The Worst Example of Deceitful Business Practice (Basically, a Bunch of Filthy Liars)
Written: Jun 20 '03 (Updated Jan 02 '05)
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Pros: None
Cons: Well, they told me many bald-faced lies. They are, quite simply, scumbags.
The Bottom Line: They lied to me to make sure I didn't have the time to take my business elsewhere. They're truly the worst people I've dealt with as a consumer, anywhere, ever.
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| mashimaru's Full Review: A Florida Direct Auto Transport |
I graduated from law school in December, and needed to transport my car from New Orleans to California. It was a busy time for me. I had final exams until the 13th. Then I needed to pack all my stuff and move back to California. Then I had to be ready to begin bar exam prep classes on December 26th. So my schedule was pretty tight.
In November, I contacted:
A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc.
16120 Old U.S. 41 South
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(800) 424-8785
(941) 432-0854 FAX
I got their number from an Internet directory: www.movecars.com.
I first spoke to Michael Michantz, who said he was one of the owners. We had a good conversation during which he made me feel confident that they can do this for me to my satisfaction. I made sure he understood that I can't be flexible on the dates because of my tight schedule, and he assured me that his company was the right one for the job. Another reason I decided to go with this company is that they used their own trucks and drivers, instead of hiring independent contractors to transport the cars, which they claimed would ensure more personal responsibility and control. I then spoke to Carole, who faxed me a Transport Order to fill out. We agreed on a price of $850.00.
We then agreed that my car would be picked up on December 16-18th, and that I would receive a call from the driver the day before my pick-up. I informed them that I would be leaving Louisiana on December 19th by plane. I took pains to make clear to them that I absolutely needed my car until December 13th (to drive to my final exams), and by December 26th (to drive to my bar prep classes). They assured me that they could accommodate my needs.
In the meantime, I arranged for payment, and conformed my car to their specifications.
Carole called me a few days later, and asked whether they could pick my car up a week earlier, because their drivers wanted to be home for the holidays. I told them that I needed my car until December 13th to drive to my final exams. I told Carole that if there was any problem with the date we agreed on, she needed to tell me now. Carole then assured me that the December 16-18th would be fine, not to worry.
I called Carole on December 14th, to confirm the pickup-date. She told me that the pick-up would occur on the 17th or the 18th.
On the 16th, I called and left a message asking when my car would be picked up. No one returned my call.
On the 17th, I called again to ask when my car would be picked up.
Michael Michantz called me back and told me that they would pick my car up ... next week.
NEXT WEEK?!?!?!?
Mr. Michantz told me that they would NOT be operating for a week, so the earliest they can pick my car up would be next week. I couldn't believe this! Why didn't they tell me this until now?
So basically, A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. NEVER had any intention of picking my car up on or around December 17-18th as they had repeatedly promised. They were, in fact, closing their business for a week. And they did not tell me this until December 17th.
A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. had MANY opportunities to tell me that they will be closing their business for the holidays, since I was calling them almost daily during the first two weeks of December to confirm the pick-up date. But they repeatedly confirmed the original pick-up date of December 17-18th, until December 17th. Until they had no choice but to tell me the truth. Until it was too late.
It is obvious that A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. lied to me because they did not want me to take my business to another auto transport company. They just strung me along until it was too late for me to do anything about it. How can they not tell me that they were closing shop for a whole week, during the very days they had agreed to transport my car? In fact, Mr. Michantz admitted that he knew about his business closing for a week, and deliberately failed to tell me.
I was stranded. Now there was no way I could have my car in Los Angeles by the 26th, and now I had to find a place to leave my car until next week! Needless to say, this really messed things up for me in a big way. I had to find a place to leave my car in New Orleans for an extra week - which was not easy, since all my friends were graduating, too, or leaving town for the holidays. I then had to rent a car in Los Angeles for several days to drive to my bar exam classes until my car arrived.
So, A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. screwed me big time. They just lied to me repeatedly until the last possible minute about whether they could pick-up my car on the agreed date. They deliberately failed to tell me that they never had any plans to honor the date they agreed to perform, in order to prevent me from taking my business elsewhere.
I filed a report about this to the Better Business Bureau of West Florida, to which I communicated all of the above-mentioned information. The result was simply that my complaint is kept on file, and Mr. Michantz wrote a response categorizing the whole incident as an "unfortunate misunderstanding." ("Unfortunate misunderstanding" ... yeah. I "unfortunately misunderstood" that you were a bunch of liars!!!) Since I hadn't paid them yet, nor was I seeking monetary compensation or damages, there really wasn't anything more for me to do. So, that was that.
Needless to say, I do not endorse A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. of Fort Myers, Florida. There is no other way to describe my experience with them except that they were utterly and completely horrible in every way.
To let you know just how unhappy I am with A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc.: When I first moved to New Orleans from California, I used another auto transport service to send my car to Louisiana. On the day I was to receive my car, the car that they delivered was ... red. My car is black. Well, that's pretty bad, isn't it? That's pretty much the height of stupidity. It makes you weep for the fate of humanity.
But believe it or not, I actually hate A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. more, even compared to the incompetent auto transport company that delivered the wrong car. Because they lied. Stupidity and incompetence is one thing. But lying to your face, over and over, is quite another.
A Florida Direct Auto Transport, Inc. is a truly despicable establishment.
Recommended:
No
Punctuality: Showed up late
Lost Goods: No
Amount Paid (US$): 850
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mashimaru
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Location: California
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"Heavy is the head that eats the crayons!"
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