The Biggest Mistake I Made Was Trusting These Movers

The Price Drop Was a Trap, and I Didn't See It Until It Was Too Late

I never imagined that hiring a moving company could turn into one of the most stressful and humiliating experiences of my life. What I thought would be a routine move from Orlando, Florida, to Houston, Texas, in August 2025 turned into a nightmare that cost me thousands of dollars.

I initially contacted Colonial Van Lines after seeing their website and speaking with a sales representative. From the very first phone call, I explained everything clearly. I told them I was moving a two-bedroom apartment, including bedroom furniture, a couch, a dining table, several boxes, and a collection of professional tools that were extremely important to my work.

The sales agent reviewed my inventory over the phone and emailed me a quote of $1,950. I was hesitant, so I told him that the price felt high.

He said, “Let me work with you. I can lower the estimate for you today.” What he did not clearly explain was that he was not just lowering the price. He was secretly lowering the estimated weight of my shipment on the contract.

At the time, I did not understand how dangerous that was.

I signed the agreement electronically and was given an agreement number. I was told my belongings would be protected with professional moving blankets, that the truck would be dedicated to my move, and that Colonial Van Lines would handle everything.

None of that turned out to be true.

A few days before the move, I received a call from a company I had never heard of. That was when I learned, for the first time, that Colonial Van Lines had subcontracted my move to another carrier without telling me.

I remember asking, “Why am I hearing from a different company?” The response was vague and dismissive. They said, “This is normal. We are partners.”

On moving day, August 14, 2025, the truck arrived late. When it pulled up, my heart sank. The truck was already almost full with someone else’s belongings. I asked the driver, “Why is the truck already packed?” He said, “We consolidate loads. It saves space.”

That was not what I agreed to.

They began loading my furniture quickly and carelessly. Items were not wrapped in moving blankets like I paid for. Instead, they used saran wrap, wrapping it tightly around furniture corners while leaving surfaces exposed. I pointed this out and said, “I paid extra for blankets.” One of the movers laughed and replied, “This works the same.”

It did not.

My belongings were jammed into the truck, squeezed between other customers’ items with no regard for damage. I watched helplessly as they forced furniture into tight spaces. When the truck ran out of room, they left and returned with something that shocked me beyond words.

A U-Haul truck.

I asked, “Are you serious right now?” The driver said, “This is how we finish the job.” I stood there in disbelief as my possessions were split between a commercial truck and a rental vehicle. At that moment, I knew I had made a terrible mistake.

Before leaving, they presented me with a Bill of Lading showing that my shipment had exceeded the estimated weight. The new total brought my cost to $5,800.

I felt trapped. My apartment was empty. My life was on those trucks. I had no choice but to sign and pay.

The delivery was delayed. When my belongings finally arrived in Houston, the nightmare continued. Boxes were missing. Furniture was damaged. And worst of all, my professional tools, worth between $2,000 and $3,000, were gone.

I asked the driver where my tools were. He said, “Everything we loaded is here.” That was a lie. I knew exactly what I owned. I knew what I packed. Those tools never arrived.

When I contacted Colonial Van Lines, they deflected responsibility. They blamed the subcontractor. The subcontractor blamed the paperwork. Everyone passed the blame, and no one helped me. I was treated like I did not matter at all.

The emotional toll of this experience was crushing. I felt angry, violated, and foolish for trusting them. They literally turned my move into a calculated exploitation of trust.

I would not wish this experience on anyone.

Evidence Provided by the User

Note: No photos or videos were shared by the user. The story above is a real experience shared by the person who went through it and is published to warn others.

Warning to Other Customers

This story shows how a low initial estimate can be used to manipulate customers. Red flags include reduced weight estimates, last-minute subcontracting, mixed shipments, overcrowded trucks, poor packing practices, and sudden price increases after loading. Once belongings are on the truck, customers may be pressured to pay inflated charges and have little control. Always verify the carrier listed on the Bill of Lading, confirm whether the move will be subcontracted, and never rely on verbal promises or discounted quotes.