Where is The Horse this morning? Helping Horse Jr.'s mom settle a "dispute."

@TheHorse (205753)
Walnut Creek, California
October 9, 2020 1:38pm CST
When Horse Jr. (the now 11-year-old neighbor boy I've been a father-figure to since he was three) and his mom moved from here to N. Carolina, she hired a broker to help her find a moving company. I'm suspicious of "middle men," as they often make good money without doing that much, but she did not ask me for help with the moving process. In any case, the broker gave her an estimate of about $2200 for the move, based on her best guess that about 399 cubic feet would be volume of her "stuff." When all was said and done, she was charged about $5300. Of course, she is angry as heck, and feels she's been wronged. She asked me if I could call the broker and the moving company (two separate entities) and find out what's going on. English is her third language, and I'm sure all of the things they were telling her were confusing. I spent a couple of hours this morning talking to someone from each entity. The representative for the broker was nice enough but didn't have some information I would have expected her to have. The representative from the moving company had more information, and told me that the reason for the cost increase was the ultimate volume of her stuff: 1100 cubic feet, or almost three times as much as they thought it would be. The fella said that delivery was scheduled for today, and that I should have her call him if there were any issues. I'm hoping he'll give her a "discount" because of the confusion. I'm going to pass this information on to her now. We'll see what happens next. Have you ever received an "estimate" that was quite different from what you ultimately had to pay?
15 people like this
14 responses
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
9 Oct 20
Glad you were able to at least call. Maybe they will give her a discount. This has happened in the past with other issues. I was always able to talk them down.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Oct 20
Glad you were able to. I've threatened to leave Comcast and magically gotten a "new plan." I'll see if I can think of other "success stories."
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
9 Oct 20
@TheHorse Yeah, some are easier than others to talk to.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Oct 20
@CarolDM At least I didn't get "stonewalled" this morning. That happens often these days.
1 person likes this
Marlina
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
9 Oct 20
Glad that you are helping her. What is her first language?
1 person likes this
Marlina
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
9 Oct 20
@TheHorse But she must have some English enough to understand basic stuff, doesn't she?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Oct 20
I think Croatian is her first and German is her second.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Oct 20
@marlina Yes. But I could see how this broker/mover thing couple get complicated. I still don't fully understand who she's paying for what.
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
9 Oct 20
Oh wow that is so costly. How crazy they charge so much to do that!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 20
I just gave her all the information. I hope she calls the mover tomorrow.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95176)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Oct 20
I havent but I handle a lot of things myself. It solves a lot of those problems. As you said it is 2 different companies.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 20
We'll see what happens tomorrow when she calls the guy from the moving company.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306216)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Oct 20
That's a huge difference. I understand why it's more with the volume being so much more than expected. I hope she can get discount due to the confusion.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 20
I've done all I can do for now. I hope she winds up at least somewhat satisfied.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Oct 20
@just4him I left a message on her machine. Hopefully she had time to check in today.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306216)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Oct 20
@TheHorse That's good and I hope she is too.
1 person likes this
NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (115998)
• United States
9 Oct 20
That is craziness. Good luck.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205753)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Oct 20
I'm sure I'll do a post about "what happens."
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
10 Oct 20
You are a good friend to her.
allen0187
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
10 Oct 20
Hope this gets sorted out. That estimate was way off.
much2say
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Oct 20
Woh. That is more than double of what was estimated . I just have to wonder too what words were exchanged exactly . . . big time miscommunication somewhere in there? Did they have anything in writing?
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (62131)
• United States
10 Oct 20
Yes, when I was younger. I don’t get that anymore, because I ask for a “ballpark figure,” and if they can’t provide that (or a “minimum price” I’d be looking at) then I won’t deal with them. My “ballpark figure” for the water heater was $2,000 because the pipes had to be updated. The actual cost came in $300 less. I hope she had a written estimate.
Vicki, #1 Creek Girl
@1creekgirl (40523)
• United States
10 Oct 20
That happens too many times. Sure hope it can get straightened out. How's Horse Jr?
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
10 Oct 20
I would be stark raving mad! Their job is to estimate the quantity of the move with accuracy.
Scott Andersen
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
10 Oct 20
nice of you to do that . The only time I've moved with a broker, was literally when a company moved me. so the broker was free.
Sexy Girl
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
9 Oct 20
Why did they move to North Carolina? Nah, I've been lucky with estimates. I kind of miss out the estimate stage. I get quotes for the job , don't accept estimated.