Independence Van Lines

Please stay away from this company. They are a fraud. We were supposed to receive our things within 5 days, and are now on day 22 and have no idea where our things are, who has them, when they will be delivered. They have done nothing to help us and actually appear to be complicit.

They are a broker, not a moving company. They can't offer "white glove service." You won't be able to speak with the guy who originally sold you again (there is no point of contact). They have no control over the company that will actually move you. They sub out business to anyone who will take it, including two college kids and a truck in our case. The guaranteed quote they offered you will not be honored by the moving company - in our case, they tripled it.

I can't recommend highly enough that you work with another company.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4000

I have moved, unfortunately, 6 times now since 2003. My company takes me all over the place. This last time I had to do the move myself because I wanted to work in the Corona office and I was told I could have the transfer but no money for the move. Mike contacted me right after I searched online - He and about 6 other people. I listened to Mike because I run on my gut and the brutal truth he told me upfront made me an instant fan. I was told my 1,340 mile move would be about the same price as a U-haul. My coworker who had made the move from the same office I came from 6 months prior used a 16 foot U-haul and with all of their fees, taxes, insurance and the hotel stays and the 198 gallons of gas and the dinners he bought on both ends for his helpers he spent $2,200 and change and lost 3 days of his life he still regrets ever losing. Mike told me he could do the whole thing from start to finish for $2,130 and I laughed and nicely said.."no thank you". However, he asked me politely to give him 5 minutes to explain. It turns out it was the best 5 minutes I ever spent. When the crew showed up they helped me finishing packing because I fell terribly behind. They created boxes with foam dividers for my flat screens, something I forgot to even think about even though Mike did mention it to me. They loaded up a futon that I forgot to include on my estimate and about 7 other boxes that I forgot about in my crawl space. All-in-all I was 383 lbs over my promised weight and even with the extra weight I paid $2,316.43 in total and $60 cash $20 to each of the 3 crew guys. If someone had told me that I was honestly truly going to get this move done for the same price as a u-haul and all I had to do was let workers into my house and pay the company I would have told them they were nuts and to take a hike; but I'm glad I gave Mike the 5 minutes he asked for because it really actually worked out just that way. Even when I decided to trust Mike and made my deposit I was still operating under the assumption he might get close, but not exact, to delivering on his promises and I was sure I was going to pay about a thousand more; however, I paid almost exactly what I was told I was going to have to pay and had I not added the extra it would have been spot-on to a tee. Thank you guys for your hard work and rock on! I will always be a fan and you will always have me as an extremely satisfied reference and future return customer..

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2316

The estimate was so low that it basically doubled at time of pick up and the carrier refused to pick up items listed in contract. Options for item safety were not offered. Had to sleep on floor for 20 days waiting for delivery. They constantly lied when they a tually answered calls. 50% of our furniture qas delivered looking like firewood, TVs broken and the contract is written in such a way that they will not reimburse. My two brand new motorcycles are completely trashed, run away from this company as fast as you can, they have no right being in business.
I should have listened to my gut and rented two 26ft u-haul trucks with trailers, would have been cheaper and I would have all my belongings.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7500

Pickup was confirmed for Wednesday 27th - today. They called and reconfirmed our move for today on Friday evening.
Monday called to say they would be delayed by up to a week. Our son has to be out by the 30th!! Where is he supposed to put his stuff!
The customer service woman had the gall to tell me “Mam- we don’t live in a perfect world. Our contract doesn’t guarantee unless it says word “guarantee “. “Your contract says word confirmed “ This is not the same as guaranteed in their company’s dictionary.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1500

If I can give a minus 10 I would!! Tyler, Jordan, Chris are all lying POS!! They quote you a price then charge you more for no extra furniture!! Oh and they hire 3rd party companies to move you so they DO NOT move you themselves! I had like 10 different companies call me! It’s been one month and they still have my things!! The driver texts me every week telling me he will bring my things in a few days and I still don’t have them! They block your number, block your email, ignore you completely, then tell you to calm down when your things go missing! The driver literally has my things hostige and the IVL does NOTHING!! They tell you to put a claim in that takes 120 days! I was told to call like 10 different numbers and I got nowhere! When they recognize your number they will block you! You have to use a different number every time! It’s been one month and I still don’t have my belongings I paid over $2500 for (quoted $1900 by the scam artist Chris)! IVL should change name to independent scam lines! I’m surprised none of these men have broken jaws yet from getting their asses kicked for being lying stealing pieces of [EDIT]!

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2600

They outsource to other moving companies, some of which are very sketchy. They increased the price by $1400 and would hang up on my overtime I asked for an explanation. Eventually they threatened to just sell all my stuff because I was "being too difficult". I had no choice but to pay. When I got my items they were sopping wet and several things were broken and my clothes were moldy. I am not exaggerating when I say this was the worst experience with a professional company in my life.

Move size: Studio Service cost: $4000

Why did I not pay attention to the bad reviews? Maybe my experience will save at least one poor sucker from being sucked into this scam. Was paying for my daughter to move from Manhattan, KS, to Canyon City, CO. "Jordan" was hot to trot to get hold of me when I was paying the bill. However, once the driver arrived, they immediately claimed that the inventory was too great, and nearly DOUBLED the total price, even though the inventory sheets matched up almost exactly. By the time they load your stuff up, they can then hold you hostage for as much money as they want. My repeated calls back to various individuals at this company, Jordan, David, Joseph, Angie, etc., etc., etc. I had to literally scream at some poor front desk girl just to get some kind of lame excuse for why they charged an additional $1500.00--basically, they do it because they CAN do it. Just today, I spoke with someone named "Hellene" who was so sympathetic and promised to call back--nothing. None of them can return a phone call or an email once they have you by the short hairs. This company ended up using a different company named "American Home Relocation," which you can Google because it looks like they work out of a trailer in Carol Stream, Illinois. Just a whole crew of scam artists. Just yesterday, I called and spoke to "David" in the office--he actually told me he was too busy, and asked me to call back tomorrow! American Home Relocation is a whole other story--same smell, different nostril. I have called and texted "Dayse" multiple times, but she cannot figure out how to return a phone call or an email. So I called the office this morning, and left a message with "Monique" for "Laurie," without any call back. Then I called back and got hold of another individual named "Donte," who literally had an attitude the moment he got on the line, and told me that he had no idea when my daughter's items would be delivered and neither did anybody else in his office. Maybe the entire industry is infected with the same bug, but you should take your risks somewhere else--I can practically hear them wishing me off the phone every time I call to try to find out what is going on with my daughter's items. Please take this as an object lesson - use some other company--complete nightmare!

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3600

I paid a 600 dollar deposit and my binding contract was for march 27 to 28 they didnt call they just rescedule me to following monday time was for 10am to 2pm they never came driver i called and asked what happened they said the move they were at took longer so they said 6 to 7pm still no show i called and asked for refund of deposit the manager said no refund if i cancel im so hurt i had to rent a hotel to live cause im still waiting to get moved i beg you guys please dont use this company they will scam you i was just like you guys please when you call ask them to show proof that they are acredited and ask thier score i searched at bbb and they wasnt i wish i would have listen to the company that told me they are not a good company

Move size: Studio Service cost: $1600

TLDR:

THIS IS A BAIT N SWITCH MOVING SCAM!! Do not use this company. The good reviews are all fake, trust the bad reviews with pictures.

I never believed that these moving scams exist and that it could happen to us, but it did. Here is the link to the complaints with Better Business Bureau, there are so many people out there with horror stories with this company.

https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/fort-lauderdale/profile/moving-brokers/independence-van-lines-0633-90415056/complaints

They basically dumped all our stuff on the ground and left and are not agreeing to refund our deposit of $1120.

FULL REVIEW:

We were completely lied to when we hired this company. They said they are actual movers and not brokers, I never checked this on the DOT website as we were time crunched. We received a binding estimate of $2500 to move our minimal goods(1 bedroom apt.) from California to the East Coast. They outsourced the job to USA Logistics, never told us the name of the company who the job was outsourced to. USA Logistics is another moving scam, feel free to check their reviews and BBB ratings, you will be shocked.

https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/sun-valley/profile/moving-and-storage-companies/usa-logistics-1216-884745

Anyways, three unskilled movers showed up at 9.30 PM at our house, started loading boxes in a hurry. After they loaded 12 boxes I asked them about our estimate and he said that we are over our estimate significantly because we had more boxes. We did have more boxes but we had also gotten rid of our entertainment center, 200 lbs worth of dumbbells, workout bench, bar stools, lamps, coffee table and some other stuff. I had clearly discussed this with the QA department of Independence Van Lines and they said that we should be ok. Moreover, I had calculated the cubic footage of my stuff and based on my estimate, our cubic footage was at 340, we were estimated for 355, so we were definitely under.

After I expressed dissatisfaction over the increased estimate, I was asked to speak with their manager Ben, who was the rudest and most insulting person I have ever spoken with. I had a heated conversation with him and told him to proceed with the move, but that I will report this to the FMCSA. At this, Ben basically said that he refuses to work with anyone that threatens him and asked his guys to dump our stuff on the ground outside and leave. THESE GUYS DUMPED OUR STUFF ON THE GROUND AT 10.30 PM, MY WIFE AND I HAD TO CARRY ALL OF IT TO OUR 3RD FLOOR APARTMENT OURSELVES.

The next day, I asked Independence Van Lines for my refund of my deposit of $1120 as my move never happened and they said NO. They said that we refused to pay the carrier and that we were over our estimate, which is not true at all.

I have reported them to the FMCSA and have filed a complaint with BBB to get my deposit back. If they do not refund me, I will take them to small claims court and will file a case with the attorney generals office in the states of Florida and California.

Seriously guys, stay away from this company. They will lowball the quote and you will feel like you are getting a good deal, but do not become a victim of a moving scam. It causes immense amount of emotional and financial stress.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2500