Transcontinental Moving & Storage

27 Reviews: Add Review

1. Dishonest, incompetent, and late, late, LATE

   My experience with Transcontinental Moving and Storage Services Inc. (address: 5010 Thimens Saint-Laurant, Quebec, H4R 282 / phone: 1-855-806-2121) was a nightmare from start to finish. I’ll outline everything in detail but to summarize:
   
   1) Pickup time given at very last minute,
   
   2) Charged exorbitant additional fee based on a fabricated weight,
   
   3) 8-week delivery on a promise of 2-weeks,
   
   4) No pro-active communication to keep me informed during delay,
   
   5) My having to unload the delivery truck myself,
   
   6) Failure to pay for broken belongings.
   
   I was moving from Canada to the US and needed a mover fast. Transcontinental was the only option I could find in such short order. I saw negative reviews, but decided to bite the bullet and give them a shot. This was the mistake of a lifetime as they proved to be the most incompetent and dishonest company (mover or otherwise) I have every dealt with.
   
   When picking up my belongings, their main contact Andy Cohen couldn’t confirm until the day before what time they’d arrive. As I lived in a condo, I needed to reserve the elevator; it was only blind luck nobody else needed to move in or out that day.
   
   I wasn’t moving a high volume of belongings (1-bedroom condo, practically no furniture) so Andy, quoted me their lowest cost with a per-pound charge for anything above the target weight. To ensure I had enough funds in my Canadian bank account to cover the cost, I weighed every box using a scale with a 0.1 lb margin of error. I also listed each box and weight in an Excel workbook to ensure accuracy.
   
   While I ended up going over the original target weight, I only had 49 small to medium boxes. As such, if I mistakenly weighed each item but only weighed them too low (versus half too-low / half too-high), that adds 4.9 lb at most. However, Andy claimed I had an additional 220 pounds over the weight that I calculated!
   
   As such, Andy added an exorbitant charge, something other former customers have stated in negative online reviews. On top of that, they charged me $15 for a cheap sheet of plastic to cover a mattress I moved. It seems this is where they actually make their real money: milking people as much as they can after picking up their belongings (i.e. held hostage).
   
   Initially Andy indicated they’d deliver approx. TWO WEEKS after pickup. However, they didn’t actually deliver until nearly EIGHT WEEKS later. You can imagine how costly it can get when belongings you can do without for two weeks are suddenly missing nearly TWO MONTHS!
   
   Andy made zero attempts to proactively update me on their progress or provide a delivery date. And he gave me every excuse: there was a delay for another of their US deliveries, their truck broke down, the truck broke down AGAIN, they were turned away at the border because another customer’s documentation was wrong… Worse still, the sole reason I heard these excuses was because I’d call Andy in the days leading up to the next ETA, only to find out they were delayed yet again.
   
   This whole time, I had work trips I was forced to push back over and over again waiting for my belongings to arrive. As luck would have it, the week they decided they’d deliver was the same week I had a trip I could no longer reschedule. Even then, they still couldn’t give me an exact date! I had to scramble to find someone to be at my place to take delivery, which is challenge when you’re new in a city you don’t know anyone. Thankfully when Transcontinental confirmed the date, it was the first day after I was to be back.
   
   You’d think that their arrival would be the end of my troubles. Instead, when my belongings arrived, it was in a massive semi-transport that couldn’t get into the complex I lived in. Thankfully my building was the one closest to the street. However, I ended up having to bring in half of my belongings because there was only one mover with the truck!
   
   When you pay for a moving company, it goes without saying you’re paying THEM to move your belongings. For me to have to carry my own belongings from their truck on the street, through a gate that I had to open and close each time we went through, and into my own home, is indicative of the complete joke that is Transcontinental.
   
   Even then, after I unpacked everything, I noticed several of my belongings were damaged in transit. I took pictures and sent them to Andy Cohen to ensure that I’d be compensated.
   
   Did I ever hear from him again? Of course not. That is the type of company they are!
   
   If you have to move, avoid Transcontinental Moving and Storage at all costs! Even if you have to pay to stay where you are longer or put your belongings in storage until a real moving company is available, do that instead. You’ll end up saving yourself more money than what it will cost you to use these dishonest hustlers.
   
   If I had the time or it was worth the effort, I’d take them to court. Either way, I’m posting this to ensure they don’t swindle any other unsuspecting victims.

   

2. Outstanding Move!

   I moved from Montreal to New York City. The movers came to pack the truck on Friday, October 29. My family drove down on Saturday. The movers arrived in NYC with everything on Wednesday, November 3. It was the bet move I ever had. Efficient. Outstanding price (the other movers I contacted were at least 2x or even 3x the price). Completely stress-free for us. Everything arrived on time and in exactly the same condition as when it was packed. The furniture was well wrapped to prevent damage. I was a bit stressed about the move because we have two little kids and we needed their cribs ASAP. But everything went so well, and I'm very grateful to the company for their help. I'd like to especially call out Andy (my contact there) for his professionalism and great communication. I was always kept in the loop at every stage of the move. I'd recommend this company for cross-border moves in a heartbeat.

3. Horrible experience

   Horrible experience, we were quoted a price based on our through description of our house and items. the quoted weight was less than half of what it ended up being so the price was more than double the quote. they came and repacked almost all our boxes saying it's easier for them, but then charge us for all their larger boxes and supplies without telling me that. they charged extra for every picture, mirror, tv extra to move it.
   
   the moved took "longer" than Normal so they charged us $400 for taking longer To repack all my already packed boxes? We tried fighting the charges, with no luck.
   
   then we had given them move out dates they call saying they can't come till the following day. then they call at 4pm saying theyll be there in an hour? We had to scramble to get ready.
   
   we we told to give a 3 day move in window as we were moving across the country. we didnt hear anything at all from them so we call the day before the move in window and they say oh we won't be sending a truck for at least a week, maybe two. so we were stuck in a new place with absolutely nothing because there was no communication that this could be a possibility. it took 2 weeks to finally Arrive. furniture scratched up and when we commented they said it was like that when they picked it up, not their responsibility.
   
   i would never ever ever recommend using them. Zero communication at all, costed more than double the quoted price and they really put us on a vulnerable situation and took advantage of us.

4. Do not use this company!

   I went with this company despite the awful reviews because I only had 14 boxes (no furniture) to transport and figured how could you possibly mess that up?
   
   I moved to the US (from Toronto) on August first and was under the impression by phone conversations I would have my belongings within the first week of August. It is August 24th and my things just arrived. Whether is was a miscommunication or misunderstanding, I was very patient in the matter. I was told I could avoid the $250 “shuttle fee” by picking up my own things from their warehouse in San Jose but was informed yesterday that there is no warehouse in California (being lied to) and I would have to incur this fee since their transport truck could not get to my address. Even though an 18- wheeler delivered my furniture to this address last week, without a problem. Today my boxes arrived completely destroyed, my air fryer broken, glassware (that I had carefully wrapped in paper and bubble wrap) broken, luckily there wasn’t anything of too much value, but save yourself the hassle and go with another company that will actually treat your things with a little more care.

   

5. Highly Not Recommended

   We moved from BC to ON and had 2 separate deliveries. We were told charges will billed by weight which we signed and agreed. The day of moving,3rd party movers who is tired by Transcontinental came and repacked all our boxes claiming they need to be in bigger boxes so there are less pieces hence things wont go missing. When they loaded everything in the truck we got a bill for materials and labour fees for repacking everything that we had already done. They claim to be Transcontinental so I paid thinking I can have that adjusted with Andy who’s our main contact. When I called Andy he said the money did not go to Transcontinental and nothing they can do. They gave me a $100 credit afterwards when I overpaid close to $1400 scammed by those movers. Our belongings arrive on time, however they messed up our 2 separate delivers and tried to load off both shipment to one address. Andy claimed he was never told and charged us an extra $100. I provided in writing of his response saying 2 delivery is not a problem so he said it was an oversight on his part but he still needs to charge us the extra fee. Andy and this company is very dishonest and tries to put blames on others. Do not trust or use this company. Our belongings were damaged, boxes crushed and appliances broken. We didn’t bother claiming insurance as it was not worth the hassle dealing with them again.

6. Give you one Quote then charge double

   I would never use them again, Andy the C/S rep. gave me a quote and then when movers came wanted to make sure we are still within the quote, they said yes. When we got a call from Andy he doubled it and said well to many things, I get that but if you have movers saying one thing then its doubled and they put one thing in a box which you said no to and charge almost $250 on top of that, they need to get all the moving parts on one page because it cost me DOUBLE of the quote. Would have went with someone else.

7. Great Experience - Professional Movers Attentive to All Your Needs

   I hired Transcontinental for a move from Toronto to NYC (~1000lbs). I have to note that Transcontinental offered the most competitive quote out of the ~8 movers I reached out to.
   
   I worked with Andy, the Sales Rep, from beginning to end, which made things a lot easier. He was very attentive to all my questions and concerns and got back to me very quickly.
   
   The movers both in Toronto and NYC were polite, careful and arrived on time. All my items, including a large TV, arrived safe and sound! I highly recommend Transcontinental for your moving needs

8. Not transparent in pricing and pathetic process

   Let me start off by stating that this my third move in three years with almost the same stuff. Everything was okay until they shared the invoice before delivery. Their estimate was off by almost 40% (never encountered such issue before with any other moving company). On top of it, they added 570$ for packaging when I packed all my boxes and their loading crew themselves put the dining tables, coffee table, some garage stuff in boxes without even asking me and stating that there will be an additional charge. When I contested about those charges, I was told that I signed some paper before delivery and it was mentioned there.
   
   Upon delivery, unloading crew mentioned that they won’t open any boxes (I only asked for boxes with furniture that their crew packed) and upon request only opened the boxes with dining chairs and no side tables or coffe table was taken out or assembled back. Parts were missing for tv table and they did not even pick their own unpackaging trash.
   
   Trashy service and high price sums it up. Beware!!

9. HORRIBLE Company.

   DO NOT trust these people with your personal things!
   
   Quoted one price and then reneged once it was too late for me to change plans.
   
   Lost one of my side tables, which, of course, meant I had to buy a new set.
   
   Broke the pocket coils in a new 3,000 mattress (which had to be tossed out), and ruined a dresser beyond repair/use.
   
   If you have a problem they WILL NOT take your calls.
   
   BUYER BEWARE this SCAM of a company. They will cost you much more $$ than they quote!

   

10. Move fromEaston, PA, USA to Rockland, ON, Canada.

    I would not use Transcontinental to move me across the street! After I gave them the quotes from 2 US companies that were going to move me from PA to Florida so they would have an idea of the size of the move they charged me over $5000 OVER THE QUOTED PRICE! They also quoted me $750/month for storage charges which they increased to $1100/month arbitrarily. BTW, the guy who came before to take inventory did NOT give any indication of a discrepancy in the total volume of the move. Many of my goods also suffered from poor handling and they never offered a reimbursement. NEVER AGAIN!!

11. Decent but be weary of initial quote.

    They got the job done - my things were moved successfully from Chicago to Canada and it was nice to have a single contact person (Andy) but be weary of the initial quote! They added on an additional $540.00 without bringing this to my attention, and then on top of this, added an additional $780.00 worth of packing materials again, without discussing this with me. We had discussed that 3 wardrobe boxes would be included, but the driver used an additional 7 wardrobe boxes to put some of my items in, likely to make it more convenient for them carrying it. They put my snowboard bag alone in a wardrobe box - unnecessary - it was all contained and can be carried or wheeled. I discussed my concerns regarding the lack of consent to add a significant amount in packaging materials without my consent so he credited me for the 3 wardrobe boxes (as had already been agreed upon!) but then said I was over on the weight estimate (which had already been increased without me realizing it!) so after "crediting" me for the 3 wardrobe boxes, my bill was even higher. Again, I guess the job got done, but understand the initial quote may be less than what you actually pay!

12. Exemplary Customer Service!

    I'm writing to praise Andy to the hilt! He moved mountains to accommodate my very specific pick up and delivery dates in my move from Canada to the US, plus the complication of a secondary move. After conducting a thorough assessment, the cost was very reasonable. And Andy walked me through each step of the of the process. He's terrific and would highly recommend working with him for your next move!

13. Second Time Moving With Them.

    As a second time moving with them, I was less stressed having more trust in them. Again their price reasonable with no additional costs as Andy ask to be very clear on what are the items taken to not give a wrong estimation. I packed my boxes and he advised me to not leave the boxes to empty or to heavy and to pack in the best way possible to not have heavy items putting weight on the delicate ones. He is very clear with the insurance plan.
    The whole team is very friendly and they do the job in a very professional way being very efficient and careful.
    Hours before arrival they make the phone call to let you know they are on their way. My Mother had to go to a storage room and the address was some how confusing but they had no trouble reaching the right place.
    Thank you once again for your services.
    If I have to use a storage room, I will do it without hesitation.

14. International move from Mississauga to Chicago.

    Excellent customer service and moving service provided by Andy and his team right from day one. All items were delivered intact and on time. No follow up required at all. Never expected such a great and efficient service.
    Andy gave competitive quote and also helped in completing the international move Customs form to details. Very committed ontime pickup and on time delivery.

15. Moving from Montreal to Florida.

    Excellent service from the beginning to the end. There were no issues of misunderstanding or unexpected overcharges based on what Andy has explained. Andy was very reliable, cooperative, polite, clear on information to be completed and method of payment. On the day of the moving, everything was numbered. At the arrival nothing was damaged nor missing. However always make a list of your own, writing a number on the box and on the notebook write down a brief description of what’s inside the box with that number. This is going to help you make the list they are going to ask you to complete and to avoid disputes.
    The only issue that we had was that the moving arrived one day earlier than our arrival to Florida, however Andy has told us that the moving could arrive between those days and we accepted to send the moving on the 11th thinking that by the 19th (our arrival day) the moving was not going to be in Florida yet since they had other deliveries to do before. This demonstrates their efficiency and compromise. It was the first time moving with them and we wanted to be there to make sure everything was going to be complete and not damaged. Regardless, when we arrived, everything was there and in perfect conditions.
    Now, we will be using them again for a smaller moving within the city of Montreal.