Best Interstate Moving and Storage 601 Heritage Drive, Suite 220 Jupiter, FL 33458 July 2, 2018 To Whom It May Concern: It is with regret that I have been advised by legal counsel to write this letter to document my dealings with Best Interstate Moving and Storage and their contractor, Rayan Van Lines, in the event that legal action becomes warranted in the future. The purpose of this letter is severalfold: 1) to document my recent moving experience, and 2) to hope to come to an appropriate accord. I called Best Interstate Moving and Storage, a moving broker, to help coordinate my move from Durham, North Carolina from a 1 bedroom, 1 den (983 square foot) apartment to Fort Worth, Texas (Exhibit A). The binding moving estimate was for a total of $5,003.98 for a distance of 1,193 miles at an estimated weight of 4,634 lbs of belongings (Exhibit B). The estimated weight was based on a phone inventory. I also paid for custom packing, and the movers were supposed to bring the appropriate packing materials (Exhibit C). The agreement was for a down payment of $1,751.39, which was paid. Then 50% of the remaining balance would be paid upon pickup (which was paid), and the remaining paid upon delivery. The contractor assigned to my move was Rayan Van Lines (US DOT 3001740) based out of Union City, NJ. [NAME EDIT] of Rayan Van Lines called me and we agreed on a time of 8:30 AM on 6/28/2018 for the move. On the day of the move, the movers were late by approximately 2.5 hours. [NAME EDIT] arrived with one other helper, who did not speak English. They arrived without any official uniforms and with only a 26 foot Penske Truck (no Rayan Van Lines logo). Upon arriving in the apartment, [NAME EDIT] performed a new visual estimate and stated that in order to protect himself, he needed a new estimate to be signed. He allowed for a weight of up to 7,134 lbs and material and packing to be an additional $2,200. He assured me that this was only an estimate and would not be a new price. I tried calling Best Interstate Moving and Storage but could not reach the representative assigned to my case, [NAME EDIT]. [NAME EDIT] said that he needed this new estimate to be signed before they could start with the move. Since my lease ended June 30 th, 2018, and I would not have time to find new movers, I signed the revised estimate since I knew there would be little chance my furniture would weigh more than 4,634 lbs (Exhibit D) or that I would need much more packing material than what I had already paid for. [NAME EDIT] went to the weigh station by himself, leaving his helper to do the packing.[name EDIT] did not arrive back for another 1.5 hours. When he got back, he showed me the weight slip, but would not give me a copy. He stated that it would be sent to Best Interstate Moving and Storage. Not knowing how much a Penske 26 foot truck should weigh while empty, the tare weight did not 1
initially alarm me. However, I have reason to believe based on the movers later unscrupulous behaviors that likely this tare weight was manipulated, perhaps without the entire truck on the actual scale thus underestimating the true weight of the vehicle. The movers did not have any of the packing material that I had originally paid for (Exhibit C). Instead, they had several small, medium, and large boxes from Walmart. When I asked about this, [NAME EDIT] said that he had a dispatcher coming to bring the wardrobe boxes, dish packs, picture box, and TV box. However, this dispatcher never came. [NAME EDIT] said it was not a problem, and that he would work around not having these boxes and that I would not be charged any extra. The movers finally finished packing and loading the Penske truck at around 11PM on 6/28/2018. They did damage the wall and door (Exhibit E) for which I was able to reach Best Interstate Moving and Storage during the day. This damage was quite minor. They also damaged several areas of the hardwood floors with scratches (not documented). I followed [NAME EDIT] and his mover to the certified weigh station. The weight of the vehicle was weighed after a full tank of gas and with both of the movers while on the truck, which is inappropriate. This alone should void the weight ticket. The heavy weight truck was weighed at more than the 7,134 lbs. [NAME EDIT] would not give me a copy of the weight ticket, stating that it will go to Best Interstate Moving and Storage. [NAME EDIT] then said he needed to make up a new contract that would reflect the increased weight and the materials and packing he used. He then absurdly tried to charge $1.47 per pound for any weight that was above the originally contracted estimate of 4,634 lbs for a total of $6,834 (Exhibit F). Additionally, he stated that he needed to add on an additional $1,780 in packing material and supplies. He also wanted to add on another $295 for full service packing, despite the fact that that was supposed to be included in the original contract (Exhibit B, F). The vast majority of that was due to the reported use of 9 large crates and 2 small crates, which I never saw used nor had I asked for. I asked to see these crates and he said that all pictures would be sent to Best Interstate Moving and Storage. The Grand Total came out to $9,304 (Exhibit G). Given that this was a small 1 bedroom move without much furniture or belongings (Exhibit D), I told [NAME EDIT] that this was absurd and there was no way I would pay this. He said that he would need me to sign this agreement to deliver the furniture. Additionally, he wanted me to write that the damages to the wall and door were not done by the movers. As it was almost now midnight, I could not call Best Interstate Moving and Storage. I eventually got him to go down to a grand total of $7,000 after a discount of $2,304 (Exhibit G), as I felt I had little recourse at this time since it was late at night and I was alone with two aggressive and dishonest movers at an isolated weigh station. I paid him $1,626 and then left. I supposedly will have $3,623 to be paid at the time of delivery. The next morning on 6/29 I immediately called [NAME EDIT] expressing my concerns. He reassured me that he will look into the matter and adjust the final moving costs appropriately after obtaining documents from Rayan Van Lines. 2
I have already paid a total of $3,377.69. At the time of delivery (around 7/18/2018), I am prepared to pay the original agreed amount of an additional $1,626.30 for a total of $5,003.98. However, I will not pay the $3,623 that [NAME EDIT] insisted on. This additional monies based on the revised estimate is not enforceable due to the agreement being under false pretenses (incorrect weighting and incorrect material/packing) and duress. If $1,626.30 cannot be agreed upon, then I insist on a reweigh (which is under my rights under federal law 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 375) while being present at both the heavy weighting and the tare weighting, with any difference in weight to be subtracted from the remaining balance (i.e., if net weight is 4,000 lbs, then at $0.68 per lb, the $3,623 remaining balance should be revised to $1,492, to be paid at delivery). Additionally, I demand that different movers besides [NAME EDIT] and his partner move and unload my furniture at Fort Worth, Texas. I feel that these requests are reasonable. If these requests cannot be met, I will next file complaint with FMCSA and obtain full legal counsel for appropriate action. I thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Nathan Lo 3
Exhibit A 4
Exhibit B 5
Exhibit C 6
Exhibit D 7
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Not Pictured- Entertainment Set with Large TV 10
Exhibit E 11
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Exhibit F 13
Exhibit G 14
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