Another satisfied customer

Here's yet another complaint regarding one of Tevel Bennoon's past companies:

VERY SIMPLY:

1. I permitted All American Van Lines to credit my visa $598.00 on April 13th for a move that was to take place on the 3rd of May.

2. The buyer of my house backed out the very next day.

3. I phoned All American Van Lines the following day (2 days after my deposit) and asked for my deposit to be refunded. They replied, "no problem".

4. According to their contract; a full refund is available as long as the request is placed 72 hours before the scheduled move. My request was approximately 3 1/2 weeks prior.

5. After nearly 3 months of calling more than 18 times and speaking to the manager, Marlin, who informs me that he has done everything to convince the owner, Tevel Bennoon, to return my deposit, I am finally told that Tevel openly refuses to refund anything.

I am out of nearly 600.00 of my money and am going to small claims court to attempt restitution. This is a fraudulent company and I hope that who ever reads this will not place their trust in them.

Here is more contact info so that this company can be passed over for more of a reputable one:

ALL AMERICAN VAN LINES
502 CENTRAL PARK DR.
SANFORD, FL 32771

866-554-6683 OR
407-302-9555

OWNER - TEVEL BENNOON

WWW.ALLAMERICANMOVINGNSTORAGE.COM

LICENSE IM-1186
LICENSE ICC-579170
LICENSE US DOT-1561553

Julia
TRINITY, Florida
U.S.A.

Apple Movers turns off yet another customer

Here's another consumer who had an unpleasant experience with Apple Movers:

Apple Movers
18800 Egret Blvd
Houston, Tx
US
http://www.movewithapple.com


other possible address (from website) quote gives houston address.
Apple Movers of Texas
Texas Location
1950 South Main Street
Weatherford, TX 76086

I have been trying to negotiate a contract and price for moving my goods to Arizona. I receive no response for several days, then I am told they don't want to work on a Sunday so they will contact me...on Thursday of next week (today) I am subjected to snotty comments (refusals to identify the sender of these emails, and insulted through their emails)....
Don't use this company....let's put them out of business...

They will NOT be getting my signature on a contract.

The person got lucky, realized there was something very wrong about this company, and sought out services elsewhere (at least from what it appears). I'm not surprised about the unprofessional tone of the emails this customer received from Apple's representative(s). After all, they're hired from craigslists, sight unseen (and resume unseen as we've found out), and are unlikely to have any training on such matters as professional decorum or professional ethics. In other words, it's strictly amateur hour.

At least this person didn't get ripped off - only insulted and inconvenienced. But the reason for not getting ripped off is very simple: this person ended up refusing to do business with Apple.

A bad Apple in a very rotten barrel

If this blog serves no other purpose, it is simply to alert consumers of a set of fraudulent moving companies in the hopes that no one else experiences what I and my family experienced. If you've followed this blog, or if you just now stumbled onto it, my story begins with an encounter with Apple Movers. Needless to say, our situation with this company went downhill pretty fast. We came pretty close to having our household goods held hostage - as it was our belongings made it to their destination on time, but not until after we payed what amounted to ransom for them. We were lucky. We could find people who could loan us the money in the nick of time. Had we not, we would quite possibly be still tangling with a company run by a notorious con artist.

Turns out that we are far from alone. Others have also been had by this same rotten Apple. According to the DoT, the number of complaints for this moving company, with just one truck to its name, has reached 14 and counting. There is a pattern of renaming this company. At one point it was Omni Vanlines, and also Abaco Moving & Storage. Later I would learn that the apparent owner, Tevel Bennoon, has been operating a series of these fly-by-night companies for several years. From Florida, Bennoon has also been running a company currently known as Florida Southwest Van Lines, Inc. The BBB's profile on Florida Southwest is not especially flattering. However, what caught my attention was this statement near the end of the BBB's report:

The BBB has known of Tevel Ben Noon since 2005. Since that time he has had numerous business names and addresses. Currently we are unable to verify a physical address for the company.

 The BBB lists a number of these companies:

Florida SW Van Lines
Omni Van Lines
Lonestar Moving Services
Movers Van Lines Inc.
Lonestar Relocation Services
Tevel Ben Noon
T & J Moving and Storage
All American Van Lines USA Inc.

 In addition, the report lists a plethora of addresses from which this laundry list of companies is supposed to operate.  It's mind-boggling. As I continue to research this list of companies, a pattern emerges. To give you an idea, here's a taste of what Movers Van Lines, Inc. was like:

Their one driver got pulled over for drunk driving, then it was found that he was driving after having been previously disqualified. THEN, he got pulled over again, and wasn't licensed for driving the truck he was in. They must be using rented trucks, since there are 4 different license plates listed for all their 4 violations.

Real classy, right? This is the same company that was paying its employees with bad checks, in 2006. Bennoon got in some legal trouble around that time for writing a worthless check, and had also been in jail for domestic violence.

I'm sure I'll have more to come. In the meantime, avoid this company (by any name) like the plague. Even better, avoid using Internet brokers altogether. We got relatively lucky. You might not be so fortunate.

Better the Tevel you know than the Tevel you don't

After being ripped off by a moving company called Apple Movers, I was naturally curious to find out who was behind the company. When I first started a Facebook page devoted to Apple Movers, I knew only that it claimed to be an Omni Holdings Inc. company, listed addresses in Florida, Texas, and California, and had a less than stellar BBB rating. By then I'd also gathered that whoever was running this company was also using other company names (I knew by then of Omni Van Lines and something called Abaco).

At that point, I became occupied with other matters, and more or less let it drop. Then out of curiosity about a week ago, I was doing a Google search on Apple and Omni, ended up finding a number of entries at various websites devoted to consumer complaints, and came to realize there was more than had met the eye. The name Tevel Bennoon (sometimes listed as Tevel Benoon or Tevel Ben Noon) cropped up, and the number of companies he had run in the last few years was fairly impressive. The pattern of complaints became familiar as well.

So who is this Tevel Bennoon? From what I've been able to gather so far, he is an Israeli who immigrated to the US, probably sometime around 2004 or perhaps a bit before. He's been in the moving business at least since 2004. At least one of his companies got into trouble for paying its employees with bogus checks. He apparently spent a few days in jail over that. As far as anyone seems to know, he does have a work visa (i.e., "green card"). One of his early companies was billed as a family operation, although that family image has long since been abandoned. A divorce will do that, I suppose. His Myspace page listed him as single and looking, although it hasn't been updated in a while. He presumably still lives in Florida.

That's what can be gleaned from the Internet so far. Other than that, to fill in the blanks, perhaps the book "Snakes in Suits", which deals with psychopathy in the work world would be of use. Regardless, now in his mid-40s, he's likely been in the habit of conning others for decades. How much longer he continues his current scam is anyone's guess. Given the lack of regulation in the moving industry, he could be at this for a while to come.

Not exactly much of an office setting

The address for Apple Movers is listed as:

17938 BURBANK BLVD #38
ENCINO, CA 91316

When I typed that into Google Maps, and checked out the street view, I couldn't help but notice that the "business" is located in what appears to be an apartment complex. I panned around and got a look at the building's surroundings, and it sure looks like a residential area to me. After further research, it appears that Apple Movers is operating out of Bella Vista Apartments (the office number for the apartment complex is 818-774-9745). I wonder if the lease agreement allows for operating a business out of that apartment.

The so-called mailing address is also a residence:

10240 SW 129TH TERRACE RD
DUNNELLON, FL 34432

 Google Maps doesn't provide a street view, but it does provide an aerial view of what appears to be a house on acreage. I suppose ripping off customers must pay pretty nicely.

What To Expect From Apple

There is a huge difference between what Tevel Bennoon's scam outfit Apple Movers promises and what Apple Movers delivers. Let's take a closer look (our remarks are in italics):

• Accurate Information and Complete Explanation About the Moving Process:

Seriously? Accurate information? Apple is in the business of pulling the wool over consumers' eyes.

It is proven that the more informed a customer is, the less chance there is problems to arise.

That might be true, but you won't get that sort of courtesy from Apple.

We think that well informed customers are a benefit to us.

On the contrary. What you don't know helps Apple to hurt you.

• Well trained customer service representatives and staff: Our representatives are available 7 days a week to answer your questions, re-schedule your move or solve any problems that arise before, during and after the move.

Oh, you mean the ones you hire off of craigslists to work from their homes without asking for so much as a resume?

• Professional Moving Team: All Apple Movers moving crews are fully uniformed, trained, courteous, experienced, motivated and friendly.

What you really get is a driver in plaid shorts and a stained t-shirt and at most a couple day laborers who may or may not know anything about moving. You will find trash left all over the yard, and items randomly thrown on the truck - often without being packed or inventoried first. In other words, expect an untrained, inexperienced, unmotivated, and non-uniformed crew. Depending on the customer, we'd advise you not to get too hopeful about professional courtesy or friendliness.

The foreman will keep you informed all the time during the packing, loading/unloading process.

Remember our earlier remark: what you don't know helps Apple to hurt you.

The Apple moving services we provide will satisfy your high standards.

In other words, you would have to be high to expect Apple to have any standards beyond satisfying the greed of the company's owner, Tevel Bennoon.

• Proper Equipment: All Apple Movers trucks are clean, maintained according to the manufacturer’s specification and exclusively made for household moves. That is why the chances of damage are reduced to minimum and the efficiency of the move is greatly increased. Apple Movers has all the right moving equipment for your move.

From what we can gather from the DoT, Apple has only ONE truck. Its trailer has a thin layer of white paint covering the logo of the company that previously owned it. The trailer has debris scattered over the floor. In all likelihood, the driver will forget to close the trailer doors and your items will spill out has he pulls away. If you're really lucky, he'll notice before he goes more than a block.

• Moving Supplies: All Apple Movers moving crews will arrive with a great variety of packing materials, dollies, straps and all necessarily tools.

The moving crew will be ill-equipped to handle even the simplest of jobs. There will be insufficient boxes and other packing materials, and the crew will have a grand total of one dolly (which will probably be left behind when the truck leaves the site).

• Prompt, Courteous and Efficient Claim Handling: If damage has occurred during the move, you should expect prompt resolution to the problem. All claims must be submitted in writing and the problem will be resolved within 30 days after the submission. Every moving company is regulated by FMCSA and local state authorities. It is in our interest if problem arises to be resolved as soon as possible.

The general consensus is that once Apple has finished ripping you off, the company will not respond to you. When something goes wrong (and it will), you're on your own.

One of the most important assets to every company is an experienced and efficient management team.

The same lackeys hired off off craigslists? Give us a break!

It is very important for us that the people you are dealing with are sensitive to your relocation needs.

It's important, but you won't get that from Apple.

Moving is a very complex and stressful business

No shit, Sherlock! And Apple is there to make the experience even more complex and stressful.

therefore being kept informed is a priority for both the company and the customer.

Once more (with feeling): What you don't know helps Apple to hurt you.

Experienced, professional and ethical managers will help you provide quality service and satisfaction to every customer.

Tevel Bennoon is ethically challenged, and that lack of ethics is reflected throughout the entire moving experience.

Apple Movers also provide same day moving service 7 days a week.

 I'm not sure "service" is the word we would use.

We strive to earn a reputation for professionalism

Apple has a reputation alright! So does it's owner, Tevel Bennoon. It's certainly not for professionalism? Perhaps it's for grifting.

and are dedicated to providing unparalleled services by meeting the unique needs of each and every customer.

"Unparalleled services"? Well, perhaps unparalleled in terms of incompetence, dishonesty, or thievery. 

So our advice is to expect the very worst from Apple. That way you won't be disappointed. Better yet, just avoid Apple Movers altogether, and you'll have a much better chance at a sane moving experience.

Complaint, Damages, Late Delivery

Here's another satisfied customer:

Was loaded on 4/15 and the movers finally arrived here on 5/2; however the contract reads within 14 days, but this is actually 17 days. I was not present for the intial certified weight nor was I there for the final. No need to be if not there for the first. And I happen to know that this move was exactly the same as it was on our last move made by a competitor. Furthermore, the driver dumped his helpers off and was gone until about 15 minutes before they finished loading, which took almost 10 hours and the other company took only six. Also, a lot of things were not even blanketed or packed. Pictures that were damaged are family pictures and can not be replaced. I took photos and the driver and his helper that delivered were shown the damage. All in all this company will not get any referrals from me and I would not recommend that you use them.
J Morris

Worst Experience Ever

Another review of Omni Vanlines:

Omni Van Lines were horrible. They showed up a day late causing huge inconvenience - delivered my stuff before the date requested - threatened to move my belongings to storage for two weeks - charged me $1,100 more than quoted - were extremely unresponsive this was the worst experience ever - I would not recommend Omni.
M Harman

Some reviews of Florida Southwest Van Lines

This is one of the companies started by Tevel Bennoon since his arrival in the US. If you read the reviews, you'll feel the love. Here's poster robhagerty151, whose move was quoted at $4500, but ended up costing him $10k:

This company and it's owner Mr. Tevel Bennoon are nothing but scam artist who will try to extort you for everything they can and you will not see your things again because they will auction your household goods without legal authorization. You can't even take this company to court because they will disappear into the night and start up with a new name. Below are some of the names this company also goes by: Additional DBA Names: Florida SW Van Lines
Omni Van Lines
Lonestar Moving Services
Movers Van Lines Inc.
Lonestar Relocation Services
Tevel Ben Noon

He continues in the comments to his post:

Florida Southwest Van lines and Mr. Tevel Bennoon don't even deserve 1 single star. It is a shame that this company and it's owner are not prosecuted by the FBI. Extortion and holding your household goods "hostage" is the name of the game with Florida Southwest Van Lines. STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY!!!! Watch out for these other alias as well:Omni Van Lines,Lonestar Moving Services, Movers Van Lines Inc., Lonestar Relocation Services, Tevel Ben Noon, T & J Moving and Storage, All American Van Lines USA Inc. STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY!!! If you are reading this Mr. Tevel Bennoon, you can do the right thing and honor your contract like a business with integrity instead of extortion.

[snip]


I have never received my household goods from this company. I just want everyone out there to understand how dangerous and corrupt this company is. Rent a truck and drive it yourself. Do not trust any moving company out there. That is my advice to everyone who is considering a move. STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!!!

Let's take a look at another by arilius:

this place is the worst place ever they dont know what they doing. they told us it takes them 5 days but our stuff arrived almost 4 weeks later. our furniture was scratched glass was broken etc. they came here with the wrong furniture, anyways never use the company it is a nightmare

movers123 says:

Do not use this company. Customer service is down right horrible, the owner of the company is a complete jerk and very disrespectful. They expect you to change around your moving schedule to accommodate their crappy planning. Every time they would give me a date of pickup they would change it the next day.. and they wouldn't call me to let me know, they waited until I called them. I had to cancel their pickup and rent a truck myself the day before I left because they wanted to pickup the stuff on a day that I wasn't even going to be in town.. They are just plain bad. Do not use them. Companies like this need to be put out of business by consumers.

Finally, siriganddik says:

I don't recommend these blood-money suckers to any one out there. If you are hiring these guys... just watch out! Here is why:
1) Inacurate in estimate - underestimated my load and on purpose. So that they can make more money on the load above estimate. They quoted me for 7000lbs and my load was 10000lbs. They make double money on the remaining 3000lbs as over load.
2) Very Untimely Pickup: They scheduled the pickup for 26th June and didn't show up until June30th. We kept waiting and waiting and phone calls were never answered properly or calls returned.
3) Delivery time- off the chart!: Initially they said that the delivery would be done in 5 business days and maximum by 1week. Here we are 3weeks after pickup without our stuff with 2 young kids under 2 no toys, no bedding, nothing - all our stuff is in the truck. 
4) Customer Service: Very Very bad. Horrific!!! Calls never answered properly. Calls never returned. Very Very impolite talking to customers. For Heaven's sake, we are your customers. You are not doing any free service. Talk and give respect to people. The owner is even more rude. He even hangs up phone on you any time you call and ask any question.
People, don't buy into their (initially seeming low cost estimate). They'll rip you off!!! 

Here's the complaint record for Apple Movers from the US DoT

Via the Protect Your Move website, it becomes readily apparent that Apple Movers receives a large number of complaints given its small size. With only one truck to its name, the company has managed to rack up 12 complaints through the last week of August of this year. That takes some talent. As to the nature of the complaints, they run the gamut including issues with discrepancies between estimates and final charges, holding customers' items hostage, weighting, pickup and delivery problems, loss and damage, and lack of proper documentation. Like the other companies run by Tevel Bennoon, Apple Movers' performance is absolutely pathetic if not outright criminal.

A pattern is emerging

From reading the reviews of LoneStar Moving Services in Consumer Affairs, it is apparent that this group of companies operated by Omni Holdings, Inc. cannot be trusted. The complaints are largely similar to those found against other Omni companies (Abaco, Apple, Omni Vanlines). How do we know these companies are all interrelated? In part, it's because Omni admits as much. The rest is very simple detective work: comparing websites, invoices, and so on. You will also notice that these companies have at least some of their addresses in common (e.g., Apple and LoneStar both have an office in Weatherford, TX).

Some of the numerous websites:

Omni Vanlines

LoneStar Moving Services

Florida SW Vanlines

Apple Movers

Compare for yourself. Although these con artists have the Apple Movers website hosted for free on Godaddy.com of all places, you'll notice there is a great deal in common with the other websites in terms of syntax, catch phrases, and typos.

Something else worth considering is the fact that the BBB seems to find numerous businesses attributed to Omni, and this statement is quite troubling about the apparent ownership of Omni:

Additional company management personnel include:

Ealon Ben - Owner
Ms. Tanya Merritt - Office Manager

The BBB has known of Tevel Ben Noon since 2005. Since that time he has had numerous business names and addresses. Currently we are unable to verify a physical address for the company.

The more you learn about Tevel Ben Noon (I also see him referred to as Tevel Bennoon), the more you should be concerned. Just to give you an idea:

This company is initially friendly and seemingly helpful, however, soon the problems will begin:
They showed up 12 hours late for the move, and becauce of the 8:30PM start, they said they could not go on after 1AM in the morning. They promised to return at 7AM the next morning (we had to wake them up at 8AM).

The possession of the house should have taken place at midnight, so naturally the new owners weren't thrilled that they could not move in to their new house. Final pick-up time was closer to noon.

Although they stated that they offered additional insurance and would bring all the paperwork at the time of arrival, the owner then stated he had no idea of what I was talking about when he arrived. He had also stated that I could pay with a credit card, but demanded cash at pick-up.

Because there were only two people on the truck, the owner, Tevel Benoon, went and hired two illegal immigrants to help get everything out. However, when the movers were about to leave and demanded payment, we had to call the police as he was threatening to charge us double and never deliver our stuff. He was also verbally abuse in front of our little daughter. He also charges us $100 to wrap a mirror (and we had to take him to Wal-Mart to buy more packing tape so he could wrap it, and ended up having to pay for the tape, despite all wrapping should have been included into the quote).

Delivery should have been two weeks later, however, more than a month later, he has yet to deliver our stuff. The company is now demanding more than $2000 (above the binding estimate) before they are willing to deliver.

Despite our multiple requests that have the shipment weighted (by law, all interstate shipment has to be determined by weight, not cubic feet), they have continously refused this.

Additionally, they company took the liberty of charging our credit card more than $850 without our authorization, and just blew us off when we complained about it.

Unfortunately, the owner, Tevel Benoon, has a long history of defrauding people around the country. He starts one company, defrauds, and then starts another one with a new address and new name. All American Van Lines out of Central Florida (Sanford) is currently known under about three or four different names, and a few years back was known as "Movers Van Lines". All companies in his names have had numerous complaints and have been involentary dissolved. The owner, a resident originally from Israel, has hired drivers who are driving on a suspended license.

Although we still do not have our things, my main concern is to warm everyone else, so one one else have to experience the heartache we have experienced over the last two months.

You get the idea. In the meantime, in addition to being on the lookout for any company called Apple Movers, don't trust the following of Tevel Ben Noon's companies:
Florida SW Van Lines
Omni Van Lines
Lonestar Moving Services
Movers Van Lines Inc.
Lonestar Relocation Services
Tevel Ben Noon
T & J Moving and Storage
All American Van Lines USA Inc.

Postscript: This is feeling more like something out of the movie Catfish. The more you learn about the guy behind Omni (and his numerous companies), the more you'll find his behavior intolerable. My favorite so far: there's at least one case of his paychecks to his employees bouncing. He did try his hand at creating a Myspace page, which hasn't been updated in a couple years, as well as a Facebook profile.

Seriously?

Now I know legitimate organizations do recruit through craigslists, so that's not the issue. But to expressly tell potential recruits not to submit a resume? You've got to be kidding. Usually one would expect a job announcement for an organization that has pretensions of legitimacy to be relatively error-free. Note the typos. They'll jump out at you. Here's the ad in full (note the link will go bad in a few days):

We are a moving company. We relocate people from one state to another.
Our software is web based so all of our reps work from home.
You need high speed internet (not wireless) and a computer and we give you the rest.

You will get moving leads directly to your computer and your job is to call them and sell our services.
Training will be provided on software and the moving industry.
You are expected to make a minimum of 65 calls per day. We are looking for people who can put in 7-9 hours a day.
Serious, self-dicipline candidates only. NOT a part time gig. It is a numbers game. the more you call the more you will close and the money is accordingly.

New reps make 7% commision on total jobs. Expected pay $2500-$4500 a month.

DO NOT send resume'. Call 818-518-1119 and leave a message. Include your name and phone number. Consider the voice message as your audition so speak LOUD and CLEAR. We appologize but we will call back only those who we think have what it takes.

Thank you.

Hiring Organization: Omni Vanlines/Apple Movers

This is strictly a Mickey Mouse organization.

Our Experience With Apple Movers

To put it mildly, the company low-balled us. Our final estimate prior to purchasing their services was $1870.54 (1436.54 basic estimate, $434.00 for packing). Communication was reasonable until around 8/3/10. I had made an initial deposit of $250 by debit card, and on 8/2 when the movers arrived to my former address, I payed another $1400 by check. On the morning of 8/3 I received a call from the driver saying that the cost of the move had essentially shot up to $11,051.34. The alleged reason for this increase was that we supposedly had 14,000 pounds worth of belongings on the moving truck. Given that we never had the chance to see the actual records from the weigh-in, we have no way of knowing the accuracy of that total. Those who had known our family for years agree that there is no way our tiny house could have held enough items to justify that weight. After all, we are a small family with relatively minimal possessions - a large proportion of which had been sold, given away, or thrown away prior to the move itself. 

Suffice it to say, there was no way that we would have had that kind of money on us. The driver offered to knock about $1000 off because he "liked us" which seemed very suspicious. So I then tried to contact Laura Joseph (my original contact person, whose title is 'Senior Advisor') and ended up getting someone claiming to be her supervisor, David Temple. We discussed the discrepancy between the original estimate and the then-current bill. Mr. Temple initially offered to knock about $1000 off (similar to what the driver was offering). After mentioning that I was tempted to contact my local DA and the nearest FBI office, the price of the move suddenly went down to a flat rate of $7000. That seemed very odd. However, under the circumstances, we tried to raise the money to pay the bill - luckily we had a set of relatives willing to loan the amount needed. Once all was said and done on 8/4, we had spent $250 on a deposit, and $7000 in cash to the driver (the $1400 check that I had given the driver on 8/2 was supposed to be voided, we were told). One other odd thing - the direct line to my initial contact person, Laura Joseph, was disconnected or out of service by the afternoon of 8/3. I honestly don't know the significance of that, but just thought it was worth noting.

When I asked why no one from the company ever bothered to have a representative come on site to my original address to do a proper inventory, I was told by David Temple that our location was too remote. The inventory that was done during the move by the driver ("Ben") was, to say the least, a joke. After promising to have all items appropriately labeled with descriptions as to their condition, our inventory list was, extremely incomplete. A few items were listed, and then the driver simply appeared to give up.

As for the quality of the move itself? The company promised professional packers. We got day laborers, who may or may not have had any prior moving experience. The packers did a rather poor job of boxing our belongings. Many of our items were never properly boxed up. I was somewhat amazed that our worst loss was a computer printer (broken en route to our destination on the moving truck) and a handful of broken dishes. I was equally amazed that nothing appeared to be stolen, given the rather shady nature of the move.


Something else I should mention: the driver, whom I only knew as "Ben", never did sign his full name on any of the documents we received from him. I find that very odd. Is the company using undocumented workers? Does the driver have some sort of criminal history that would prevent him from crossing state lines? "Ben" certainly had a noticeable accent and appeared to be of either Israeli or perhaps Lebanese descent. Perhaps his work visa had expired? Perhaps he is not licensed to drive a truck? There's no way of knowing, but again something just seemed very suspicious.

Equally suspicious was an incident that occurred a few days after the transaction was completed. When we received our last bank statement from our former bank, it appeared that someone from Apple Movers (probably the driver, "Ben") did attempt to cash that $1400 check mentioned earlier. Fortunately, the bank declined that attempt. Keep in mind that this occurred AFTER our account with this company was settled, and keep in mind that the check was supposed to have been voided.

At this point, we are unsure as to whether Apple Movers is simply incompetent beyond belief or if the company is little more than a criminal enterprise masquerading as a legitimate business.  Regardless, we would strongly advise those considering moving to use another company. Avoid Apple Movers (or any moving company describing itself as an Omni Holdings, Inc. company) like the plague.

Here's what BBB has to say:

The BBB review should be sufficient to make anyone think twice before subjecting themselves to Apple Movers:

Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F on a scale from A+ to F.
Reasons for this rating include:

* BBB does not have sufficient information to determine how long this business has been operating.
* BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business.
* Failure to respond to one complaint filed against business.
* One complaint filed against business that was not resolved.

[snip]

Customer Complaint History

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB processed a total of 2 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 2 complaints closed in 36 months, 2 were closed in the last year.
These complaints concerned :
+ 1 regarding Billing or Collection Issues

1 - None of the Above - Credit, Billing or Collection Complaint Issue
+ 1 regarding Delivery Issues

1 - None of the Above - Delivery Complaint Issue

These complaints were closed as:
+ 1 No Response

1 - Company failed to respond to BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
+ 1 Unresolved

Another testimonial from Relocation.com

The reviewer used the title, One of the Worst:

This was by far one of the most frustrating experiences in my life. The company was rude, dishonest, and all around shady throughout the entire moving process, changing my delivery date and never giving me a straight answer on when my furniture would arrive. They kept coming up with excuses as to why there were so many delays-- the truck broke down, etc. The move was supposed to take 5 - 7 days originally, this is what they claimed. After reading the fine print on the contract I realized the move could take up to 14 business days. My move ended up taking over that amount of time, close to 17 or 18 business days, 24 days total. They still over-charged me despite the fact that they'd broken the contract. They held my furniture hostage unless I paid them $956 in cash ($350) more than the amount I owed. I would not recommend this moving company.

Please note that this review is for Omni Vanlines, which is also owned by the same parent company that owns Apple Movers. You might notice a pattern emerging.

A testimonial from Relocation.com

The following review was simply titled, Move:

Abaco assured me they would be the one moving me. Some man out of Florida or said he was from Florida showed up. Tried to move me a day earlier, and hired two guys off the streets that knew nothing about moving or packing. (They also said the packing was in the quote -- driver said it wasn't.

They moved 1 dining room set, 3 chairs and boxes from Tenn to Texas. I did not get all of my stuff, cause the driver, said he wanted more money. Then he demanded cash. The company never would return my calls.

Turned out the driver was driving for a company out of another state. Time to unload he hired more guys off the street, then demanded we pay them cash.

N Warncke

Note: the company referenced is another of Omni Holding's, Inc.'s companies.

Introduction and Mission

This blog exists to warn consumers about Apple Movers specifically, and more generally its parent corporation, Omni Holdings, Inc. The link to the BBB report on this company should sufficiently discourage others from doing business with them. The company currently has an F rating from the BBB.

Here is Apple Movers' main office address and phone number, via BBB:

10240 SW 129th Terrace Rd.
Dunnellon, FL 34432
Phone: 877-670-5889

From other sources, such as invoices and their website one can find several other addresses and phone numbers:

1950 South Main Street
Weatherford, TX 76086
Phone: 877-247-0328

18800 Egret Bay Blvd. Dock 609
Houston, TX 77058
Phone: 877-263-9589

17938 Burbank Blvd. #38
Encino, CA 91316
Phone:877-670-5889

The last address and phone number are for Omni Holdings, Inc.

Email addresses are sales@movewithapple.com and info@movewithapple.com.

This blog will continue to provide information about this company's shady business practices. including testimonials from others who have had bad experiences with Apple or with other Omni Holdings, Inc. companies. If we can keep others from going what we went through, this page will have served its purpose.