Don't Use A Broker Who Uses AAT
Leslie Gay Sabol
Submitted this review about
American Auto Transportation
Review made Live: 6/22/2007 12:58:00 PM
Please see Mr. Dennis Dooley's review for all pertinent info on American Auto Transportation regarding their alias, address, and phone number.
Our car was shipped by this carrier through the broker, Cross Country Auto Transport (do not use them either, please see my and my husband's review). The driver called us the evening before delivery stating he had no money, and that he would like us to pay him in cash. Since my husband's company, a government contractor, was paying for our car shipment, that was not possible. The driver showed up the next day, but unfortunately, the check had been made out to the broker. The driver said he could not give us the car until he had a check written out to his company, which is completely understandable. He promised to return the following day with the vehicle, giving the Finance department time to reissue a check to AAT. THE DRIVER LIED. He never showed up the next day, but we did get a phone call saying our car had been delivered to an undisclosed location; and when American Auto Transportation had their money, they would let us know where the vehicle was.
Six days later (total 24 days), we were called and told our vehicle had been delivered to an auto body shop 17 miles away. We immediately went to the shop to pick up the car. The car was damaged in two places. (I later got two estimates averaging $600.00.) In short, American Auto Transportation damaged our vehicle and had a person, NOT AUTHORIZED BY US, sign off on the car.
I do not think the body shop owner is suspect at all. First of all, he and his wife had considered calling the state police, because they thought the vehicle might be a stolen one. Probably being unfamiliar with the auto transport process, he did not read the paperwork carefully, and signed off on the car without carefully examining it. (For the record, it would have behooved him to note the damage, knowing that AAT's insurance should cover it and they would be liable for repair. It has been over a year, and we have not had our car repaired, because, frankly, we cannot afford it.)
We went through cell phone message Hell, and never heard from Mr. Ed (last name unknown) or Alex. The car was signed for, they were no longer liable; why should they care? An honest company would have realized, just by checking their own paperwork, that the two, good-sized dents were not there when the car was picked up, and done the right thing and fixed the car.
This outfit is a sketchy as companies get. With time, I hope to help, and eventually see, these SOB's put out of business.
P.S. Ask prospective broker/carriers if their company uses AAT. If they do, do not use them!
