N. v. Direct Moving & Storage, Inc/Sunshine Marine & Movers of S. Florida, Inc. N received an estimate from DMS via email $1957.00 / 4550lb N packed several boxes for shipment on the moving truck. On 8/13/2007 DMS arrived at N's home in Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Aviv (DMS) along with two assistants immediately began placing orange stickers on boxes and transporting them to the moving truck. DMS disassembled furniture belonging to N, wrapped items in blankets and/or plastic and transported them to the moving truck. DMS packed misc items in boxes and transported them to the moving truck. When all items had been loaded on the moving truck, Aviv told N that the price of shipping the items would be significantly more than the previous estimate. Aviv told N that he would attempt to falsify the weight record in order to save N money, even though he would risk being fired. N told Aviv that he did not want Aviv to do anything that would result in him being fired. Aviv added charges to the bill, which then totaled $3007.00. Aviv told N that $3007.00 was the lowest price that DMS could charge, and that if N signed all paperwork and paid an additional amount of cash, the total cost of the move would not exceed $3007.00. N requested that the items arrive in Silver Spring, MD on 8/23. Aviv told N that the items would arrive on 8/23. N signed all paperwork, including, but not limited to, the Bill of Lading/Freight Bill and Inventory List. N was given copies of the Bill of Lading/Freight Bill and Inventory List only. N paid $1503.50 (half of the balance) via MasterCard. N paid Aviv an additional $130.00 in cash. On 8/22, N received a phone call from Mike (SMM driver). Mike told N that the shipment was in AZ, and would be arriving in MD no earlier than 8/27. On 8/24, N contacted DMS via phone to complain about the delay in shipment. On 8/25, Mike contacted N via phone and told him that the shipment would arrive on 8/26. On 8/26, Mike arrived outside N's home in Silver Spring, MD 20906. 2 assistants arrived in a separate car. Mike parked the moving truck on Randolph Rd., south of the complex. Mike told N that the driveway to the complex was too steep for the truck to enter, and that in order to complete the delivery, N would need to pay an additional $700.00. Nick requested a written explanation of the additional charge, and Mike replied that the explanation was in his head. N told Mike that he was promised that the total cost of the move would not exceed $3007.00. Mike made no effort to find another entrance to the complex. Seeing the disagreement, 1 assistant began to walk home. Mike offered to leave N's belongings on Randolph Rd. if N paid Mike $1503.50. Mike told N that if there was a problem, N could contact the police department while Mike waited in the truck. N dialed the police department with his cell phone. Mike walked to the moving truck and drove away. The police department informed N that this was a civil matter that needed to be taken up with DMS. N phoned Mike and ordered him to return to N's home. Mike told N that it was too late, and hung up on N. Several minutes later, Mike phoned N and told him that if he wanted to see his things again, he needed to meet Mike in Baltimore, MD, where N's belongings would be loaded into a truck rented by N. N drove to Baltimore, MD, rented a U-Haul truck, and met Mike at 17 Castlebar Ct. Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 Mike told N that the delivery of items could not take place until N signed the Bill of Lading/Freight Bill, and paid the remaining balance in cash. N paid Mike $1504.00 in cash. 3 DMS assistants unloaded items from the DMS truck and loaded the items into N's U-Haul truck. N noticed many damaged items, and did not account for all the items on the Inventory List. Without speaking to N, Mike and all DMS assistants drove away. N returned to N's home, and unloaded items from the U-Haul truck. Unprofessional conduct of Aviv and Mike Assistant workers not skilled in moving procedures Don't know how to operate ramp Drop furniture and boxes "This Side Up" instructions not followed "Do Not Lay Flat" instructions not followed Items are dragged, rather than lifted and placed Several boxes marked "fragile" mishandled No care was given to loading U-Haul truck Major damage to furniture and boxes No explanation of additional charges No weight record No receive receipt for final payment No opportunity to note discrepancies on Inventory List Mislabeling of items on inventory list No assembly of furniture was performed Extremely unprofessional and spiteful business technique: Put customer in compromising position Tell them to pay extra money "or else" SMM assistant vehicle: Maroon Subaru Outback -- MD, 5DD Z80