My Entire Life Was In That Truck, Then The Movers Disappeared

"Your Stuff Is On The Way," They Said. Then the Movers Stopped Answering My Calls

I wish I had done my homework before trusting USA Moving & Storage, Inc. Looking back now, I feel angry with myself for not taking a few extra hours to read the reviews online. I never imagined that decision would lead to months of stress, frustration, and the possibility that I might never see my belongings again.

In early September 2025, I was preparing for a major move from Chicago, Illinois, to San Tan Valley, Arizona. I had accepted a new opportunity and needed to relocate quickly. I had a full three bedroom house worth of furniture, appliances, and personal belongings. Like most people, I started searching online for moving companies that handled long distance moves.

USA Moving & Storage appeared to be a professional company. Their website looked legitimate, and the representative I spoke with sounded confident and experienced. When I first called them, the sales agent introduced himself as Mark and walked me through the process.

He said, "We specialize in cross country relocations. We handle everything from packing to transportation. Your items will be safe with us."

He asked for a list of my inventory and estimated the size of my move based on a three bedroom household. After discussing my furniture and boxes, he gave me a binding estimate of $3,200. He also sent me paperwork along with the estimated inventory sheet.

He explained, "The estimate covers your pickup, transportation, and delivery to Arizona. As long as the inventory matches what we discussed, the price will stay close to that number."

That sounded reasonable to me. I signed the estimate and scheduled the move for October 5, 2025.

Everything seemed fine at first. A few days before the move, I received a confirmation call from someone in their dispatch department. They confirmed the pickup date and told me the moving crew would arrive sometime between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

The morning of the move started normally. Around 9:30 AM, a large moving truck pulled up outside my home in Chicago. Three movers got out of the truck. One of them introduced himself as the foreman and handed me paperwork.

He said, "Before we start loading, we need you to review and sign the Bill of Lading. This is standard procedure."

At that moment, I trusted that everything was routine. I signed the documents because I believed the company was operating professionally.

However, the situation quickly changed once they started loading my belongings.

After about an hour of moving furniture and boxes into the truck, the foreman approached me again with a clipboard. His tone was completely different from before.

He said, "There is more inventory here than what was listed in the estimate. The cubic footage is higher than expected."

I was confused. I told him, "This is the same inventory I gave your company when I booked the move."

He shook his head and replied, "The estimate was just a preliminary calculation. Based on the space your items are taking in the truck, the cost will increase."

Then he showed me a revised price. My stomach dropped when I saw it.

The new total was over $5,300.

At that point, half of my belongings were already loaded into their truck. I asked him how the price could jump by more than two thousand dollars.

He simply said, "This happens all the time with long distance moves. If you want your items delivered, the updated charges need to be paid according to the contract."

I had no choice. My entire home was already being packed into their truck. Canceling the move at that point would have been impossible.

Reluctantly, I agreed and paid the required deposit. The foreman assured me that once the remaining balance was paid, my belongings would be transported and delivered within the normal delivery window.

He said, "Your items will arrive in Arizona within the delivery spread listed on the Bill of Lading. Usually it takes a couple of weeks."

Once everything was loaded, the truck pulled away from my home in Chicago on October 5, 2025.

At the time, I had no idea that would be the last moment I would actually see my belongings.

After arriving in San Tan Valley, Arizona, I waited for the delivery call. Days passed, and I did not hear anything from the company. I tried calling the main number several times but could not reach anyone who knew where my shipment was.

Finally, someone answered and told me, "Your items are still in transit. The dispatcher will contact you when the truck is assigned for delivery."

Another week passed. Then another.

I continued calling their office repeatedly. Each time, I either received vague answers or no response at all. Sometimes the phone would ring and ring until it disconnected. Other times, someone would answer and say they would check the system, then place me on hold until the line suddenly dropped.

By this point, I had already paid them in full, a total of $5,300.16.

Despite that, my belongings were nowhere to be found.

Weeks turned into months. I sent multiple emails asking for updates about my shipment. I included my agreement number and Bill of Lading number in every message. Not once did I receive a meaningful response.

Eventually, the company stopped answering my phone calls altogether.

As of February 19, 2026, more than four months after the pickup date, I still had not received my belongings. Everything from my furniture to personal items and household goods remained missing.

The stress of this situation has been overwhelming. I moved across the country expecting a fresh start, but instead I ended up dealing with constant frustration and uncertainty. Many of the things inside that truck were not just objects. They were items I had collected over the years of my life.

What makes the situation even worse is the complete lack of communication from the company. It feels like they simply disappeared after taking my money.

At one point, I started researching the company online more carefully. That was when I realized something I should have done before hiring them. I found countless negative reviews from other customers who had similar experiences.

I even filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, only to discover that USA Moving & Storage, Inc. is not even registered with them.

If there is one thing I want other people to learn from my experience, it is this. Always research a moving company thoroughly before trusting them with your belongings.

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

If a moving company gives you a low estimate over the phone, be cautious. Some movers use attractive quotes to secure the job, then dramatically increase the price once your belongings are already loaded on the truck. Always research the company, read independent reviews, verify their registration, and never feel pressured to sign new paperwork or agree to higher charges on moving day.