ATLANTIC MOVING & STORAGE INC

Description of Work: Estimator was very knowledgable and on time. We have moved cross country eight times through out the years. With the positive experiences we have had with Atlas Van Lines in the past and their program of providing full coverage at no extra cost we decided once again to use them. As I have done with all moves and something I highly recommend, I requested to be present for the weighing of the the tractor trailer before and after the loading. I agreed to meet the driver at Atlantic Moving and Storage for the empty weighing. After sitting their for 90 minutes and listing to the different excuses as to why it was taking so long, I was told the unit would not fit on the scales but the approximate empty weight was 37,000 lbs and some change. I insisted on the unit being weighed and asked how they weighed the other units. Which was never answered. So off to the public scales we went and the unit weighed 39,000 lbs and a lot of change. At approximately 79 cents a pound for the move, that's a junk of change in the difference. The driver (lead man) actually asked me to pay for the weigh ticket. Of course I didn't. Evidently the contract driver had to pay out of his pocket. The unit arrived at our house 2 hours late to start the loading which I was told would take approximately 6 hours to load the 13,000 lbs of household goods with a crew of 4 individuals and the lead man. The lead man showed up with 2 loaders / packers, without bringing the proper packing material that was placed on the estimate for the move. Again the contractor had all necessary information for the move with exactly what was being moved but I was told the contractor only gets paid a certain percentage of the move and this is all he felt he could afford for help and or needed. Of course it took 12 hours to complete the loading which was the poorest job I had seen out of all the moves we have made. No protection of door ways or walls, not using proper packing materials and techniques, using three different colors of inventory tags, sliding boxes, washers etc down the stairs instead of carrying. The loaders / packers were very caring but after 7 hours they just ran out of steam and things got really sloppy. I was told by the driver (lead man) that he usually just drives and my load would be transfered at the warehouse in the morning. He had another commitment. Obviously I had some concern as the more the household goods are moved and restacked on a trailer, the increased chance of damage. The unit was reweighed at 11pm and weight verified. I was given a delivery window and the driver would call me at least a day out to confirm delivery. I called several times trying to get an update with no avail. The best I could find out was my belongings were in Chicago as that was the only driver available. Atlanta to Salt Lake City UT and it was in Chicago. I was called by Atlantic Moving and Storage and was told my household goods were in Salt Lake City and would be delivered the next day but the storage facility I had picked would not accommodate a tractor trailer and my goods would have to be transfered again to a straight truck for delivery and there would be an extra charge for that. Approximately $1500 but they would get back with the exact cost. I firmly expressed my disbelief as I had picked a storage unit that would accommodate the road rig with no issues and asked Atlantic to call the delivering agent and let them know. I would not be taken advantage of! I was called back and told they would deliver off road rig at 8am the next day. The delivering agent showed up with the driver and 4 individuals to unload. From the moment the trailer doors were opened it was the biggest challenge I have had trying to remain calm and professional.The crew insisted they could not do a inventory check off as multiple inventory tags, colors and numbers were used. I would have to do an inventory when I unpacked knowing fully that once we bought a new house and if we moved the goods before filing a claim and having it inspected in the storage unit it would be denied. The load was totally mishandled and in disarray. Wardrobe boxes crushed to half their original size. 50 lb tool box in the bottom of a wardrobe box, chairs with broken legs, backs, 400 year old book case carried off in pieces, crushed washer and dryer, china cabinet glass broken and it went on. The unloaders expressed their sincere sorrow letting me know this was the worst load they had ever seen. I told them to quit telling me how sorry they were and Atlas was take care of me with every other piece they unloaded. It took 2 hours to unload and I was charged an extra $100 to unload in a storage unit as it takes more time. When I asked for this charge to be removed as it was much more efficient to unload to a storage unit as the time it took was evidence of such their reply was it was a tariff charge and in fact against the law to ask for the charge to be removed. If you are wondering why it has taken this long to submit this review, the final repairs to furniture has just been completed. It took over 3 months for Atlas to settle the claim with me. Atlas wanted to know how they did. One option was to have them call me. Of course they never did. Nor did I receive the promised phone calls from Atlantic Moving and Relocation. Final resolution was Atlas paying over $7000 in claims and 70 plus hours of my time verifying inventory sheets, unpacking damaged boxes in storage unit, documenting claims and having repairs made. DO Ask to be present for unit weighing and verifying weight. Have full coverage for belongings. Insist that your goods are not transfered to a warehouse. The less handling the better. If you have to use a storage unit, make sure it is big enough to move boxes furniture around and is assessable to road rig. List every single item that applies on the high value list