Scam Artists - Low lifes! Do not Use
Ed Chow
Submitted this review about
American Auto Transport
Review made Live: 2/24/2008 11:04:00 AM
On September 13, 2007, I contacted Claire in regards to her quote of $825 along with an additional $50 gas card and asked if indeed her quote was that absolute price. She pleasantly replied and answered yes. I then asked her if they could possibly deliver the car by the following Friday September 21st, no problem was her answer. I verbally agreed to use their service and she said that she will fax over the contract right away. I never received the contract that Thursday nor the following day as I was out of town. I contacted Claire Monday September 17th to let her know that the contract was never received. She said she sent it and read out my fax number - it was wrong. I finally received the faxed contract but with the wrong amount quoted, it read $1125. I pointed this out and she says that the price did not reflect the discounts, go ahead and manually change it as this would avoid the step of her changing the price and refaxing, so I did (stupidly!) along with the $200 deposit.
I asked her if this would affect the delivery time because I was importing my purchase BMW M3 to Canada, no was her answer, everything is still on schedule that the car would be picked up next day. I contacted the dealer to notify them of the arrangements, incidentally they quoted $1150 - what a bargain to deal with AAT. I contacted the dealer on Tuesday late afternoon to see how everything went , the car was still there. I called her next day, she then says that the driver was behind schedule and would either be there later that day or next day. I asked her, then in likely hood that delivery of the vehicle for that Friday would be impossible, she agreed and said it would be there Saturday. She also says that CSR would be in contact with me as I was beginning to get irritated because throughout this ordeal I was not getting the proper details from Claire, they never did. I then emailed Claire later that evening to make a record of this situation and to hopefully have the CSR department respond. No response the following day by them.
On Thursday I get a message on my home answering as I was at work by the driver saying that he will be at the destination later that evening. I called him back and he said that he left the message to the wrong customer and that he will pick up my vehicle on Friday September 21st and that I should expect delivery on the 28th. I called Claire next day as the office was now closed to let her know of the situation being diplomatic as they are transporting my prized car, again she says that CSR will contact me - the phone call never came. I send an email to Claire and CSR because perhaps at this stage, Claire is not disclosing her incompetence to CSR- no response from either party the following Monday morning. I call Monday afternoon but only get voicemails.
At this point, just be patient and wait for the delivery I say to myself. Friday September 28th evening I get a message from the driver stating he will drop off the car Saturday afternoon and that $925 C.O.D. is owing. I called the driver back numerous times but do not get through. I then email my friend in Seattle where the car is to be dropped off copies of the quotation and amended contract to give to the driver along with the cashiers check of $625 that I arranged previously in the week to clarify any misunderstanding with the contracted price.
On Saturday afternoon, the driver politely refuses to release the vehicle and leaves. Stating that his paperwork shows $925 is to be paid in cash only and that he will only release the vehicle if he is instructed by the contracted company. Monday October 1st, I frantically try to get hold of Claire but to no avail until late in the afternoon Florida time. I told her about the price discrepancy and that the driver did not accept a cashiers check ( contract stipulates two methods of payment cashiers check or cash). She informs me at this point it has to be cash and that CSR will call me within five minutes to rectify the price discrepancy. I did not want the runaround again but what could I do at this point. No call within the five minutes, so I call CSR to only get voicemail.
I email again, this time being firm and that should I not get any response I will seek legal action. I finally get an email Tuesday October 2nd from Tina Mills. In her rude response she accuses me of not taking responsibility as a contracted customer, that the amended contract was not acceptable by AAT, that the changes to the contract was taken upon myself (why did they proceed to pick up my car?). She claims that CSR has tried numerous times to contact me on this matter but that they could not speak to me because I was yelling all the time (bunch of bull as this is the first time I got any response by them!). Furthermore she states that should I prolong this transaction, expect to incur further storage charges. I respond in a final email that they are dishonest and that I have no choice but to pay because now my car is held for ransom.
I reported them to the South Florida BBB and since I have discovered this site, as you can tell, warning others to avoid them - long winded but detailed. They are all bunch of scum and do not care about their business, as you can tell with their star ratings. BEWARE of Claire! she is deceitful with her pleasant voice. I too vow like Lou to make life miserable for this company. Perhaps the next stage is YouTube that will cater to a wider audience. I fear no law suit by them, infact I will welcome it because I have all records and ignored emails, plus this review site. Karma will bite you in the ass, Claire and Tina!
