NOT HAPPY

Shelly M Submitted this review about AutoStar Transport Express
Review made Live: 1/6/2014 8:07:00 PM
There's just so many things that went wrong... I'm going to try and keep it as short as I can. My son was stationed at Ft. Campbell and is now on his way to Germany for 2 years. We needed his car shipped from TN to OR while he was home on leave. The order was placed and paid for around Dec. 2nd....so here we go-
1. They faxed him the contract, which he signed and faxed back, only to have them call him the next week and say he signed the wrong one and they refaxed the "new" one for him to sign and fax back...it was the same exact contract he had already signed and faxed back the previous week.
2. Throughout all of this, trying to get anyone to follow up, give you an update call or call you back was like pulling teeth.
3. The pickup date needed to be by Dec. 12th, before my son came home for leave, and that didn't happen. It was a nightmare trying to figure out who he could leave the car with. Auto Star said it was their responsibility but it would be "nice" if we could figure it out because they would have to pay for it to be stored until they could find a driver. The car was finally picked up Dec. 28th and one of my sons friends just happened to be available to meet the driver...thank golly!!!
4. We were called Dec. 18th or 19th and told they had a driver, but we needed to pay an extra $100 because the driver was requesting it. They also wanted to change the delivery destination per the drivers request. It was two hours away from us, but we were excited to just get the car on its way home before my son shipped out. We said no to the $100 and that they should pay that, but we would be okay with the delivery site changing. We were called on Dec.20th/21st by the driver saying he had "truck problems" and was canceling the pick up.
5. We were called Dec. 27th and they had another driver for pick up Dec. 28th. The car was picked up and we were to be notified 24 hrs before the car was to be delivered and then a half hour to an hour before the driver delivered the car.
6. I called on Jan. 3rd for an update and driver info. We were told the car would be delivered by Sunday/Monday and that the car will be delivered to this trucking Companies delivery site 2 hrs and 40 minutes away now. When Auto Star acquired the new driver, they used the 2 hr away site instead of the original contract agreement and because this driving Co decided it was only 40 minutes away from the site they had been given, they were bringing the car to their own drop off site.
7. I was called Jan. 4th and informed the car had been delivered and was ready for pick up. I also was told it had been there for 3 days already....seriously??????? NO 24 hr call and or 1 HR call prior to delivery!! Funny thing, I had talked to the driving Co. Jan. 4th also, twice, and specifically asked if the car had been delivered yet and was told not til Sunday/Monday......what a joke! We went and picked the car up yesterday and it's finally home.
I COULD HAVE GONE INTO MORE DETAIL AND GIVEN PLENTY OF OTHER EXAMPLES, BUT TRIED TO KEEP IT SHORT ...IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT.
I called Auto Star this morning to talk to a manager and was told he was busy but he would call me before the end of the business day today...still waiting and they are closed for the day now.


Company Response
Mike Cannon from AutoStar Transport Express Submitted this response.
Response Date: 1/7/2014 10:03:00 AM
Firstly we appreciate all feedback concerning the services provided to help us continue to grow as a leader in the transport broker business. We sincerely apologized to the customer for the lengthy delay in securing a carrier, and are here to apologize once again. We do disagree with the customers assertions that we were hard to contact, as our phone records indicate numerous phone calls to and from customer throughout the process. It is true that we surpassed the 10 day money back guarantee contracted time frame to locate a carrier, and according to terms and conditions of the contract were prepared to issue a full refund to the customer. After the 10th day of the contract, customer had the option to cancel with a full refund, or offer more money to the carrier as an incentive to get a carrier to pick up the vehicle. Customer refused both options, and insisted that we keep looking for a carrier at the contracted price. As a courtesy to the customer, we agreed to continue working on the order, at no additional costs, and were able to keep to the contracted price, thus the customer did not have to pay a penny more. We were able to locate a carrier, which unfortunately had mechanical failures prior to picking up the vehicle, and we had to secure another carrier a few days later. We are pleased that the customer now has possession of their vehicle.