Bad experience

E. Thomas Submitted this review about Suncoast Auto Transport Inc.
Review made Live: 2/3/2015 3:58:00 PM
We booked our car's transport through Suncoast. We didn't realize that they were a Broker and they assigned our car's transport to SDM Transport Company. The car arrived in Florida at my Folk's house and my 89 year old father signed for the car. He verbally pointed out some of the damage but the Driver told him that the damage was like that when he picked up the car. We have photos of the car going into the enclosed trailer and there was no damage. I arrived at my Folk's house 2 days later and, of course, noticed the damage and called right away.
Suncoast was genuinely concerned about the damage to my vehicle but they had no control whatsoever over SDM Transport. We talked by phone and E-Mailed every other day. They did return all my phone calls. They put the onus of contacting SDM, and their Insurance Company on me although they did try to expedite the process with the Insurance Company. After numerous phone calls, faxes, E-Mails, and snail mail to SDM, they finally responded to me 60 days after initial contact. In my opinion. we paid Suncoast to get the car safely to the destination and they did not hold up their part of the contract. It does no good if they have no control over their carrier. I cannot with a good conscience recommend them to anyone shipping their vehicle.

Company Response
Becky from Suncoast Auto Transport Inc. Submitted this response.
Response Date: 2/4/2015 4:24:00 PM
Suncoast is a broker- we tell each and every customer that and it also states that on the contract that is signed upon booking the order. We are extremely selective in the carriers we work with and this particular carrier is 100% rated on the national network. We of course take every step to ensure that our customer's vehicles arrive safely and damage free in a timely manner. There is an inspection done upon pick up and delivery by the driver. Once the inspection is signed off on at pick up and delivery, the insurance is activated and deactivated. In this case, the damage that was brought to our attention was actually marked on the pick up end which was signed off by the customer. The inspection on delivery was also signed off on and absolutely no new damage was marked on that inspection and the driver was paid in full on the spot. Since the damage was pre existing, our hands were tied. If any new damage occurs during transport we absolutely assist our customers in filing a claim and resolving any issues. Since the damage in question was marked on the pick up end as existing and no new damage was marked on the delivery end it made it very difficult for us to get reimbursement of any kind for the customer.