Absolute Relocation Services

This review is for a northwest Florida to Ohio Move. On November 30, 2022, we contacted several moving companies to set up a move from Crestview, Florida to Commercial Point, Ohio. We were contacted by “William” representing Absolute. We explained that we were very limited on time because we had to return to Ohio. We explained the move would originate from a 10x20 storage unit, that everything was either in boxes or plastic tubs and the only furniture was a queen size bed (NO mattresses) and a dining set with a China hutch (some of the furniture had already been wrapped in plastic by a different moving company). He agreed it sounded like an easy move. We were unsure of how many cubic feet on a truck would be needed, but that the unit was only ½ to ¾ full. William provided a quote over $5,000.00, and we responded that we’d discuss it and get back with him. He immediately asked what it would take for us to hire Absolute to do the job, we said the cost needed to be less than $5,000.00. He asked us to give him a few, then he came back with another quote under that amount. What we didn’t realize was that to get below the dollar threshold, he reduced the size of the move. We said we’d think about and call him back the following morning. The following morning (December 1, 2022) we called William and paid the deposit. He explained that to get the cost down he’d reduced the cubic feet of our move, given the fact the storage unit wasn’t stuffed we weren’t concerned; although we questioned the ethics involved. William acknowledged our time constraints (that we needed to leave Crestview headed to Ohio early morning of December 3, 2022) and assured us Absolute would take care of us. We received confirmation that the move would be on FRIDAY December 2nd, not only from William, but from the driver as well. We arrived at the storage unit at 0700 on Friday December 2, waiting for the crew to arrive. We sat at the storage unit all day to only be called late that day that they would not be coming because the driver was maxed out on his hours. During this call, we were told they would be there first thing Saturday morning, we reminded them we were supposed to be on the road early Saturday, but we understood the DOT time restraints and could delay our leaving until that afternoon; but that was it – they had to honor their commitment. We felt everything would be ok given the fact they essentially just had to grab boxes and tubs (along with the few pieces of furniture) then load on the truck. It should have been a very simple, straight-forward load. Saturday, 3 December 2022 • Two individuals arrive at the storage unit in a rented/leased Enterprise box truck o Neither appeared to be professionals representing a professional company, they lacked even a “t-shirt” with “Absolute Relocation Services” on the back (they could have been two random people off the street). • After doing the paperwork they began moving the tubs/boxes (approximately 50) and the driver comes to tell me there is a 60/40 chance that all our items will fit. We are shocked at this point because none of our furniture has even been moved out of the storage unit. Absolute has not left our move any room for size error in this truck as it was so full when they showed up. We walk out to the check the truck and what we see is appalling. The movers are inside the truck smoking and walking all over our boxes inside the truck. See attached pictures. We look over and our TVs and antique mirror that are boxed up from our prior movers that say DO NOT Lay flat are on the ground lying flat. During all of this we call “William”, and he tells us that there is nothing to worry about and of course the call does get heated. It is after lunch at this point and what should have taken a couple of hours is taking way longer than it should and we need to be on the road back to Ohio. By this time, the movers were taking our items and shoving them wherever they would fit. We had to ask for our items to be removed and to be packed better and to be wrapped. The movers asked me to unwrap some of our items that the prior movers wrapped because they were too bulky and would not fit in the truck. One of these items, an antique end table is now missing. At this point in the move, we are watching them more closely and stickers are not being placed on our items, so we continuously ask the driver and his helper to do so. The driver’s helper says he does not speak any English and seems not to understand anything we tell him. • We began watching things more closely and some of what we saw was very disheartening: • We were very concerned over the lack of space that we were given as well as the lack of organization and division of the items already in the truck. The driver told me he didn’t load the truck and had never seen it done this way. The items that were already in the truck were separated by a bungee cord. we specifically asked how our items would be separated and he just said our items would have stickers on them. • Basic tools, such as a screwdriver and adjustable wrench, were unavailable; yet needed to disassemble a metal shelving unit – William stated on the phone the crew would handle any disassembly necessary – we had to get tools and took the unit apart ourselves in the essence of time • At this point in the day, the driver of the truck comes to us and tells us some of our items would not fit and they would have to be put on the back of the truck, but for us not to worry. The driver was meeting with the driver of the big truck straight from the storage unit to move everything over. We agreed to have the items put on the back of the truck. See attached pictures. About three hours later when everything is finally out of the unit and either in the truck or on the back of the truck, we realize the driver doesn’t have the necessary ratchet straps and tools not to mention the know how to hold the items on the back of the truck so that the items don’t fall off. My husband had to get on the back of the truck and try to make sure our items would not fall off. • By the time it was over, and the driver was paid, he told me that they were not meeting the driver of the big truck and that our items to include antique furniture that is almost 70 years old would be in the elements all night long. We told them they better walk to Wal-Mart and buy some tarps that we were done helping them do their job. We told the driver that the items on the back of that truck were not secure enough to drive very far and that he was taking the lives of other drivers into his own hands. He said the company didn’t care. He also said the company didn’t like how he had it and asked my husband to help him take it down and do it again. My husband refused. The next morning, we contacted “William” and asked to speak to the manager because of our numerous concerns over this move. “William” told me he was the manager. Our biggest concern was how our items were placed in the truck and the fact that they were not properly identified as mine and the lack of stickers. He basically blew me off and told me all our items would get here and that they had stickers to identify what was mine. We told him time and time again, that was not happening. We told him we had no reason to lie, and he told me that he didn’t know me and that we could be lying. We began contacting “William” about our delivery two weeks after our pickup. To say he is unpleasant, offensive, and off-putting is an understatement. He continued to tell me that our items were in transit. “William” told us in one breath the driver would call us the day before and in the next breath that the driver would just show up. He said that if they called and gave everyone a 24-hour notice, this would be an even longer process. Our items were not in transit, our items were sitting in a storage unit in New Orleans. After numerous heated calls with William, we received a phone call from the delivery driver. On Monday January 9th, he was in our driveway a