May 2023 by Lawrence Jackson
Beware of this company. Will never do business with them again. The company will agree to one thing and days before the move contact you to demand something different. Poor customer service, rude. For details, read on:Contacted Hire A Helper to have some furniture moved around within my home. HAH connected me with Top notch movers. Got a call from Lee at Top notch asking if I would deal with him directly instead of through Hire A Helper so he would make more money off the deal. He even lowered the price but I agreed mainly to help out a minority owned business. We agreed to an amount, a date and time, and the manner of payment. He required $75 down with the balance due after the move was completed. I specifically clarified with him that the balance after the $75 down payment would be due the day of the move. He confirmed the balance would be due on Tuesday, May 16. On Saturday, 3 days before the move, I was contacted by Lee’s assistant and informed that I would need to pay the balance that day in order to secure the move. I tried to explain that wasn’t my agreement with Lee. The assistant was persistent in requiring the balance be paid that day. I informed her she needs to have Lee contact me. Lee called me shortly thereafter with a stern attitude demanding that I pay the balance of the amount due because he had to pay movers. I tried to discuss with him that we had agreed the balance would not be due until the day of the move. Lee wasn’t having it. He stated that in business, things change and if they change then I need to adjust. I told him we had a contract and even the invoice he sent me indicated that the balance was due on the date of the move. Lee was adamant that the invoice meant nothing regarding when the balance was due. They need payment 3 to 5 days before the move in order to secure movers. Lee stated he has to pay his movers that day so I needed to pay him. Lee even gave the example that if a bank contacted me and demanded payment, I would need to make that payment. As a retired Deputy Regional Director in charge of the consumer protection division of a federal bank regulatory agency, I informed Lee that no, I would not be required to make, nor would I make, a payment if the bank demanded something that was not in accordance with the governing agreement. Lee further expressed that he didn’t appreciate that I was being aggressive in my conversation with his assistant. I informed him that I felt he was being aggressive with me. His reply was, “No, I’m talking business,” as if I wasn’t talking business when addressing his assistant. Lee informed me that if I didn’t make payment that day then the move would not happen. Still trying to discuss the matter, Lee hung up the phone in my face. Following the hang up and realizing he had essentially cancelled my move, I contacted Hire A Helper again and was able to secure another mover, even on such short notice. I disputed the down payment with PayPal to get my money back. Lee informed PayPal that I did not sign a contract and was only sent an invoice. He further indicated there were no signatures involved so there was no contract. Perhaps Lee needs some education on what constitutes a legally binding contract, both oral and written. Needless to say, PayPal promptly refunded my deposit after reviewing the case. Maybe a friendly call from Top notch on that Saturday requesting, rather than demanding, an earlier payment and stating the basis for the change may have resulted differently. Let the above scenario be your guide. If you want to deal with a company that will agree to one thing to make the deal, but shortly before your move will demand different terms, then Top notch movers may be the company for you. I choose not to do business with such a company.
