I want to share a NEGATIVE experience about Direct Connect Auto Transport. The three individuals I dealt with were Lynore Reiseck, Maria Monch, and Chris Grasso. Initially contacting Direct Connect Auto and speaking with Chris, as the other Car Transport company we had originally employed were unresponsive-Puerto Rico Car Transport to our request for information, I thought our Nissan Pathfinder Black 2015 was in good hands. Over the several weeks leading up to our car being transported and then during its "supposed" transport, I was even impressed. My vehicle was picked up earlier than expected (though not at the initial location-my house they had promised). Traveling to Puerto Rico under the assumption my vehicle was in transport, we rented a vehicle. Talking with Chris regularly on the phone, he indicated yes the vehicle was in transport and indicated where it was in its journey. A slight delay costing us an initial couple of days for renting a vehicle, we were told by Chris that yes, our vehicle was in San Juan port. It was not told to us in the initial phone call by Chris that our vehicle would need to sit in San Juan port for 24-48 hours, but we thought, not a problem or worth getting upset about.
So, I went to the Hacienda to pay my taxes. However, the Hacienda needed the Bill of Lading. Contacting Direct Connect Auto, they gave me (they did not do it though I had paid them for this service) the phone number to Tote Maritime. Latisha at Tote Maritime told me they did not have the Bill of Lading, as they did not have the vehicle in their possession. I'm at the Hacienda trying to pay my bill, on speaker phone, getting ready to go to the port the next day to pick up my vehicle that Chris said had arrived days ago. I immediately called Direct Connect Auto...ironically Chris was out for the day and couldn't be reached, so I talked with Maria. She assured me that a mistake must be made and promised to call me back. She didn't. I called her back. She said that they didn't have my vehicle in their possession either. I asked to speak to the manager in charge. Maria told me it was Lynore and she would call me in an hour. She didn't. At this point, I'm thinking my car was stolen in transit and that I need to contact the police. Many hours have gone by. I call Maria and tell her my vehicle must have been stolen and I'm calling the police. She said don't do that sir, please don't, I'm sure we have it...I asked to speak to Lynore who was solving another problem, Maria said.
At this point, obviously concerned that Direct Connect Auto, whom I paid $2,170 for in order to transport my vehicle had "lost" my vehicle, or gotten in stolen, I THINK and realize that the individuals they subcontracted with UZ Auto Trans Inc. must have the vehicle. So, I called and talked with one of them. They assured me that it was shipped to the port in Florida. Confused, I call Tote Maritime again, who has no record of it. I call UZ Auto Trans Inc. back and tell them they must check who dropped off my vehicle at the port. After a longggg discussion, they agreed and determined that their port agent had delivered my vehicle to the wrong terminal at the Florida port. I immediately call Direct Connect Auto, who still have no idea where my vehicle is, to tell them what I've found out...
Chris had told me the vehicle was in San Juan ready to be picked up...it hadn't even made it to the right Terminal and had never made it on the ship, nor obviously to San Juan port. A two week further delay goes by as it is too late to get it on that week's shipment, then Tote Maritime tells me my vehicle doesn't make it on to the next ship because of the captain who was worried about weight of the ship....
I paid over $2,100 in rental car fees waiting for my vehicle. No apology was offered by any of the aforementioned businesses. And, no renumeration for costs I incurred because of them. Not only do I rate this experience as negative, but I will make sure to post this review everywhere I can so people do not use this shady company. Businesses should be transparent and apologetic when they make mistakes, and compensate their customers when necessary. If you would like, please contact me so I can provide further details.
