We are moving from Sioux Falls, SD to Roseburg, OR. I did some searching for moving companies and several called me including 2 local movers. 1 local mover did a walk through of the house and I did a telephone walk-thru with United Van Lines. The companies were 18# apart. American Van Lines called me and said they could beat the other 2 companies prices by about $1500. I told them what the estimated weight was and when the contract came the weight was lowered by 3000#. In the small print it states thay you pay $0.60 per # if you're over the estimated weight. I emailed them and said the contract was wrong so they sent another one, this time with the correct weight but now the price is the same as the local movers. The person that I talk to on the phone and emails tells me that it's not going to make any difference. RIGHT!! I tell her I won't sign unless the weight and amount due are correct. BTW, they have a $2900 deposit already. So, I write in the amount due at delivery. 5 days before the move their Quality Assurance man calls and tells me the contract isn't any good because I wrote on it. I told him I was told to do so and he says he can't take it. I try to cancel the move but because it's within 5 days, I would lose my deposit. I tell him the whole story of the back and forth emails and the incorrect contracts and he tells me if I can PROVE that I was quoted the certain amt on the weight, he will honor it. I had all my emails and was able to do so, I sent them to him. The corrected contract came but the amt due at delivery is still $761 higher than quoted. I was told that it would take a couple of days to get the refund into my account, we're on day 4 now and no refund. I just called the company again and the Quality Assurance man won't even talk to me, he's busy but tells the woman handling my acct that the refund will be in my acct tomorrow. That will be a Saturday...maybe...we'll see. I did tell them that I was writing this complaint and if needed I would get my attorney involved! I was assured that wasn't necessary. That being said, the company handling my move, Homestead Moving Systems, has been pleasant to work with and seems to be on the up and up. I'm meeting the truck driver at the weight scale in the morning to get the empty truck weight and then I will go with them to weigh it after it's been loaded. Hopefully the worst is behind me. Maybe if you can deal directly with Homestead things will go smoother. Wish me luck!! Stay away from American Van Lines though...what a nightmare!!!

11/06/2008, We chose American van lines as the mover to move our house stuff from St. Charles, MO to Broken Arrow, OK.
The actual weight was 2182 pounds. But when the semi arrived, they told us 4136 pounds, if we did not pay them, they would not unload. We called American van lines immediately that night, they admitted their wrong doing, and promised to refund us the over charged $1147.
But after 4 months, March 2009, they have not refunded us. No one answering the phone... all kinds of excuses...

In July I went online to find movers to move me from KY to SC. Michael Mowatt with American Vanlines contacted me and gave me an estimate of 1800 dollars, I told him I was on a fixed income and could not afford it. He quickly talked to his superiors and asked what could I afford, I said 1500. I signed the agreement and prepared for my october move. 2 days prior to my move I was contacted by a 'Danny' from American Vanlines, informing me that I had to sign additional papers before the trucks could be sent out, i read the papers and immediately disagreed with the new amount of 2165. Danny assured me and my partner that these papers were only precautions and that I would not have to pay these amounts, also that a refund would take several weeks to process. Against my better judgment and because of this coercion I felt I had to force these documents. Now I am at my new location and being told another price. I was TOLD that my weight did go over my 3000 pound quote by 1000 pounds but my moving price DOUBLED. This whole ordeal has been a complete nightmare.