Joyce Van Lines

I hired Joyce to do a move and purchased additional insurance. After breaking a leg off of a China cabinet, they denied the claim arguing that the leg May have previously been repaired and therefore they denied the claim for “ Latent Vice“. The move cost $6000, the insurance almost $400 additional, and the repair to the leg would’ve been under $1000. Additionally, they came on multiple days to do the packing. They should have known how to move a China cabinet on legs. Instead they claimed that because the leg may have been previously repaired they were not responsible for its damage. My restorer, after he viewed the damage, said that the leg had not been previously repaired. I would never use them again. Beware.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $6000

There's a reason I repeated go to Joyce Moving. The employees are professional, competent and eager to make sure the move goes as smoothly as possible. From the estimate process, paperwork, inventory and the actual move itself, there was no mis-steps and everyone was really friendly too!! I only go out of my way to leave reviews if I'm given spectacular service - I know I can count on Joyce for every move to be great and give me one less thing to be anxious about during a move.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $3000

First I MUST say, I have hired movers many times over the years and the crew who moved my items were THE most professional, courteous, friendly, knowledgeable and COMFORTING crew I have worked with. Their only goal was to make sure I was taken care of, much like the service I received by every contact with their office. But what should be a 10+ star review is 1 because of the two women Joyce sent to pack my items. I have cried most every night since I started opening the boxes. Moves are tough and you do what you can to reduce the challenge. But unpacking should be the easy part because who do you expect to be more organized than people who pack! But this has lasted weeks and I continue to experience the 'torture' of seeing what has been done to things that are important to me when I thought I PAID for a professional service. The 2 women were fast and it became evident why. They just couldn't care less. I was always nearby but didn't want to hover BIG MISTAKE!! They never asked me any questions, or indicated there was ever an issue. I gave them materials designed to protect particular items, foam corners and proper cartons for art work, pouches for dish ware and glasses, that fit perfectly into divided and padded dish crates. I found instead that at least one of the boxes I paid to have packed contained only the materials I gave them to use. The amount of paper used is shameful given that they were provided reusable materials that provide a much higher level of security than wads of paper, and do not end up in the landfill or denuding a forest for every move they pack. If the excuse is that this is how it is done someone is full of it. I was told they have a great labeling system for the boxes so it will be easy to find things. The boxes were labeled with some secret code. I had even provided colored tape with one color to be used per room to help when we got to the house. Not used and I still do not know what 4R could possibly stand for in a 2 story condo with only 2 rooms per floor. Personally and emotionally valuable framed artwork was wrapped in one or two sheets of paper instead of the materials I have successfully used for years without experiencing damage. There are gouges and scratches in just about every frame. In just one contrasting example, a single sturdy plastic (melamine) tea cup was wrapped in 6 layers of full size sheets of paper. A large and fairly new toaster oven was jambed in at an angle, wedged against my food processor with no protection to either, AND these on top of more delicate items. This particular box I had to have some come to unload for me. The dish crates used were very deep and there were many piles of 8-10 dishes at a time that weighed 7-8 lbs, Bending like a jacknive and trying to lift a heavy stack of dishes resulting in an injury to my back. The dishwasher was emptied and loaded but the silverware was dumped in a pile of paper and is now all scratched. Small parts were separated from their larger pieces and some have still to be found, others accidentally found when lifting a pile of paper. I think the lowest part was shaking out some paper and having my late dad's picture from when he was about 8 years old fall out. The list is very long and it doesn't get positive at any point. Bottom line is that after thinking you were putting your scarce money to the best use for your sanity it turns out you have just purchased a ticket to hell.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4000

Contracted with Joyce Van Lines for move from CT to FL. Chose them because they originally started out as a homegrown CT company. The lack of professionalism begins with the 'salesman' Mr Adams (who comes to your home to size it up and give the estimate of cost) and continues to the office (Janice was simply rude and needs a class in customer service) to the guys who load the truck (most were okay but one spent the whole day in the bathrooms in my house making a big mess and another kept asking if he could have some of my property that was being moved). It then continues at the destination state where the damage to your property is now being discovered and the FL receiving guys blame the CT loading guys. Furniture was scratched, scraped and broken. My kids beds were disassembled improperly causing screws to be stripped and are missing parts and were reassembled improperly almost causing injury to my kids. The CT guys told me that they don't care if you write 'Extremely Fragile' on a box because they didn't pack it so it doesn't matter - that they fit things where they can fit them in the truck. I have pictures of my 'Extremely Fragile' boxes wedged in between many other boxes with 4 or 5 boxes on top of them. We had bicycles with cut handlebars, movers slammed a large dresser into a wall breaking a drawer knob off and damaging the wall., they wrapped an expensive elliptical machine in moving blankets with the plug still in it, causing the plug to break off in the machine which now can't be used. They "lost" a 9x12 foot oriental rug. We will be moving again so are not unpacking things so I am confident the extent of damage is not even finalized yet. This was a costly move - more then other moving company estimates. I asked to be present when the truck was weighed and they did not notify me then said "oops,sorry". The FL driver claimed he could not maneuver the truck through the streets of our gated community in FL so they charged me an additional $1200 for a 'shuttle' (which was a UHAUL truck they rented for $200). I have since seen many moving trucks of the same size (53 ft) in my neighborhood and have pictures to prove it. I simply cannot say one positive thing about this moving company. I cannot recommend this company in any way. And I can only urge you to RUN from this company!

Service cost: $10000

The drivers are wonderful and very responsive but they are pushed very hard by the company to keep the trucks on the road all the time. They over-estimate the shipment, you pay and then when it comes in under, you get a minimal refund.
They suggest insurance, however, if things are damaged, you are ignored and the insurance you pay for is totally not explained and is a farce when they do come through. It is not classified as additional insurance but using other companies in the past, NEVER happened like this.
They also do not communicate well to drivers and if you pay a lot extra for unpacking, the drivers were not informed and ended up rushing.
The company fully ignores you once the money is in and the shipment is delivered.

Service cost: $14500

This was the first time we could not move by ourselves. What a scary proposition after hearing about moving company nightmare experiences. We interviewed and received many quotes from very well known companies. However upon checking on line reviews of these companies YIKES!! In our research for a quality cross country mover (3000 miles) a company named Joyce kept showing up with good reviews. We called the Redlands Ca office and from that point on any doubts or fears we might have had were gone. From start to finish everyone we dealt with in this company were professional with customer service a top priorty. Our move could not have gone better. THANK YOU JIM, MERLE, WADE, SETH, JOSE, ROB, PHIL & MICHAEL.. AWESOME JOB!! The Proffers.

Service cost: $3733

I contacted them initially because they had a good rating with the BBB in CT.
They did a walkthrough on a Monday and they were packing my stuff up that Thursday.  Their initial quote came in at $1500 below the next lowest quote I got.  My stuff did end up weighing more than they initially estimated.  However, I don't hold them accountable for that.  First, I had them move a few items that I thought I'd be taking with me in my car.  Second, I had several boxes under my bed; while I told him about them, the salesman couldn't see or open them for himself.
Everything made it through just fine.  The worst thing I found in my unpacking was a crack in the cap of a mouthwash bottle.  I'd use them again, probably without bothering to get quotes from any other company.

Service cost: $3500

We were very impressed with the professionalism of the (4) movers we had. They arrived on time and took everything apart, moved and assembled everything when we got there. All four guys were eager to move anything where you wanted and helped you with things you needed taken care of. The price was pretty much right on what they quoted as well. The movers were very careful and got along well with one another and were very polite. They made a stressful move, very carefree for us and we would definitely use them again.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1300

Joyce Van Lines moved me from California to Florida in June 2020. My experience: JOYCE VAN LINES IS CARELESS AND UNRELIABLE AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE.

Joyce Van Lines has lost a semi-antique oriental rug valued at $2400. When I filed a claim, they refused to pay, despite the fact that their own tracking of the rug showed it to have been lost. I have repeated my claim three times, explaining over and over what happened to the rug. I have corresponded with both Joyce’s claims adjustor, Mason Foxlow, and Joyce’s California agent who oversaw my move, Jim Prendergast.

Here is what happened.

(1) PREPARATION OF GOODS. Before the move I specifically listed the rug—a Hamadan measuring 6’10” x 3’9”—on the High Value Inventory requested by Jim Prendergast. It was one of five oriental rugs of different sizes and designs; I included photographs and dimensions of all five. I paid for full replacement value “protection” for all items being moved. (I understand that this is not insurance; however, the form I signed says “the moving company is liable for the full (replacement) value of your goods in the event of loss of or damage to the goods.”

(2) PACKING. Before the packers came, the four smaller rugs—including the one Joyce has lost—were separately rolled and taped (in the manner recommended by oriental rug professionals) and placed in the same spot in my living room. Joyce’s claims adjustor determined, when tracking the rug, that the packers had unrolled this rug—only this one, not the others--and placed it in a box (item #194). The packers did not inform me at the time, so I did not know that the rug was concealed. The other three smaller rugs, still rolled up, were wrapped in paper. The fifth (very large) rug was put into the truck.

(3) DELIVERY. When the delivery crew came, box #194 was checked off but I did not know the rug was inside. The deliverers unpacked most of the boxes—I had paid for a full unpack. I could not be everywhere at once, and I didn’t see what came out of box #194. The deliverers took away all empty boxes and wrappings and left in a hurry.

(4) DISCOVERY AND REPORTING OF LOSS. When I had time that evening to make a thorough inventory of my belongings, I saw that one of the rugs was missing. The next morning I telephoned Jim Prendergast and reported the loss. He said he would track the rug. When I didn’t hear back from Mr. Prendergast after several days, I called him again. He said he would talk to the packers. When another week and a half went by with no word from Mr. Prendergast, I filed a claim.

(5) DENIAL OF CLAIM. At this point, I began dealing with Mason Foxlow. (Mr. Prendergast simply disappeared, though I sent him copies of my correspondence with Mr. Foxlow.) Joyce Van Lines has denied my claim on the grounds that box #194 was checked off on the delivery inventory. However, when I checked it off, I did not know the rug was inside the box. I never saw this rug at all! Mr. Foxlow claimed the deliverers say they unrolled the rug and placed it on the floor--but the rug they placed was a much bigger one. I have repeatedly explained this to Mr. Foxlow, sending him photographs of both rugs. He has now stopped replying to my emails.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $11700