Consumer reviews and reports on scam companies, bad products and services
Serenity Van Lines
Serenity Van Lines Beckens Moving And Storage holding belongings hostage for 4 months now Tarzana, California
5th of Dec, 2010 by User727800
Well let me begin by saying after many long and hard hours of research I have discovered that these company's Beckens/Serenity have and continue to be allowed to scam, steal and extrot innocent individuals out of their money and life long possessions. (THIS IS FULL BLOWN EXTROTION IN EVERY FORM OF THE WORD)


On August 16.2010 I spok(e with Beckens Moving And Storage rep (Jack) regarding a move from Victorville, Ca to Ferndale Mi at which point I was quoted a price of of $1,404.00 for 2400 pounds. I was told that the price could be locked in with a credit card payment of $400.00. First mistake they charged my credit card $425.00 and then refused an explanation as to why. I informed Jack at this point that I did not think I wanted to use them, at which point he told me my $400.00 would not be refunded if I decided to cancel. Being that my husband had just passed away, I did not have $400.00 to just give this company. I then informed Jack of the items that would be moved mind you most of my things were boxes as my husband had recently passed away and I had sold all of my larger items and was starting off fresh. I had a total of 38 boxes which were all packed, marked and ready to be loaded upon arrival of the moving company I had a brand new 52 Inch flat screen TV, a Leather Living Room Set, several very expensive pieces of art work just to put it out there in case they are reading this I do have an inventory list of every item they removed from my room down to the number of wash clothes packed in boxes being that I have moved many times before.


On the date of move 15 mins before they were due to arrive I received a phone call from a Sarah stating that they were going to have to change my move date to the following day, because their truck had been pulled over by DOT, I was never offered any kind of credit or refund for the problem this was going to cause me as I had to be out of my house on 08/29/10 and not 08/30/10.


On 08/30/10 an unmarked truck which I took pictures of pulled up to my home License Plate #CA 8625569 with 2 men in it, a few minutes later a SUV pulled up with 2 more men, at this time my self, daughter and best friend along with 10 other individuals that were at my home, just did not feel right about the whole situation, I informed the individuals who would not give us theirs names that I was not sure about this because he looked more illegal then it did legal, one of the individuals got real mad and said to hell with this shit, while the others begin picking up boxes. I stated there was nothing for them to pack as all of my boxes were packed and ready to go which I have pictures of also.. Thank God the box with my TV and Computers are shown on the photos being marked as such.


Here comes the big scam. Once all of my things were on the truck which took them almost 5 hrs to load (Still not understanding that) I was then told I appeared to be over 2400 pounds I was quoted and that I needed to pay instead of $400.00 I would now need to give them $700.00 in cash only (I have never done business with a company claiming to be professional that wanted cash for this type of transaction) my friend who owns her own trucking company then stated how they knew or felt I was over the 2400 pounds, she was told because we do this all the time and we know what we are looking at. I was then told if I wanted them to take my things and weigh them it was going to be a other days delay in my move and I would also have to pay an additional $200.00 for their time and gas to and from the weigh station. I told them it was not as if I just had money growing off trees that I still had to drive clear across country and I had to be there no later than 09/04/10. After loading all of my belongings on the truck, my self and my daughter ask for a copy of all the paper work I had signed, I was then told by the individual acting as head in charge that I would not receive any paper work until my things were delivered to me in Michigan. I was very upset and confused at this point, being that my late husband was a professional baseball player and we had moved many times over the past 25 years and had always received a copy of the full contract as well as a very professionally drawn up inventory sheet for all of our items.


I was told that I would receive a phone call at least 24 hrs in advance of my things being delivered to confirm delivery address the delivery date was scheduled for 09/15/10 oh let me not forget that my contract also included 1 month free storage. Upon my arrival in Michigan things changed and I was going to have to return to California immediately, I begin calling Beckens and Serenity Van Lines as well as emailing them on the 09/07/2010 to informed them that I would not be staying in Michigan, and I needed to make arrangements to have my things remain in California that I would be back in California no later than 09/26/10. It was not until 09/17/10 I received a phone call from a Sarah with Serenity Van Lines, after informing her of my change in plans, she stated to me "Ms Ellis your things are still here in our Calif warehouse however they were scheduled to go on the truck today" I then stated do not place my things on the truck as I will be returning to Calif no later than 09/26/10 at which point I will phone you with a delivery address. At which point Sarah says allow me to call Emma over at Beckens to inform her of the change and she will be calling you back. I did not receive a return phone from Emma until 09/20/10 after leaving voice messages as well as emailing her, she then informed me that she had been made aware of the change of plans and everything would be okay she said there could be a possible storage charge which I did not understand being that I would be back in California on the 09/26/10 with a delivery address.


On 09/23/10 while driving back to California at approx 10:30pm Chicago time I receive a phone call from someone telling me that he has my things on his truck he is in Missouri and needs a address where he will be delivering my things, now I am mad as hell. I tell him I don't know what form of communication he has with the individuals he works for, however there had been a mix up and my things were suppose to be sitting in Tarzana, Calif in a warehouse waiting for my arrival on 09/26/10, I told him that I did not know what to tell him, he stated he was going to call his boss and he would call me right back, I ask him for his phone number so I could follow up and he informed he could not give me his number. (How in the hell can someone have our things and tell you they can't give you their number)


From 09/24/10 through 10/03/10 I tried reaching Beckens and Serenity by way of phone as we as email with no response until 10/03/10. On 10/03/10 I received a email not phone call from a Dan with Beckens informing me that before I could get my belongings back I would need to deposit $1,200.00 in Beckens Bank Of America account and $1,079.00 into Serenity Van Lines Bank Of America account mind you they have already received $1,050.00 from me. I informed Dan that I would have to get back with him as I did not have that kind of money and I felt like my things were being held hostage, he told me he could careless what I thought or felt it was his way or no way. I then begin receiving very ugly emails from Emma as well as a Ester from Beckens informing me that my things were going to be sold if the money was not placed into their account, at this point I am not scared I am a single women and these people have everything I own belonging to me and my deceased husband. On 10/17/10 I made connect by phone with Serenity Van Lines with someone telling me not to pay any attention to anything I receive from Beckens as all of my things were in the possession of Serenity Van Lines and they were who I needed to be dealing with, on 11/01/10 I deposited $1,079.00 into the Bank Of America account of Serenity Van Lines being told that my things would be delivered to me within 7 days. Here is the kicker it is now December 06 , 2010 and I have not received any of my things nor any return phone calls regarding the delivery of my things. I am paying for a empty storage space at $60.00 month where my things were to be delivered. I am having to live in a motel at $1,200.00 a month because I have nothing to move into my home. I have no clothing or shoes to wear in the exception of the few items I took with me while traveling, I have no access to personal items that I need to conduct business, and I am unable to return to work because I have no clothing.


It is now almost 4 months of me going through this and I am at the end of my rope. I have recently sought legal counsel and have been informed that if I could gather the names or make contact with others who are dealing with or have dealt with this this company we can file a class action law suit. I have also learned that depending on the state you live in you can file a suit against each one of these company's separate from one another meaning I can sue Beckens Moving And Storage, Serenity Van Lines and the Company that is transporting my belongings. Which I am now putting into action. I have also filed a theft report against them in 2 different cites the city were I live as well as in Tarzana where they are located, I am also trying to get one filed in NY where Beckens is located.


If there is anyone out there who would like to speak with me regarding this matter please feel free to contact me or leave a response and I will contact right away.. Thank You BEWARE IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING USING THIS COMPANY PLEASE DON'T DO IT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.. I don't want to see anyone else going through what I am going through if I can help it..

Comments
4613 days ago by Makethempay
I had a similiar situation with Victor and Sarah from Serenity Van Lines. Victor was very rude on the phone and informed me that if I didn't pay the balance he would sell my belongings. He told Sarah to give me their Bank of America account number and have me deposit the money, if I wanted my belongings. In September of last year I paid Serenity Van Lines in full and never received my belongings. If I could see Victor and Sarah they would suffer because they have lied to me and taken my money. I would like for you to contact me because they deserve to pay, dearly...

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