Citywide Movers

13 Reviews: Add Review

1. Crooks and liers.

   This company uses predatory practices, lies and extortion. Company movers smelled of alcohol at the time of pick up. When I was shopping for estimates, the company employee, Nate told me on phone it would take about 5-7 days to move me from IL to TX, despite the fact that in the estimate its 7-21 days, then confirmed on the phone again on a separate day that its a standard disclaimer and a maximum and it can only happen if the truck breaks down or its winter time. They gave me an estimate of $ 1275, when they arrived they immediately started loading my stuff on the truck, then presented me with a new bill for $ 2025 and bunch of new paperwork to sign- a break down sheet of their additional charges they never disclosed in the estimate- for example $ 22 wrapping fees per item, $ 16 material charge per cellophane wrap, $ 10 packing, $ 10 unpacking fees, etc, all of which amounted to over $ 300 extra charges on my bill. They also claimed I had a lot more boxes than stated, even though I removed a large wall unit from the original list. The way they increase number of items is simply by disassembling them- a queen size bed with a topper listed as one item turned into a three separate items(mattress, topper, spring box), thus requiring 3 separate wrapping material and services, as well as increasing the number of items on the list.I asked multiple times to give me a detailed description Why the final volume was 550 cubic feet, not 416 as on the estimate, the supervisor just smirked and said- : Because it is what it is". The whole process was very degrading, they were rude and one of them smelled of alcohol. Its been 2 weeks since they picked up my stuff, Ive been sleeping on the floor in my new house in Houston, I have a home based business that I can't operate without my belongings and furniture. Its been 3 weeks since the pick up, they still haven't given me any concrete dates of delivery, all I hear every day is "we don't have a driver yet". According to their policy, they give you one month free storage and then start charging you per day per cubic foot, which is another trick they use to scam consumers out of money and prolong the time people have to live without their belongings. Even the 7 to 21 day estimated delivery is not a guarantee which means they can hold your belongings indefinitely meanwhile charging you for storage. The way they set their operations up is an intricate trap-and- scam and you have to be a lawyer to fight it.
   They've created hundreds of fake 5 star reviews on Google to offset their poor rating from real customers. If you look at their google rating, all reviews are either 1 star( detailed reviews from real customers) or 5 star reviews from people who only wrote one Google review in their life time- this fake ambiguous, no details 5 star review. Therefore they managed to bump their rating to 4.3 on Google, misleading new customers.
   If you look on their BBB profile or Yelp reviews, you will wonder how this company is still legally in the business, because they scam people at every corner of the moving process,. All reviews are the same - 1 star out of 5, same complaints about lies, hiding behind fine print, numerous extra charges that were never disclosed until peoples belongings are already on the truck, people stuck with bills that are 100% more than the estimates, people literally crying from desperation after weeks of delays with shipment, with no solution on the horizon, living like homeless persons.

2. Worst service ever.

   Should be 0 stars. They suck! The movers were 5 hours late. They qouted the price $1200 and increased it to $1600 on moving day. Their movers were rude and their customer service was crappy. Dont use them.

3. Late pickup, late delivery, did not honor contract, held goods hostage.

   If you are looking for a company that cannot keep its commitments repetitively, underestimates costs, has subcontractors that overcharge (or appear to make things up), picks up later than promised and delivers even later than that (3½ weeks from pickup), treats your things worse than the stuff you were going to drop off at Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity, damages your furnishings, crushes boxes in transit, doesn’t finish putting together furniture because they lost parts in transit, and holds your goods hostage for a cash payment on a Sunday (when delivery was supposed to be Monday or Tuesday, or at the latest Wednesday) after a Friday night phone call confirming that Sunday delivery, one that promises the moon and delivers table salt (late), than this is the company for you.
   
   I reduced the furniture to be picked up including elimination of a queen bedroom set (headboard, footboard, dresser, night stand), removed the treadmill and exercise bike, removed the big screen TV (unwrapped), removed the lawn mower, removed the recliner chair, removed ALL 15 pieces of art (5 large, 10 medium) that they wanted to charge an additional $30-$50 just for wrapping, reduced the box count originally at 60, removed the commercial oven – the size of a fridge, had them NOT include the shelves of our refrigerator – again a $30-$50 wrapping charge per shelf because they were glass, and the original $3,500 quote still ended up over $4,600, including an $800 charge in supplies (my contract specifically says packing tape was included, but I was still charged by the folks picking up with no compromise, and if I paid in cash, they would somehow waive the Chicago/IL sales tax - not sure how they get away with that). I signed an agreement to pay another $1,700 upon delivery to South Carolina (cash or postal money order).
   
   They subcontractor continued to report delays in getting my stuff loaded, and then said the billing I signed was wrong, and that an extra $700 would be due upon delivery – now totaling over $5,000 including a fuel surcharge never preciously communicated and a higher rate for the ”binding fee” of $1,258 that I originally was charged $1,100. I have been severely taken advantage of.
   
   I went back to AM, back and forth with CW, and they refused to budge, holding our furniture hostage. Delivery was promised for a Monday or Tuesday, or at the latest Wednesday. I then get a call on a Friday night that they were coming Sunday morning with cash due of $2,400. I had the $1,700 in postal money orders on the agreement I had signed, but with banks closed, and me out of town until Monday, the earliest original promised delivery (3½ weeks after original pickup), they could not take a debit or credit card or compromise on the overcharges. We had to ask (new) friends in our neighborhood to borrow cash as the delivery folks had our furniture hostage and were starting to take off if we could not come up with the overcharged balance.
   
   The delivery was also not smooth. We are missing parts whereas our three-section couch will not stay together due to missing pins. Our other two-section couch was not put together. One mattress/box spring bed was left on the floor without a bedframe underneath as they did not put together one of our beds properly. A hutch was broken. My wife saw boxes being “thrown” off the truck which damaged two tall hanging boxes containing suits, blazers, and other dress clothes (I hate to see what my dry-cleaning bill will be to get rid of the wrinkles/damages). Yes, I have pictures of all the challenged goods. Why my wife tipped the two guys $100 (or I tipped the pickup crew $120) I really need to ask myself.

4. Buyer Beware.

   Movers showed up late. Original quote was 1440. When they walked through they re-quoted 2250. When the move was over they worked it up and charged 3480. They went over by an hour and charged 1500 in packing material, which we did not need or ask for. Then the driver said if I gave a big tip he would reduce my bill. I felt cheated and extorted. Don’t go with this company. Rip off.

5. Our story continues FmL for not reading these reviews.

   Like everyone else I have been bamboozled by this company. Told 5-7 days, driver was a prick. Nate is a big ass liar the whole company is. Do not hire these guys. I Truely hope they take longer then their terms as I will spend my FU money to sue them. It’s been 15 days our stuff hasn’t left chicago. We have a two year old daughter we have an empty home. So to say I have spent my the money to purchase temporary furniture. I am being told they have another 30 days since I paid by check and that takes 14 days to clear. I’m expected my thing never to come I was quoted $1198 for a move to Texas from chicago and at the pick up they jacked up the cost by almost $500. I was told it would take 21 days at most by Nate over the phone and it says in the paperwork. But that’s was told the. Same thing by Danielle they have thirty days once the check clears. I’m so fed up that I don’t even care anymore I’m expecting our things to be rummaged thru and broken and stolen and dented damaged and bruised. It was my fault for not checking into this company better. But I swear I googled them and they came up a 4.5 google rating. I must have mistyped or something went wrong because these guys should be out of business. I’m hoping they will be soon please do not hire them and double check if they change their name check and see if they ever were citywide movers or family movers. Because they will f up your move and life for the time being.

6. Avoid this mover.

   The worst shady movers. They will not take care of your personal property as evidenced by dragging my expensive cast aluminum patio table across the concrete driveway and scratching the side. This citywide movers is now contracting the work out, using small contractors like family movers with old oil leaking trucks. They are mostly shady illegal immigrants. they will quote you a low price, send you a quote stating no hidden fees. Once they have your furniture in their truck at your new place they felon immigrant Jonathan
   
   will fumble with the immense paperwork for 45 minutes telling you how he is going to charge you $255 extra for a few feet of yellow tape and reused cardboard, even though the quote says there is no additional charges, and if you don’t pay it they will not release your personal property. if you choose to use this Citywide movers (aka Family Movers), I highly suggest you park your car in front of their truck at your new place, then don’t move it until they move your property inside and honor their written quote. Watch out for the Latin immigrant tough guy who goes by the alias of Jonathan who will also collects your good pens.

   

7. Horrible.

   If you look down this feed everyone says the same thing. This company SUCK!! They quoted a low price then jumped up 450 bucks. They didn’t reasimble the furniture like they said and broke furniture. Then when I got upset the guys calls me ghetto. I’m ghetto because your people steal and don’t do what they say they’re going to do.

8. Moving city wide movers.

   Beware. They will steal your items when moving. Offer refund checks they refuse to send out. Tell you that its normal ti wait 17 hours for the movers to show up. Refuse ti give yoy back security deposit when waiting 17 hours. Movers will get in your face and demand a tip. Travis the manager has no place running a business he will lie about checks send out. Lie about the movers are on there way. Horrible business.

9. Long distance move.

   NEVER USE THIS COMPANY TO MOVE. They don’t pick up the phone when you call. They quote you one price but then when they start loading their truck the price nearly double. They promise you delivery 7-21 days but it’s a lie. They don’t even respond to emails. I called today and was passed around by 3 different people. Travis was the last person I spoke to who claimed I will get emailed back today. We’ll see if that happens. Also we had to pay 2100 because they had increased the price when they arrived.

10. Move and Follow Up.

    The lead mover, Sean, spent the majority of time on his cell phone, leaving the other mover and myself doing most of the move out of my apartment. They rushed everything into my new home as they said they were late for their next appointment. I asked for a receipt and was promised to receive one the next day in my email. Three weeks late and many attempts to reach the company, I have yet to receive a reply or a receipt. Quoted $500 - charged $673.

11. Failed to Show Up as Promised.

    This is a review of Citywide Movers in London, Ontario, Canada; phone # 226-234-9240, website www.citywidemovers.ca.
    I contracted this company to perform a simple 1 hour job in my own home, no trucking required. I booked this company a week in advance for a specific day and time. I texted them an hour before the job was to begin, they said they were on schedule. When they were 30 minutes late, I texted again. They said they were delayed and would be another half hour. I waited 45 minutes and texted again. I received a phone call advising me that they were really hung up at their current job and asked if they could reschedule. I could not reschedule because I had other trades coming in the next morning to do flooring and Citywide was going to move all my furniture and appliances into my garage. I told them they could arrive at anytime that evening, once they finished their current job, but I had to have the job done that day. They said they would do their best. They never showed up and stopped returning my texts and phone calls. I never heard from this company again, they just hung me out to dry and completely derailed my renovation plans for the next day. I recommend hiring a moving company that is at least accredited by the Better Business Bureau. This company was a complete disappointment.

12. Citywide Movers -Chicago, Il.

    We contracted with Citywide to move us from Il to Fl. The cost was cheaper than the big name companies. They picked up on Oct. 23rdd and delivered on De. 6th. I was told when I read in the contract that it could take up to 21 days to deliver, that that's in extreme cases, weather, accidents, etc. We packed a lot of our things in totes, most arrived broken and damaged. An antique hutch with a leaded glass door came with the glass completely broken. A coffee table came scratched and gouged. When I inquired about delivery date was told, you didn't read the contract. Then once I was told "technically being a consolidated moving company, we're allowed 30 days to deliver". Ok, so don't blatantly lie to the customer.
    DO NOT use this company for long distance moves! They may be ok for local moves, but definitely not long distance. There is so much more I could say, but you get the idea.

13. Don't do it!! Liars and Cheaters!

    I contracted with Citywide Movers, Inc. at 4600 W. Palmer St Suite # 100, Chicago IL 60639 to move my daughters bedroom furniture and approximately 9 boxes of personal belongings to Durham N.C. where she started a new job on August 1st. Prior to and during the booking process, I was assured (by Nate and Sheila) that the furniture would be delivered in 3-5 days. I made it VERY clear that this was crucially important. We originally scheduled the move for Friday July 28th but I was contacted by Citywide (Sheila) and told that they had a truck leaving for North Carolina on Thursday July 27th and if they could pick up my daughters thing that day, it would ensure delivery by August 1st (or within the 3-5 day time slot). As a result of that, we rescheduled for Thursday, July 27th. Just as an aside, the movers came 1.5 hours late for a move requiring a scheduled elevator reservation that was supposed to end after 1 hour and 45 minutes. In addition, they charged us 40% over the price quoted even the the load size was as stated and properly packed by us.
    
    The main subject of my complaint is that it's 19 days later and the furniture is still in Chicago! When I called Citywide from Durham on July 31st to check on the arrival time, I was informed by Travis that the load did not make the truck and they didn’t know when another truck would be going in that direction. “We’ll keep you posted”. Needless to say, I was furious and have followed up frequently since then. One day last week I asked that they find a driver to take the stuff by itself to North Carolina. Of course they told me that it would cost quite a bit more and I said, “OK, get me a price.” I never heard back. Last Friday (8/11) I was told that a truck was due in on Sunday that would hopefully be reloading and heading east. No such truck materialized. Yesterday I was told that perhaps there will be a truck at the end of NEXT week (presumably 8/25). At that point, I asked that my daughter’s things be returned to my possession so that I can hire a legitimate mover to take them to North Carolina. I was told that I would have to pay them in full for their move ($1,400.00- ridiculous, but I agreed) but then Travis at Citywide said that they aren’t allowed to do that. “The contract requires us to take your things to North Carolina.”
    
    In the meantime, while they hold her possessions hostage, my daughter is sleeping on the floor, no lights, clothes, required MEDICINES, kitchenware, etc. As you can imagine, this is a very uncomfortable and stressful situation for her on top of a cross country move and a new job. I feel like a fool for signing documents that contradict what I was verbally reassured, again and again.
    NEVER USE CITYWIDE MOVERS!