Toronto Moving Companies: I’m Still Getting Comments [Updated]

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• I think a huge part of the reason why crappy movers continue to exist (besides the 'people don't move that often' thing) is that moving happens at a time when people are already stressed and stretched financially. Whether you're trying to come up with first and last while your previous landlord still has your security deposit, or just got hit with two grand more in closing costs than you were expecting, people who are moving rarely have a lot of money going spare. So they look for the cheapest possible method of moving their things, and they end up with thugs.

  If there was a legitimate market for higher end moves outside corporate relocations, there would probably be more people operating in that space. But would the prices be more or less than the amount of money the thugs try to extort out of you?

• Combination of factors. People don't move often, and there's no repeat business (by definition, you're moving away - you'll never use the same movers again). Plus you get into a huge power disparity - they have everything you own, and you don't, so if you argue, they just keep your stuff. And finally because there's no enforcement. The cops won't handle it. Government does a poor job of handling it. What I discovered when my moving company screwed me was that New York State, which is home to 20 million human beings, has two people charged with enforcing state laws against moving companies. TWO. One, TWO. Given that there are thousands of moves per day, enforcement of laws is basically zero.

  Given that situation, running a dishonest moving company is like printing money. Hell, if I were starting a moving company, I'd do it the same way. Gouge people for a couple of years, rake in the dough, pay yourself very very well, and then shut down the company before any court judgments against you come due. You can start over with a new corporation the week after you shut down the old one.

  People ARE using the net to try to fight back - see movingscam.com. But I think the dishonest companies pretty much have the upper hand here, and they will until there's a government inspector stationed in every moving company office.

• Anon explains it fairly well and when you combine loose laws, with public ignorance, it's an open door for scammers and even organized crime. Look at the towing industry for example. How many of us have had our vechicles towed and held for ransom unless we pay $200? Turns out there's no law that says we have to pay. I discovered that in the 90s. I simply called the cops, they showed up, and my car was let go. Sometime later the towing company called me at work and, insisted I had to still pay, and threatened to take me to court if I didn't, emphasizing "we always win." -- "Fine," I said. "Take me to court. Otherwise, f**k off." I never heard from them again.

  So, a few years ago, when I read about the Banditos Massacre, and that some of the gang members were tow truck drivers, I thought "Well, there's a surprise, eh?" And how many people made the connection with Pamela Coburn? Before this happened she was shamed out of her job at City Hall because -- *gasp* -- she was sleeping with a co-worker. Turns out some begrudged managers, who she recently suspended, decided to get some revenge by exposing her affair, and pointing out her lover was recently promoted by her. But why were the managers suspended in the first place? Well, Pam was Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards, and she was upset they did nothing to protect an enforcement officer who was threatened by a group of tow-truck drivers (and who apparently had connections to a dirty cop). THIS is juicy stuff. But the newspapers only fawned over her sexual misdeeds.

  With Pam now gone, it was back to business as usual.

  So the laws stay loose because the people who can change things don't -- or can't.

  My guess is there are enough cops and politicians "on the take" that we will never see a change unless the public opens their eyes and demands change.

• Apparently here's the latest update on the Pamela Coburn incident: http://www.thestar.com/article/226876

• My strong advise to anybody in toronto, please dont move with this mover even if they move you for free. Their cost per hour may be less but they charge you more by being too slow and careless. The movers are slow, careless. They damaged my furniture, they took enormously long time just to move one very small bedroom. To top it all, they ran off without finishing their job by keeping my stuff outside the apartment elevator. Completely bad treatement and service, they are advertised in RENTERS NewS. The person incharge of this is named Robert. I just saw some people already have bad experience with these movers. I hope nobody again expereinces this....Hope this information spreads and helps people to select trustable movers.

• To continue my previous message - The moving company name is Comfortable Movers-4163563617.

• there are instances that there are crappy moving service companies that we might bumped into...

• thousands of moving services have sprouted today and only a few are really reliable that's why we also need to be wise when getting service from these...

• Quick Boy Mover Beware- They load the truck with all your posessions and won't move until you give them a large deposit (supposedly) $1500 in my case, of which once Bruce added all the hidden extras I got less than $100 back. Unethical practice. He was alos the rudest guy, condesending, pushy and a big bully. No idea what customer service is. And then he wonders why he didn't get a tip.

• I'm fuming about Toronto City Movers, who stole from me, then hung up on me (3 separate times) when I tried to get my receipt (3 weeks and counting).

  They loaded my stuff on the truck, then forced me to pre-pay everything in cash, incl. brutal tip, before they'd unload. Then "escaped", without letting me look in the truck or providing a receipt.

  They banged up my house and my stuff, but I'm most angry that they stole $300-$400 of my scotch.

  When I called their "head office" 416-835-3916, David Jones said they had the box that my scotch was in, but - surprise - no scotch.

  What made me angry was when David rationalized somehow that it was my fault that my scotch was stolen. Then he insulted me and hung up on me 3 times, when I asked for a receipt. He said they don't provide receipts, because "we all know it's under the table" - ha ha. But I sure do remember that they charged me GST.

  Upon checking with the Better Business Bureau, it came as no surprise to find these guys had a brutal write-up. Here it is: http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/movers/toronto-city-movers-in-toronto-on-1164987#complaint

  I'm going to the BBB and reporting these guys to the cops ... but what else can I do?

  NEVER use Toronto City Movers.