. Over a year after I complained to the BBB and nothing. Florida doesn’t give two [censored]s about it either. I’m half tempted to contact the channel 8 woman locally here in Florida who gets people taken care of. If I didn’t have a family, I’d take it in my own hands since I live less than two hours from their location and I have nothing else to loose.