abusive and unreliable truck driver; bad decision by Angel Moving Auto

Tony Submitted this review about Angels Moving Autos
Review made Live: 8/27/2006 12:50:00 AM
When I first spoke to Angel Moving Auto, I was assured verbally that I could have my car picked up on July 30-31 from Stanford University, CA and delivered to USC, Columbia area in SC. I decided to go with Angel Moving Auto depite their $200 higher quote because of their reputation.

On July 24-06, I notified that National Auto Moving would be my carrier for pickup on 2006-07-30. N ational Auto wanted to pick up several days earlier than agreed and I refused. I asked for $200 deposit back but Angel Moving Auto politely rejected refund request, stating that they would reschedule a new carrier. I had no idea that I had signed up for an ugly and unpleasant experiene that was forthcoming.

On July 27-06, I was re-notified that RPM Auto Transport- SC would be my new carrier. (Address: 209-A N. Main Street; Phone:843-424-5061; Federal Motor Carrier ID#: 530075) The driver, Richard frist called to say he was coming a night earlier, and asked to be paid up front the full cash amount on the pick-up night of - 7/29. Come 8/01, I was still waiting to hear from him. At 4pm, he said he was in South San Franciso, about 35 miles north of me. I received a call from him at 9pm, asking me to meet him 30 miles south of me. I thought this was door to door service, but he insisted that it was difficult for him to come close to Stanford University with his huge trailer. I relented, thinking that if I did him this favor, he would reciprocate by delivering on time. At midnight, his wife calls to say that I can now drive the 30 miles to meet him in San Jose. I declined and met him the next morning instead. When I signed over the car, he optimistically insisted that he would be in South Carolina by Aug 4th night, in front of 2 witnesses.

By Aug 7th, my car rental had expired and Richard was nowhere to be found. He never returned my call and I resort to tracking his whereabouts through Angel Moving Auto, speaking with Shannon, Dina and a few other helpful agents of Angel Moving Auto. From Aug 7 to Auug 10, each day, he sang the same tune that he would be in Columbia, SC. Each night, I made my daily pilgrimage to the airport, paying last minute high daily rentals rates, gullibly thinking that each rental night would be my last.

At one point, he decided to get in touch with my directly, after figuring out that he was being pressed by Angel Moving Auto to tell the truth. The phone conversation with me was abusive, accusing me of making him incur cell phone charges. By the time he got to Columbia, he offered the excuse to Angel Moving Auto that his truck had broken down. I consented that he drive my car to my apartment but little did I expect that he would smoked up the entire car with tobacco. For a person suffering from chronic bronchitis, this was inexcusable.

While the agents at Angel Moving Auto were courteous, and tried their best to undo an ugly situation, I felt disappointed that I was the guinea pig for this bad hiring decision on their part. I paid a higer market rate, relying on their reputation. Unfortunately. I did not get what I deserved. Instead, I got an additional $280 bill for extra car rental that I had not planned for. Angel should have released my from the $200 deposit, when they failed to successfully schedule my first carrier.

While they reassure me that Richard will not be rehired, this gives little reassurance to other potential new customers, who may be subjected to the same bad hiring decision to contract unreliable car carriers such as RPM Auto Transport- SC.

Also, the verbal abuse I had to endure from Richard of RPM Auto Transport- SC was menacingly unpleasant. I had to get a security officer present to feel safe enough to receive my car from this lunatic driver. Angel Moving Auto should do better to screen out carriers like him.