Thinking about United Van Lines?????
 

Well, find someone else quick!!! Like many others United lost many items from our move from MA to The Villages. We used them because they came recommended from the relocation team as one of the four movers they recommended.

The move seem to be going well and everything went into a storage closeby in Oxford until our home was built at the end of June. There was no way that we could tell we had boxes missing until we actually moved into our home. I checked my paperwork and had 2 page 6's and page 8's, I also don't know how the driver checked off all the boxes as some of the tags he placed on the boxes in our home in MA had fallen off in our garage due to the rain. I mentioned this to him when we met him at the storage area that I found some of the numbered stickers on my garage floor back home and he said Oh, don't worry about that. Well, guess what? He checked off that he delivered every single box, and even though I purchased the insurance it doesn't matter because I found out in the mail tonight that they are rejecting my claim.

Go online and look up United Van Line complaints before you hire them. I wish that I would have. It is discouraging because I don't know of any long distance mover that has a good reputation.

From what I read, they are self insured and tend to deny all claims. Gee, why bother buying the insurance?

They say the power is in the pen. I have only begun.

Good luck on getting compensated. Been there done that, but hopefully your mighty pen will get some attention. I do understand your frustration.

Many years ago I used United Van Lines and had the experience from h*ll also. They broke my marble dining room table and had the audacity to tell me thats the way it was when they picked it up. My Bed wall unit never showed up and they told me it was not on their check list, although it was on the carbon copy they gave to me.

We used a company called UPack.They dropped a trailer in our driveway up in Massachusetts we packed ourselves. They picked it up two days after they dropped it off.We called them 5 days later & they dropped it off in our driveway in the villages where we unloaded. It.They picked the emptied trailer up when we were done.We highly recommend this company as everything. went smoothly. Very professional!

I'm thinking that, when the time comes, we'll rent a u-haul truck and have my sons drive it down. Has anyone done that? At least, that way, we'll know what's happening.

Sounds like a good plan. We plan to do the pod thing, which alot of people on this forum have done with no complaints. Thats a good thing for me, perfect excuse for all new furniture.

We wanted to stay away from the horror stories your hear from people who have used "United Van Lines" or other long distacne moving companies. So we used PODS and it worked well for us. The good thing about pods is that you load the pod(s) in your drive way lock the door , they pick it up and deliver it at a pre selected time ...no additional charges within 30 days. When it arrives at your TV location you open the lock up and VIOLA...yo strat the unloading process. There are loading and unloading companies you can hire at reasonable rates. They are not necessarily the cheapest way to go but it surely beats losing your personal goods, or being held captive to last minute charges before a moving company will unload your goods.

We used a POD for most of our stuff. No damage at all and as stated, open the door and all is there. Pulled a small U Haul trailer with other stuff and again no problems. POD was about the same as if I had rented a truck and drove from RI with road expenses. Very Happy with POD.

United Van lines is on the verge of speaking with our lawyer. Beware, they are terrible and their drivers and packers are the worst ever. After 20 years in the Military with many overseas moves, this move across country was the worst that I have ever had. Never again United Van Lines.

Why did they reject your claim? We have some damaged furniture and I am dragging my feet in filing a claim because I am pretty sure they won't do anything.

They told me to file a claim for the missing items because I had purchased the insurance and then rejected the claim because they said they had delivered everything to the storage facility. Guess they are trying to point fingers to either the storage facility or to Village Movers but we were the only ones with the lock and key to the storage and my husband watched Village Movers load everything onto the truck and afterwards made sure the truck was empty.

United moved several homes in the same truck so we weren't the only family with their belongings being moved. In fact when the driver unloaded our belongings they gave us someone else's table and later on had to come back to get it. So errors do happen and mixups do happen only they don't want to admit to it and they don't want to pay out.

I am curious as to how much they collect for insurance premiums and what percentage they pay out in claims. I would bet their pay out is a very low percent. In fact I bet they must first reject each claim.

I want to speak with the Villages regarding why they recommend United and if there are so many complaints against them why do they still continue to recommend them. Had they not referred us to United I would not had even considered them. I feel they should no longer refer business to United.

My wife and I are planning to move to TV within a year and how we wiil move our things has been on my mind. After reading these comments United Van Lines is out. Does anyone know the names of the other moving companies the relocation team recomends?

Question when you pack a pod what keeps everything in place? we will be sending down a 4 piece sectional, bedroom set, loveseat, and one select comfort bed is there tie downs to keep in place or do you just stuff it full ?

Not sure about that, hopefully those that had used Pods in the past can answer that. I am sure they fill up so easily and are jammed packed.

Most PODS will have tie downs....but if you have a good packer...I mean eperienced, they will know how to use teh matress and box spring or couch cushions for example, as a means to prevent damage. Tie down also help to prevent a load from shifting, but the real answer to to pack it tight, use furniture pads (over the hardwoods) that you can rent from U-haul up north and return here and then tie it in. Also using moving boxes (get them at Sams, Home depot or U-Haul) as opposed to grocery/commercial boxes are much better for they are uniform in size, made for specific types of household goods (ie china, glassware, TV, clothing), and fit better whether you are using a POD or U-haul truck.

As I've said in my post before DON"T use Father and Son out of MA or Neighbors Moving. I've been waiting since July 20th for a phone call from our carrier. We filed the proper paper work for our claim with every i dotted and t crossed as well as pictures. I know they will deny it and we will never hear anything.
When we get back to MA I want to look into taking them to small claims court (it's not a small claim) but I don't want the expense of an attorney. I just want them to know I am not going down easily.

United doesn't sell insurance! They have a fancy name for it!
 

Oh, I was told today I did not buy insurance. I purchased valuation replacement to protect myself in case the truck went over a bridge or encountered some sort of accident where everything was damaged beyond repair. This also took care of other type of damages to my belongings that were damaged and needed repair.

Once they delivered my belongings to the storage unit the coverage ended. Gee, when the rep came to my home you would think he would have taken the time to explain that in detail as he knew they were delivering to a storage unit. Also, I tried to explain to the girl on the phone (in a very nice tone), how is someone supposed to know that everything arrived until like me they actually move into their home? At some point she had hung up on me. I wasn't being rude, nor had I raised my voice.

I wonder if I can complain to American Express. I used that credit card to charge the move. This girl was very firm in whipping out things like, well, you received a DOT booklet etc... Do I have no recourse?

Has anyone used a moving company with good results? Starting to rethink the whole doing it ourselves thing.

I too used United for our move..same story rejected claim.

We closed on our home in TV on July 5th and didn't receive our Mayflower delivery until July 24th, it was scheduled to arrive July 8th and was actually delivered by United. Our furniture was picked in Baltimore before we left and sat in the local mover's warehouse waiting for Mayflower to send a truck. Finally they got United to pick it up and the driver came straight here and delivered on a Sunday. We received a $125 a day late fee beginning July 9th. We filed the claim via email two days after delivery and received a check for $2000 from Mayflower three days after that. The move was only $2850 to begin with, their estimate was $3400. So in the end, we got our delivery for only $850 since they refunded $2000.

Way too many nightmare moving van stories.
We were very happy when we used Hills Mayflower in Ocala, FL.
Hills Mayflower, located at 416 Nw 7th St Ocala, FL.
We called them from the North and they had a local rep give us a bid etc and we scheduled with them in Fl. They are always up North picking up households and I would guess that 50-60% of their business is The Villages. They know it well. the move from North to The Villages went fine. When we returned to the North after living in The Villages full time for 10 years, we again used Hills Mayflower. Perfect move. No problems.

Movers in The Villages
 

We plan to drive down in a Penske truck the end of September. Found a guy named "Little John Moving" to help on that end. Just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with them. Thanks:undecided:

Called American Express
 

I called American Express to see if they could help me and they are going to put in a claim for me and try to help me. I am really hopeful as I think they have more muscle than United Van Lines. They are putting in a hold for the amount of the "insurance" claim and going after United for that amount. I am really hoping that in about six weeks I have a credit for about $1300.00!!!

Like I told the girl on the phone. I know my belongings are gone, but it is the point that United gets away with it all the time. I told her about my online research and their history of claim denial. She was so nice and told me that they will do their best. Cross your fingers!

Gisele

I have used various van lines for seven moves over the last 25 years or so. I have had good experiences for the most part, including collecting on claims for broken items. The last move we made in 2003 was with United Van Lines out of Des Moines Iowa (Link) and they were the best we ever had. I think a lot of it has to do with the local franchise, and of course, the crew that you get.

Villages Relocation also recommended Atlas Van Lines

Do Not Use Atlas Van Lines.

ABF. You load the truck, they drive it down, you unload the truck. You pay only for the space you use. I hired someone to load/unload for me. Cost to me from VT to FL was ~ 2300.00 for loading/unloading and 20 feet of trailer space. Nothing damaged but that's all in the loading.

Naturally, I am sorry you had problems with United Van Lines. I used them 2 years ago when we moved from Maryland to The Villages. It was an effortless move to say the least. I used Villages Relocation Svc and was very pleased with everything.

The movers from United Van Lines were clean, fast, and careful. Nothing was broken or damaged. The van was at our house in Maryland on time and down here at The Villages exactly when they estimated.

I would recommend them to anyone.

American Express got my money back!
 

I put in a claim with American Express as that is the credit card I used to pay for the move, and they were able to win against United Van Lines! AE asked me to fax to them a copy of my so called insurance claim with United, the denial letter, and a short letter explaining my side of the story and after looking into the matter American Express is going to credit the full amount of my loss on my credit card for the boxes that United lost.

:MOJE_whot:

Gisele

We just used United Van Lines and this was one of our best moves. Honestly I don't think it matters which line you use, its a crap shoot as far as the team and the driver that you get. You hear good and bad about all of the companies. This driver that we got was from Sarasota and he came and picked up a load in NJ and then picked us up in Richmond VA. He had our stuff delivered to TV in 5 days. We had only one piece of furniture with a scratch on it and they paid us to have it repaired. This driver ran the show and his workers did a great job.

Im curious the price for Pods to move is it comparable or drastically different form United or mayflower which are about 8k from here in Texas to TV. Also a Pod doesnt look to long a full size couch and a couple mattresses look like it could fill it up.

Details, details, details
 

Care to share the details of your dissatisfaction with Atlas? Considering using them and need to know what to expect.

Thanks a 1,000,000.

Yarnspinner

Anyone familiar with Merit Van Lines, out of NJ?? Or Nationwide Van Lines, out of FL?? May use one or the other for my late Jan venture....