Sorry about this review being so long, but please take the time to read it. It will be worth your while even if you are not considering transporting your vehicle right away. If you are ever thinking about shipping a vehicle, this complaint may bring some light into your future shipping needs.
I placed my order on 4/16/09 with Brittney White of Around the Globe. I was told, "You are in luck! We are going to have a truck in your area next week!" I don't know what kind of truck she was referring to but it was not an auto transport truck.
I gave my first available pick-up date as 4/20. On 4/23, after no contact from Around the Globe, I called inquiring status. I was told that I would get a call back within 3 hours. I assumed the 3 hours was going to be the same day...I called back 5 hours later and still no scheduled pick-up date. I spoke to the supervisor Janet (Hi Janet!) To make a long conversation reasonably short, without leaving out major details, Janet told me that no one told me that the delivery date was going to be 4/23 and that they needed 2 - 3 days to book the vehicle after my available pick-up date. I guess she didn't have a calendar next to her. 4/23 WAS/IS 3 days later.
Calendars are universal, as far as I know, the same calendar is used in every country. No reason not to be able understand one. What really kicked me in gear was when I was told Around the Globe was having difficulty placing my order because no one wanted to ship it for so cheap. ($800 is not beer money.) Never deal with a BROKER! Never!!!
Around the Globe saw to charge my credit card in a timely manor. My card was charged on 4/16, my order day. Around the Globe had time to do that, I guess Around the Globe took away from the time they they charged my credit card and should have been consentrating trying to place my order.
After not hearing back from Around the Globe, I called back yesterday and was told from Brittney White, "You must have been just reading my mind, I was just going to call you." (Well of course you where, what was I thinking?" "Don't think we forgot about you, we will call you back within 3 hours to give you a name and number of a driver."
BEWARE when Around the Globe tells you that you will get a return call "within 3 hours", I have been told that twice. I explained to Janet on 4/23 that I was to start work on 4/27 and I had to cancel my airline reservation because my car wasn't picked up. I told her that Around the Globe was putting my job in jeopardy. Since the economy is so good, why would I be concerned about losing my job? Heck, I can get another one in a minute or two. We don't have any unemployment issues so that is no big deal to me....
I asked her (Janet) what she was going to do about the $150 cancellation fee from the airlines and the $30 cancellation fee from Expedia? That's where the "No one told you it was going to be picked up as soon as the 23rd, read your contract." Okay... Next time you book a reservation, pay attention to the area you are shipping it to. You are shipping this car to the East Coast.
Just a little tip for you Janet on knowing your customers - When you are dealing with East Coast or most of the Mid- West people, mind what your customers tell you. I know tons of East Coast people and you ALWAYS know what they are saying, I don't know one of them who mince words. I tried to tell you that I got your name and service reviews off the internet and I would write negative reviews all over the web.
That didn't seem to bother you. "What do you want me to do? Do you want to cancel the order?" "You know, we have other customers other than you." I said, "You mean you have *&^%$ off other customers other than me, that is what you are saying." I had no response to that statement. My contract states that if I cancelel, there will be a cancellation fee. I am already out of enough cancellation fees. I have already paid $170 in cancellation fee with USAir. I had to rebook my flight because my vehicle wasn't picked up by Around the Globe. Therefore, I didn't get the 7 day discounted rate. I am out about $650 now, and the car sits in my driveway 10 days later and still no scheduled pick-up date.
Oh, after I didn't receive the "3 hour" return call yesterday, I called back and got the answering service. They couldn't even find my order with my transaction number. There probably isn't even a order. It wouldn't surprise me one bit. He took a message for them to call me back. The answering service said that they "should be back in the office but I don't know for sure." I left a message for a return call, which I never received.
I called this morning, I am still on hold to talk to someone. My time on hold is now 245 minutes. Now, I know a lot of you are thinking, "Brenda, why would you stay on hold for that long?" It just is more amo to substantiate my complaint. Don't worry folks, when this call started out, I got a recording that I am second in line. I am now "FIRST in line, and will be answered by a representative. Thank you for your patience." Janet, you might want to check your "Inque" report to verify the 245 minutes. You will find it true.
I now have to start shipping this vehicle all over again. As I stated, I am already out 10 days. I postponed my starting date to May 1st. I am arriving in upstate NY with no car and will probably have to rent one for God only knows how long. I am so very lucky I am employed with The Salvation Army and they understand personal needs. I am truly blessed by God. Most employers wouldn't give a grain of salt why you couldn't be there on your start date and wouldn't take too kindly extending your date. Thank you MD for your understanding.
I am going to end this on 2 notes. One, thank God for cut & paste. I am heading for CraigsList and am going to post this in every city there is. (If anyone has any other ideas where I can post this, I would sure appreciate it - a link would be excellent.) Two, Elizabeth sends her love too. It is a wonderful thing, the internet, because you can contact people that have been burned.
Did I say "Around the Globe" enough times to sink that into anybody's memory? I think so.
Thanks all for your time.
