We were overcharged nearly 50% more, $2,400, than the estimate of $5,140.72 we received in writing when we decided to go with BB&D, resulting in total charges of about $7,559.81. The higher amount was charged to our credit card on the final day of the move without any prior communication by email or by phone / voicemail. After attempting to resolve the dispute through communication with BB&D, we have disputed the charge with our credit card company and are filing a complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for false advertising and because we were not provided with an opportunity to observe the weighing of our items on the truck. My fiancé and I work with contracts and estimates on a regular basis and this total amount of variance is excessive.
In the email sent to us with the itemized cost estimate, Giancarlo wrote: "Based on the information obtained during our In-Home estimate meeting, I have been able to put together this accurate proposal for the relocation Services. This proposal is an honest and accurate explanation of the moving services, providing every service to the smallest detail."
The detailed estimate provided to us was for packing and moving services from our two-bedroom apartment in Arlington, VA to Morgantown, WV. The estimate was based on a complete inventory of items to be moved that was conducted in-person by the business owner, Giancarlo. The estimate provided a weight estimate to nearest pound for each room.
BB&D's estimate seemed credible and was for a slightly lower cost (less than 5%) than that of a competitor which is part of a well-known national chain. The estimate from the competitor also included item weight totals for each room that were about the same as in Giancarlo's estimate.
Unfortunately, we did not find this estimate to be accurate given that the amount charged exceeded the estimate by about 50%. When we asked about the large discrepancy from the estimate, he replied that "... it is impossible to make a direct comparison between one move and another, as each move is unique."
Each move may be unique to some extent; however it is very possible to create an estimate with minimal variance from the final cost. That is why he conducted an inventory of items to be moved. That is why most moving services can provide an estimate almost immediately based on an inventory of items and moving jobs from comparable residences. We assumed that Giancarlo could about the same as competitors based on his touted years of experience personally and as the owner of BB&D.
Why was the amount charged by BB&D so much higher than their estimate? In subsequent emails we were told that packing services increased about $1,100 from $1,953.80 to $3,062, 57% more than estimated, including an additional $833 for packing materials, exactly double the estimated amount. The weight of our items was about 1,900 lbs., 30% more, than the estimated weight of 6,497 lbs. At a cost of $0.2636 per pound, this added about $500 to the moving cost, about 30% more than estimated. At this time, we are still trying to account for where another $500 for this move came from that was charged to our credit card.
As a final note I will say this, for the move itself the workers did a satisfactory job, nothing was broken or lost in our move. However, the extreme variance between estimated cost and actual charges $2,400 / almost 50%, has led us being very dissatisfied and would not recommend their services. read more