Problems

Richard Norris Submitted this review about MIG Auto Transport
Review made Live: 10/10/2008 11:08:00 AM
After reading reviews at this web site, I selected Auto Transport Center (broker) to move our 2008 Prius. They selected MIG Auto Transport as the carrier. MIG (contact/owner was named Roman) was to pick up the vehicle on a Thursday or Friday. Since we had already relocated to Oregon, we left the vehicle with my 86 yr old mother-in-law. They were suppose to pickup the vehicle at my mother-in-laws house (which had easy access for a large truck). Instead they show up at 11:15 at night, in the rain, and ask her to meet them in a Walmart parking lot. Fortunately, my sister-in-law was available and helped coordinate the transfer.

I had asked the broker (Alan Dobson, Auto Transport Center) on two occassions if the Prius would remain on the same truck that picked it up or if it would be shuttled around on other trucks. I was concerned because it is a hybrid vehicle and not a lot of people know how to drive it. I was assured that the same truck that picked it up would deliver it to us. This did not turn out to be the case. MIG transported the car to Portland, OR and then subcontracted with another group for delivery.

About 6:00 pm one evening I received a call from somebody that barely spoke Engish explaining that they would be delivering in about an hour. They were suppose to call us about 24 hrs prior to delivery to allow ample time to make arrangements. Also, they were suppose to deliver to our apartment which had a huge, well lit parking lot that would make the exchange quite simple. Of course they call about 8:15 and are several blocks away and want us to find them. I tried to explain how to get to the parking lot but they were not interested. I also had asked them to show up in the daylight so I could inspect the vehicle. Instead they chose a dark entrance road. We made the exchange like thieves in the night. I had a flashlight and could tell the vehicle was filthy--but the extent was not clear until the next morning in the daylight. The exterior of the 2008 Prius was absolutely covered with hydraulic fluid. The inside had small grease smears on nearly every piece of upholstery and there was dried grass and debris all over the dash, the seats, the floor and the personal items in the back seat.

We tried cleaning the vehicle at a self serve car wash, but it would not remove the oily splatters that covered the car. We found a auto detailer and paid $100 to clean and buff the exterior and here it is six weeks later and we are still cleaning spots on the inside.

I called Auto Transport Center as well as MIG Auto Transport and explained the situation and emailed several photos of the damage as well as faxing the receipt from the detailer. I was very upset with MIG, but Roman seemed unconcerned about the damage. I explained that I wanted to be reimbursed $150 for the cost of cleaning the vehicle ($100 for the detailer and $50 for me cleaning the interior). He offered $25. Eventually I received $125 from the Auto Transport Center for the damage.