I've been hosed/Moving

[viellen]

Ok Davis Square community, help me out here. Last week I was searching Craigslist for movers and I found a guy named Christopher Doherty who supposedly owns a moving company in the Boston area. He claimed they're insured, 100% money back guarantee, moved by clean-cut college kids, yada yada yada. We talked for a while (on the phone, not over email), I asked everything I thought I should ask, and he gave me a flat rate with tax around $350...which I thought was a great price. To book the move I put down a $100 deposit and I was going to call him today with the details. So I called, and got *another* moving company, who told me not to deal with Chris because he's dishonest. And low and behold his craigslist ads were pulled, and all I have is his email address. So first of all..WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?! Second of all, have any of you guys dealt with him/gotten scammed by him? And finally, can somebody PLEASE recommend local movers that won't fucking scam me? Thanks for all the help you can give, I feel like an idiot.

x-posted to b0st0n

Comments

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

We had very good luck with Spry movers.

[viellen]

I just went to Spry and filled out their form and they came back with "Aviv Moving And Storage", is that the company you used?

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

It's been a couple years ago, so I guess they could have changed hands. It was at that time Spry Moving out of Woburn.

http://www.sprymoving.com/about.html

Gentle Giant

[obra.livejournal.com]

Gentle Giant are _not_ cheap. But they're also the only moving company I'd ever use again. Their guys literally _run_ back to the truck to get more boxes when unloading.

Re: Gentle Giant

[imlad.livejournal.com]

I second that. Gentle Giant is great, quick, efficient, courteous, you name it. Strongly recommended, but yes, they are NOT CHEAP.

Re: Gentle Giant

[srl.livejournal.com]

On what level of NOT CHEAP are we talking here?

Re: Gentle Giant

[imlad.livejournal.com]

I don't recall off hand, and it depends completely how far they need to go and how much stuff you have. If you call them they will be able to give you an accurate estimate on the spot.

Re: Gentle Giant

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Someone I know had her studio apartment moved with them (about 15 miles) and it was $1,000.

She is prissy as hell though and I think opted for every add-on they offer.

But still--I've heard the same about them, expensive but awesome. Though unless you have a lotta stuff you care about I can't imagine them being needed for a simple apartment move.

[srl.livejournal.com]

You should report being scammed to the Somerville Police, just so they know that someone's out there doing this. It probably won't result in any arrests unless other people report their problems too.

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Did you write him a check? If so, that would have to be his real name, and it could be traced to a bank account.. so maybe if you get the right authorities on your side, you can get your money back and bust this guy.

Good luck.

[viellen]

I did it on a credit card, so I'm disputing it through them and I don't think it'll be hard to get the money back. I do have his real name and real email address. Apparently he even plays in a local band, "Level of Existence"...if anyone wants to kick his ass I'd be much obliged :)

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

Nicks Moving Company. They are excellent, not too expensive and really great.

[spatch]

I agree; I've had nothing but good experiences with Nick's when I've moved.

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

Third. It was just over 1k for a houseful of stuff, and I mean, a house *full* of stuff. They wanted to go home early so they sent us extra guys at cost. Once a blizzard made them late and they sent me more guys at cost.

I've used them several times now and they've always been professional, courteous, and efficient, and I find the prices acceptable.

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

I also second (3rd? 4th?) this - we had a great experience with them! Not too expensive, they didn't break anything, we had three guys who TOTALLY hustled (3rd floor to 3rd floor on a hot, humid day and we own a TON of books and had stuff that had to be hoisted out the front window).

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Gentle Movers (http://www.gentlemovers.com/). I've used them twice for local moves and they were awesome. It cost me about $400 to move the contents of a studio from Boston to Medford (in 2001) and $600 to move the contents of a 2-bedroom apartment from Medford to Somerville (last year).

[frederic.livejournal.com]

here's an ad that has mr. doherty's phone numbers on it:

http://mass.communitymusician.com/index.php?arg=mc_detail&id=279806

[(978) 853-4008 (978) 837-6699 ]

[siderea]

978-853 is a cell. But 978-837 is a landline in Lawrence, MA.

So a search on C Doherty in Lawrence, MA gives us:

C Doherty
K Doherty
35 Ridgewood Cir
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 738-8910
Map

Of course, we don't know it's the same C Doherty. But if the cops were looking for a lead, this might be a good person to ask.