When her son was deployed to Iraq, Linda Cohen moved from Green Valley to South Carolina at his request so she could be closer to her daughter-in-law.
About a year later, she decided to return to Southern Arizona. She had no idea the cross-country move would turn into a nightmare. "It's been a disaster," she said.
Cohen, 64, said she moved into a furnished apartment on July 22, but it took almost a month for her belongings to arrive. And when they did, the movers asked for $800 more than the $2,063.76 she originally agreed to.
Cohen's story is all too common in the Tucson area and throughout Arizona, said Steve Meissner, an Arizona Department of Weights and Measures spokesman.
Across the state, rogue movers try to bilk as many as 80 new arrivals out of thousands of dollars each year, Meissner said. The movers say they won't unload the belongings unless they get more money.
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"The unfortunate thing is they prey on smart consumers," Meissner said.
Expenses are high and income is low when people are moving, Meissner said. There are deposits, down payments and the cost of new furniture — often when people are between paychecks.
So they go online to find a mover at a reasonable price, Meissner said.
While most movers run legitimate businesses, some will provide artificially low estimates for the move, then contract out the actual transportation of the people's belongings.
Then the mover will say that original estimate was too low based on the weight or volume of the client's belongings and demand hundreds — or even thousands — more dollars than the original estimate.
The mover will then hold the possessions for ransom, demanding payment, often in cash or in a money order, before unloading the belongings.
Cohen said she was in a similar situation. She found the company Americas Moving Services LLC, on the Internet and signed a contract for $2,063.76 for the cost of moving from South Carolina to Green Valley.
Americas Moving Services then contracted her move to Target Vanlines, which is based in Florida.
Cohen said her frustration began to grow when it took more than two weeks for her belongings to arrive. While the broker at Americas Moving Services treated her with respect, she had no such luck with Target Vanlines.
Howard Snijders, an owner of Americas Moving Services, said the company no longer does business with Target Vanlines, in part because of Cohen's experience. The company has lower prices because it provides no guarantees on the exact day a customer's things will arrive, he said.
Americas Moving Services acts as a broker, or go-between, for people and movers. It calculates price estimates using a software program based on the volume of a person's belongings, Snijders said.
The movers then do a walk-through of the house and provide an updated cost estimate and inventory the belongings to be moved, Snijders said.
While Cohen provided some challenges to the broker, Snijders said Target did not meet his firm's level of service requirements, so it's not worth working with the company.
When Cohen's stuff arrived, it came in a truck labeled Orange Van Lines on Aug. 16, according to an Arizona Department of Weights and Measures complaint. The movers refused to unload it unless she paid $2,200 on top of the $663.76 that she'd already paid before the move.
Cohen went to the Green Valley police, who told her to contact the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures.
After much discussion — including a state official telling the movers they'd get arrested for theft if they drove away with Cohen's goods — the movers emptied the truck.
Meissner said when state officials get involved, they give the movers three options:
● Unload the truck.
● Weigh the loaded truck, then weigh the empty and base the cost of the move on that.
● Give the movers the option to leave with the truck and the customer's belongings, which may lead to their arrest on theft charges.
Most of the time at that point, the movers agree to unload the truck. Sometimes, when the truck is weighed, the movers do get paid more than the original estimate.
When that happens, the movers are in violation of Arizona law, Meissner said.
"The crime occurs when (the movers) are refusing to return your goods," Meissner said.
As for the brokers, they're subject to regulation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Meissner said.
People should definitely do their homework when selecting a mover, he said.
As for Cohen, she said the entire moving process has been a headache and she offered this advice.
"Be very careful, take notes, keep your contract and don't let anybody try to bully you, which they will do," she said.
preliminaries to moving
The Arizona Department of Weights and Measures provides these tips for people getting ready for an interstate move:
• Investigate the moving company before signing a contract.
• Make sure you understand how the company determines all costs.
• Tell the moving company that you want to base your charges on weight instead of cubic volume. While most movers are reputable, there are many ways a dishonest mover can use volume to increase cost.
• When possible, work directly with the moving company.
• Have someone present when your goods are picked up, and have someone present when your household goods are delivered.
• Read all the documents you receive.
Getting help
For more information, go to http://www.azdwm.gov/CONSUMERS/ConsumerTips/MovingInformation/tabid/262/Default.aspx.
If you're moving into Arizona from another state, and you have a dispute with a mover, you can call the department at 1-602-255-5211 or 1-800-277-6675.
