A very different place...

So India is a third-world country, I understand that. But I would have thought the major cities would be a little more major. While the Leela Palace is a beautiful hotel, if you step outside, it's a whole different world. Everything is dirty. Cars/rickshaws speed down the street and honk their horn at everything.

There is garbage everywhere.

Then a woman on a Vespa (50 year old Vespa) was hit buy a car. She was OK. A crowd gathered... just like we would back home.

Then I saw a shack on the side of the road that was someones house. They were cooking over an open flame.

I'm in India!!!!!!

Crazy, huh? Got in at 4am local time (that is 6:30pm in Boston).

Had a night in London the prior night. My first time flying business class. Here are some photos of the inside of the plane. Seats go totally flat! But, I couldn't sleep of course.

London was cool. Checked into the hotel around 8pm, then jumped on the Heathrow Express into Paddington, then took the Tube to Piccadilly Circus, which is basically London's version of Times Square. Here is a pic of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. Grabbed some food at a little resturant there, then headed back to the hotel.

Woke up the next morning, then flew to Bangalore, India. Airport there is TINY, and there were thousands of people just standing around outside. The parking lot can hold about 30 cars. Took a car to the Leela Palace. Where I am now.

7/25 - END OF THE STORY

I got the following in the mail today:

as well as:

So.... what did I learn from all this?
GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Don't leave it up to these guys to keep to their word. They are evil, lying, sneaky bastards who will do anything to make a buck and screw you over.
DON'T NECESSARILY GO WITH THE CHEAPEST MOVER - cuz they will more than likely charge you the max 25% more than their estimate
HAVE THE GUY GIVING THE QUOTE BE THE GUY THAT MOVES YOU - Joe comes and gives estimate, and Franks does the move, they may have totally different opinions on the costs.
DON'T LET THEM BRING MORE TO THE MOVE THAN THE ESTIMATE - our estimate was for 2 trucks and 4 men. 3 trucks and 6 men showed up the morning of the move. This increased their hourly rate.
STAY ON THEIR ASSES - sometimes you need to complain to the foreman when guys are slacking.

I was going to write a letter to Casey Movers thanking them for the money, and for thanking them for finally admitting that they screwed up. But after thinking about it, HELL NO!!! These guys tried to rob me of $550. They totally tried to screw me, and THEY SUCK!!!! I'll write no such letter. But I may write a letter telling them that they are A-Holes for trying to screw me over, and say "na na na na... I got my money back!!!" I HATE THEM!!!!

7/24 - JUSTICE IS SERVED!!!!!
Got a call from Bill Clements today, saying that he was getting ready to send off a letter to Casey Movers, when in his mail was the following:

Bill said he spoke with Steve Casey (the main a-hole in this whole case) and he did finally admit to lowering our estimate to $2700 (from the original $4300).

Updates

7/21 - sent Bill Clements an email with info on trucks (there were 3, we were quoted with 2 on the estimate) and men (there were 6, we were quoted with 4 on the estimate).

7/19 - LOOK WHAT I GOT IN THE MAIL!!!!!
This is interesting... they sent me the $50 from the Better Business Bureau!!! I'm not cashing this!

MASS Dept of Telecommunications and Energy respond

7/18 - Spoke with Bill Clements, he needs info on times the job took, how many trucks/men showed up for the job.
7/14 - I call Bill back and leave message (617-305-3771)
7/11 - Bill Clements from MASS Dept of T & E leaves messages for me, looking for some times related to the move.

Department of Telecommunications and Engery gets involved!

Casey Movers response to BBB complaint

Here is what Casey Movers responded to the complaint I filed with the Better Business Bureau.

Response Date: 06/22/2006
Problem Adjusted: No
Adjustment Type: No Adjustment
Problem Will Be Adjusted by: 07/14/2006
Response Details:
After carefully reviewing your complaint and reviewing our paperwork we will reimburse you $50.00 because we did collect 26.47% over the estimated price of $3,400.00 then adding and additonal stop which was another $200-300.oo more. Adding to the estimated amount will change the estimate. We will send a check to you in the amount of $50.00 dollars.

My response to this was:

Rebuttal Date: 06/24/2006
Complaint Resolved: No
Details:
As stated, our original quote was $3400 from Casey Movers. They then called several times to tell us the new quote should be $2700 based on what Steve Casey saw Paul had written on the quote. With that new estimate of $2700, we agreed, and agreed to a maximum of $300 for the additional stop, bringing the new quote to $3000 total. 25% of this is $3750. We paid $4300. Difference is $550.

Casey Movers Action

Complains filed:

• Filed complaint at http://www.movingscam.com/fileComplaint.shtml

• MASSACHUSETTS* Department of Telecommunications & Energy, Transportation Division 1 South Station, 2nd Floor Boston, MA 02110 (617) 305-3559
• 6/8 - Bill Clemens - left message -
• 612 - Bill Clemens called back... said I need to send Bill of Lading, Original Estimate, and writeup of what happened to (mailed 6/17):
• Mr. Timothy Davis
• Mass DTE
• Transportation Division
• 1 South Station
• Boston, MA 02110

• Better Business Beaurau - CASE # 124496

Casey Movers SUCKS!

• Original quote of 3400. Paul came to house and looked at everything and inventoried
• Casey called back twice, saying the quote was high, and it would be 2700.
• I called, asking about storage unit near by, they said probably add 200-300
• Tony showed up at 9:50am (we were told 8am- they say they left at 8am and were in traffic… they did call from South St at 9:20… took 1/2 hour to go 2 miles)
• Took inventory, and said it would be between 4600-5000
• I told Tony about quote, and he said this is what it will cost
• Tony called Steve. Steve said to work it out
• I said I refused to pay that much, as I have a quote for much less
• Tony called Steve because I wanted to talk to him. Steve said he has too much going on that he can't talk to me, and told Tony if he can't work out the price to walk off the job.
• Tony tells me he can do it for 4300.I sign papers, saying will pay 4300 - having no choice because I need to move that day
• At house, I have no choice but to move and pay under duress.
• Steve called me back during unload, after money has been paid to Tony. (of course, he has his money now)
• Says 'I even called you back, you probably didn't expect that'
• Steve says 'Estimates come in high all the time.' I told him this estimate was LOW
• Says 'there is nothing I can do that will make you happy' - I say ' you can charge me the 2700 you were supposed to' - no comment
• Tony & crew leave Groton at approx 8:30pm.
  
• Things left on 5/11 that Steve would talk Paul and Tony to determine why there was such a difference between estimate and Tony's price

• 5/15 - called Casey, spoke with Elisha, said would give Steve message, and I left my cellphone number
• 5/15 2:05pm - Tony called back, thought there was an issue with the move and the job he did. I told him I have no issue with the move. I have issue with the cost. He said Steve would call me right back.
• 5/24 - Still no call back from Steve. Called Casey, spoke w/Elisha. She said she will look over paperwork and call me back. I left her home and cell number. She said she can't make any promises, and this is not something that happens to them typically.
• 5/24 - Elisha calls back, saying she spoke w/Steve & Tony.. says they were within the 25% allowed by moving laws. I told her she would be hearing from us (either via BB, arbitration, etc)
• 5/24 - called Elisha back to let her know that the price we were charged was 25% (26.47% actually) higher that 3400. We were told on the phone it would be 2700 + 200/300 more tops for stop at storage unit. So 2700 x 25% = 3375. 3000 x 25% = 3750.