Thursday, January 31, 2013

How Reliable Is 1-800-PACKRAT?

While using a moving company like 1-800-PACK-RAT appears to be the best solution when it comes to quickly and easily completing the process of moving from one home to another, there are a few things you need to be aware of regarding such companies. 1-800-PACK-RAT certainly has plenty of plus points: All-weather steel containers, secure and dry warehouses and a positive reputation in the industry. However, this company shares the same secrets as the rest of the industry and they are not going to reveal them to customers who may think twice about using their services if they knew.

Complaints are Futile
In fact, complaints are also frequent since moving and storage companies are ranked in the top 20 most troublesome businesses according to the Better Business Bureau. Interstate movers are not well regulated as the Department of Transport is more concerned with traffic problems than moving companies. In the event of a dispute, you'll need the help of a third party but don't expect to get compensation of more than $1,000. We're not saying that 1-800-PACK-RAT gets more complaints than its rivals (it does have a good reputation), but quite a few customers have complained about their service.

Late Delivery
This is another problem with 1-800-PACK-RAT and all other moving companies since customers generally have to share space with others. After signing the agreement, a consumer will agree on a delivery date. There are legitimate reasons for late delivery such as bad traffic or inclement weather. However, it is often the case where customer B loses out because their stuff was loaded first on a truck with customer A that happens to live 500 miles away. So the moving company makes the first delivery and you have to wait. Worse still, you now have to rearrange your schedule around that of the moving company and if you don't, it can tack on extra storage costs.

Varying Estimates
Interstate trucking was regulated up until 1980 and back then, moving costs were roughly the same across the board. Now, you could have one moving company charge double what a rival costs for the same trip! This can even happen within the confines of one moving company. For example, 1-800-PACK-RAT has over 60 offices nationwide and do not have a universal pricing chart that we know of.

Nasty Disputes
Again, we are not necessarily pointing the finger at 1-800-PACK-RAT but customers often find that a moving company can renege on its original price promise. If you have a problem with that, they'll just hold on to your possessions until you pay. There have been plenty of horror stories about customers agreeing quotes in the $600 region only to be told that they have to pay an extra $1,000 or else they wouldn't get their goods back. To get your money back in such an instance, you'll need to take the moving company to court in what could be a long and stressful experience.

Moving companies like 1-800-PACK-RAT offer an easier way to move your possessions from A to B, especially when 'B' is halfway across the country. However, bad behavior is rampant in the industry so you need to perform plenty of research to ensure that your favored company is reliable and has a good reputation. In most instances, 1-800-PACK-RAT fits the bill but since the standard of service can vary from one branch to the next, reading customer reviews is essential.

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