Stevens Van Lines

We moved from Maryland State to Washington State in June 2018. We went with Quality Transfer and Storage as the local Agent and Stevens Worldwide Van Lines as the Interstate Movers. Both decisions were very poor choice.

We signed a contact on 01 May 2018. The local agents were to pack up our boxes on the 16MAY2018 and 17MAY2018 load truck and move goods to Washington State with arrival between 26MAY -01JUN2018 or second page said 26May -02JUN2018. When asked for clarification the office coordinator was confused and never responded. We should have known better.

The part of the contract stated that If the company changes delivery dates the customers shall receive 100% of hotels and 50% food or up to $125.00 day for inconvenience whichever is less.

On the 17MAY2018 after our household goods have been moved. We receive a call from the Local agent. She informs us that our goods will not be delivered until the 11JUN2018, no reason why, but she informs us that we will be receiving inconvenience fees. Stunned we hung up the phone and proceeded to cancel airline tickets and rentals.

Since we no longer have anything in the house we left Maryland and drove across country to meet our stuff in Washington, and visited family along the way. We arrived in Washington on the 06JUN2018 well before our stuff arrived. Actual stuff arrived on 16JUN2018 poor communication with the driver. Truck broke down….

But the real fun started when the claim was submitted. The Claims adjuster from Stevens was very rude who proceeds to inform us that it is not customary for us to be submitting hotels that are not in our destination. This is totally fraudulent. I am paying for them to move my stuff across country. How am I supposed to meet my stuff if I am not allowed to drive there? This is the dumbest logic I have ever heard.

Ultimately we were denied all inconvenience payments because on the 17MAY2018 the office coordinator wrote in the database that is visible only to Stevens Worldwide Van Lines and Quality Transfer and Storage. Saying that WE the customers will not be available until the 11JUN2018. That blatant lie cost my husband and I over $2,000 dollars. Keep in mind on 17MAY2018 we still are in possession of airlines tickets and rental vehicles. We NEVER SAID anything about not being available to meet our stuff. When asked for actual proof from us saying we cannot meet the June 11 deadline. There was no record.

We were also denied damages. We didn't want a bunch of local strangers unpacking our goods in our new destination.

Here are some take aways:
* The moving companies are required to provide information on Arbitration. Arbitration is done by the Moving Companies Unions?
* The customers are entitled to take companies to Small Claims Court.
* You the customer must be notified in writing of any delay, a phone call is NOT proof enough.
* US Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 is where you can find the actual information.

My husband & I didn’t think we would have a fair shot. There are time restrictions and moving to a new home takes time. WE have lost the money but hopefully this review can help you.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $11000

Moved from Cumming GA to Timnath Co mid February to mid March. 2019 due to delays.

Stevens Worldwide was the carrier and were a disaster from day one. They were a day late for the original pickup, split the shipment into two deliveries weeks apart, lost paperwork pertaining to the original inventory, broke furniture, damaged property on second delivery, unpacked several items to make them smaller resulting in serious damage to an antique 1750 grandfather clock, refused to leave any paperwork for the second half of the shipment, failed to deliver many boxes inventoried and marked as packed by owner, refused claims for damage as well as a total disregard for the lost items.

Simply do not take a chance and read many similar reviews of the company.

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $10000

We were given no choice but to use Stevens for our corporate relocation. The crew that showed up to pack our home showed up one day early. The crew that showed up to pack the van showed up one day late. The moving crew packed things that were clearly marked as do not touch and refused to remove them from the van. Our inventory went from our home, to their storage, to our new home yet somehow they lost a significant amount of our stuff (including a drill that was IN its case when they took it) and damaged a very expensive grill, freezer, tool chest etc. I would absolutely avoid this company and spend your money elsewhere.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $12000

I was referred to Stevens through a trusted co-worker who used them for her move. But Stevens and the partners they used were sorely lacking.

First, I want to say, the people on both ends of my move with the 3rd party were nice enough - pleasant to talk to and got through the packing easily enough. Talking on the phone with them was also always pleasant. I have no complaint about that.

My Stevens representative was a bit lacking. I'm not sure if once they handed off they were just out.

First, the quote I got vs the price I paid was about 5,000 off. i get weight was not exact, I was not too worried about that. I also had to have it in storage for a month so technically I think it was would be considered two moves since I could not unload into the new residence on time. EVEN though I had requested that my stuff stays in the old state until I was ready, but understand drivers need to consolidate trips, but would have liked a heads up before being called and told "I 'l be there in two days".

I was a bit annoyed at the load in guys, again nice enough, but every box marked fragile I've found at the bottom of the box piles in the house.

My real problem is that this is the worse move I've ever done where items are broken or just outright gone. I did reach out to Stevens explaining this - but go ZERO feedback. I'm still finding fragile things, that I relied on the professional movers did not pack with care - tossing them into random boxes. Now items that are collectable to me and non-replaceable are destroyed forever.

I realize that Stevens would say "it's our 3rd party, not us" but if you subcontract with people - it reflects on you.

To the consumer - do research, get multiple quotes, find out ahead of time if they are doing it or subcontracting.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $15000

In 2019- 2020 this moving company is still doing terrible job (scammers). As I am writing this review, I am also learning that I am not the only unhappy customer here :-(

This is by far the WORST moving company we worked with (we moved 6th times with different companies from one state to another state).

- As a start pricing was including large items that we were not going to move (we told the sales person at estimate time but, still they tried to add to the final cost)

- a day before the move, Stevens also tried to pushed the packing/ loading of (1) day and we told them we could NOT as our house's buyer were moving in (we have to argue on that)

- At the delivery we received 1/4 of our furniture DAMAGED. Desk with broken legs (leg out), commode with broken legs (leg out) and solid dining table from Pottery Barn with broken legs (leg out) all these, because movers did NOT TAKE THE TIME to remove legs as others movers usually do..then we had (4) cabinets broken and ready to fall in (4) pieces, fancy dining table damaged, and we got so many others damages.

- We paid for unpacking fee but, movers were dumping things on the floor, on top of each other mixing all boxes together..same with office paper stuff ..it was so bad that my husband asked the movers to please stop and leave the house..we still paid full moving/ unpacking price..lol!!

- On the moving day, we showed some of those obvious broken furniture pieces and took photos and when we had the time to settle and open all boxes we sent our full claim but, Stevens tried to play the game that these damages should have been written on unpacking list, even when our contract said we had ONE YEAR TO FILE A CLAIM . We even had an email in writing from Stevens saying that is was perfectly ok to submit the rest of the claim later in time (up to 1 year!) still Stevens came up with lies for not paying anything damages,

Stevens even tried to claim that our submitted photos of furniture damages taking on the moving day (with box around) was NOT proving damages were done that day .. even though Stevens generates a list of how furniture was picked up before the move (stevens refused to look at it). We even argued on items we wrote on unpacking list,..

CONCLUSION: we settle for pennies because we don’t have to time to play their game (no repaired offered) ..but, DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM!

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $14000