Moving your belongings from one home to another is something that many people may only do a few times during their lives.So as a consumer, you may not know much about what to look for when hiring a moving company.The News 8 On Your Side team investigated how moving estimates can spiral out of control. Jason Girvin and Chris Falk moved to Lancaster from Atlanta in the spring of 2021. Their furniture and belongings have yet to arrive.”They’re literally holding our stuff hostage for an amount of money that keeps changing and increasing,” Girvin said. Girvin and Falk signed on with a company called Gold Standard Relocation and received an estimate for $2,800 to move 79 pieces of furniture.”This was during COVID, so nobody came in and visited and they based it solely on what we tell them that we have,” Falk said.The couple said Gold Standard came in and told them there was 110 pieces. The estimate increased by more than $2,000.”The night before we’re moving is when we find out this information. So, there’s not a whole lot of options at that point,” Girvin said.The next day, the moving company hired by Gold Standard arrived.”I mean, he came in and started saying, ‘This is extra. This is extra. This is extra,'” Girvin said.The movers found a lot of extra furniture.”So, at that point, we have all of our belongings on the truck – nothing in our apartment – and we’re told it’s $5,000 more,” Girvin said.Now, the bill was close to $10,000.”I started crying. I mean, I’m not an emotional person but I started crying and I called the lady and I said, ‘This is my entire life. We’ve cashed out part of our 401(k) to be able to afford this move,'” Girvin said. Unable to pay the moving bill, the couple’s belongings are being held in storage in Maryland at a charge of $700 per month.They paid the bill for a few months but now owe between $12,000 and $13,000.”At this point, we’ve just stopped paying because it’s just — that number is just outrageous,” Falk said.News 8 On Your Side contacted Gold Standard Relocation, which is located in Florida. The customer service manager repeatedly insisted the company did nothing wrong.Gold Standard claims the customer didn’t read the contract that states there will be additional charges if the customer doesn’t provide an accurate description of the items to be moved.Gold Standard Relocation is a moving broker. It estimates the cost of a move and hires moving companies. It does not do the moving.Consumers are advised to deal directly with moving companies for accurate estimates.Movers and brokers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Its Protect Your Move website has tips to prepare for a move and a database of registered movers.According to that site, Gold Standard Relocation has had 89 complaints filed against it since 2020. Most of the complaints – 63 – are about estimates and final charges.For now, Girvin and Falk are in a holding pattern. They’re hoping to work out a deal to get their belongings.Their advice: Make sure you read the fine print before making a bad move.
Moving your belongings from one home to another is something that many people may only do a few times during their lives.
So as a consumer, you may not know much about what to look for when hiring a moving company.
The News 8 On Your Side team investigated how moving estimates can spiral out of control.
Jason Girvin and Chris Falk moved to Lancaster from Atlanta in the spring of 2021. Their furniture and belongings have yet to arrive.
“They’re literally holding our stuff hostage for an amount of money that keeps changing and increasing,” Girvin said.
Girvin and Falk signed on with a company called Gold Standard Relocation and received an estimate for $2,800 to move 79 pieces of furniture.
“This was during COVID, so nobody came in and visited and they based it solely on what we tell them that we have,” Falk said.
The couple said Gold Standard came in and told them there was 110 pieces. The estimate increased by more than $2,000.
“The night before we’re moving is when we find out this information. So, there’s not a whole lot of options at that point,” Girvin said.
The next day, the moving company hired by Gold Standard arrived.
“I mean, he came in and started saying, ‘This is extra. This is extra. This is extra,'” Girvin said.
The movers found a lot of extra furniture.
“So, at that point, we have all of our belongings on the truck – nothing in our apartment – and we’re told it’s $5,000 more,” Girvin said.
Now, the bill was close to $10,000.
“I started crying. I mean, I’m not an emotional person but I started crying and I called the lady and I said, ‘This is my entire life. We’ve cashed out part of our 401(k) to be able to afford this move,'” Girvin said.
Unable to pay the moving bill, the couple’s belongings are being held in storage in Maryland at a charge of $700 per month.
They paid the bill for a few months but now owe between $12,000 and $13,000.
“At this point, we’ve just stopped paying because it’s just — that number is just outrageous,” Falk said.
News 8 On Your Side contacted Gold Standard Relocation, which is located in Florida. The customer service manager repeatedly insisted the company did nothing wrong.
Gold Standard claims the customer didn’t read the contract that states there will be additional charges if the customer doesn’t provide an accurate description of the items to be moved.
Gold Standard Relocation is a moving broker. It estimates the cost of a move and hires moving companies. It does not do the moving.
Consumers are advised to deal directly with moving companies for accurate estimates.
Movers and brokers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Its Protect Your Move website has tips to prepare for a move and a database of registered movers.
According to that site, Gold Standard Relocation has had 89 complaints filed against it since 2020. Most of the complaints – 63 – are about estimates and final charges.
For now, Girvin and Falk are in a holding pattern. They’re hoping to work out a deal to get their belongings.
Their advice: Make sure you read the fine print before making a bad move.
