We contracted Vega Lines to move our belongings from BC to Ontario in the summer of 2013. They were the cheapest option available, so we thought we could save some money. We were very wrong.
For starters, the truck arrive 1.5 days late. They were supposed to arrive at 7am, and we called them at 1pm (no response) and again at 7pm. They finally contacted us back (via E-Mail, though our Internet was cancelled and we asked them to use our cell phone for contact), and angrily blamed us for the mistake. We have the original E-Mail booking our time.
They told us the truck would arrive the next day at 9am. It actually arrived at 6pm.
When moving our boxes to the truck, one guy dropped one of the boxes right in front of us. After that, that same guy was sitting in the lawn chairs on our lawn that I had set up for my wife and kids to sit in (given that our furniture was being wrapped in plastic and what not).
Our items took 2 weeks to arrive once we called them to set up an appointment. During moving, our walls were seriously damaged, but we could care less about that when the condition of our belongings is considered.
In all, $2000 worth of damage to the house and our items.
Would they refund or fix any of our items?
Dresser: Made in the 1970s, solid wood. Two legs and one drawer broken. No repair, no reimbursement. The item is too old, according to their employee.
Dresser: Purchased in 2012 for my son (one year old). No repair, no reimbursement. The item is not made of quality materials, like they used in the 1970s.
Telescope: Mirror smashed. Packed professionally in a box with styrofoam packing peanuts and custom fitted styrofoam supports. No refund, no reimbursement. Vega Lines did not pack it, so it isn't covered.
Boxes (including the one dropped right in front of us): Same as above. Hard plastic items (e.g. a waffle maker) broken into several pieces. No refund, no reimbursement.
Antique vase: We asked Vega Lines to pack this item. They packed it into a box along with a number of other items (literally, just placed alongside several other items, including a microwave). Part of the rim is broken off. They packed it, so we should get a refund, right? Wrong. Despite paying extra for them to pack it, because it wasn't properly packed with protective gear it is not covered.
Racing bike: My most expensive possession, so I asked them to take care of it. Wrap it, box it, whatever they needed to do. I'd pay them to do it. Tossed into the truck as is, so I argue with them that I don't want it shipped that way. They don't have any other way to ship a bike. No box they have is the right size. Of course, since it was not packed properly (by Vega Lines), it is not covered.
Toolbox: Missing. I wouldn't normally care that much about a bunch of wrenches, screwdrivers, and electronic equipment, but this belonged to my grandfather, and included tools owned by my great grandfather, passed down to me by my father. All but my father are now deceased, and I have nothing of theirs for posterity. Granted, Vega Lines cannot be held accountable for sentimental value, but the contents were worth at least $700. I had to replace it all, as I use it for my job.
In the end, they offered us $200 for the $1500 of missing items we reported, and absolutely nothing for the damaged items or our walls. If that wasn't bad enough, it has now been 10 months, and we still have not yet received even the ridiculous $200 they offered. We've paid $4200 in the meantime to have items fixed and/or replaced.
Literally, use ANY other moving company. In the end, you won't save a dime, and you'll lose all of your stuff.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $7,000.00