P. Stobbe

I'm writing this review because I continue to see that people still use this company. In 2022 I moved back to Calgary, AB from Sarnia, ON. As no ATVL representative was in the area, I had to complete their form of my contents that needed to be moved to Calgary to get a quote. I paid a deposit and booked them. On the scheduled day, they arrived and starting loading into a large delivery trucking (they would have to unload it at their central Ontario facility for a reload into a long-haul moving truck). They soon determined that I had more boxes than I had originally guessed (I was still packing); therefore, I paid another $1,500.00 deposit. The movers in Sarnia were very nice men however even after I fed and provided them with beverages, and gave them a practically brand new $800 BBQ, they still HELPED THEMSELVES TO SOME OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS; as they did not appear in Calgary. When the driver arrived in Calgary to unload, I showed him a possible option to park in the back alley so they could unload directly into my unit (I live on a SLIGHT hill). The driver made the decision to reverse into the alley but ran over a condo complex yard (shrubs, rock garden) and hit some overhead lines. The parking authority, police and fire dept were all called. He likely received a ticket or fine. Needless to say, my belongings were not delivered that day. The next morning a very rude ATVL Dispatcher called me to say that they were unable to deliver to my address (because I lived on a hill - they had the address for 3 months). People move in and out of homes and condos on my street all the time. The rude Dispatched provided 2 options: 1. I could either hire a moving company to meet them and transfer my belongings into their truck and deliver to me 2. I could have ATVL rent a local U-Haul truck to transfer my belongings into that truck and then they would deliver. Of course, I had to pay additional money for either of these options. My hands were completely tied as they held my belongings hostage until I paid them more money. When the ATVL movers finally arrived with my belongings, they refused to take anything but my bed, dressers and 1 desk to the second floor. ATVL wanted to charge me an additional $700.00 because the driver counted 28 stairs (I only counted 23 stairs) - I was not charged for stairs in Sarnia. ATVL eventually dismissed the stair charge but that only made the movers angrier. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, they intentionally dropped furniture, boxes, pictures, etc. When all was said and done, I submitted a claim but only received $50.00 from ATVL, for the thousands and thousands of dollars THEY did in damages. My insurance company dealt with ATVL insurance dept. and because I didn't by THEIR insurance, $50 was all they would pay. I asked, "How would me buying THEIR insurance have prevented their incompetent and unethical workers (dispatcher and movers)?" They had no response. Atlantic Van Lines doesn't weigh an empty and loaded truck. I figured that they charged me $67.00 a box/item. Silly me, as I had only had the experience of moving from Calgary to Sarnia, I figured ATVL would also go by the weight of my belongings and not by each item. Good lesson learned. I never received an acknowledgement or apology from Atlantic Van Lines for the behaviour of their movers, driver, dispatcher and their unethical business practices. Truly a horrific and traumatic experience. When I moved from Calgary, AB to Sarnia, ON 3-1/2 years earlier, I paid 1/2 the price from a national moving company; who were wonderful. I should have stuck with them. The other national moving company based their actual cost on the weight of my belongings (mileage, fuel, taxes, etc). They presented me with the weigh scale weight prior to loading and then again when they finished loading. I immediately knew the cost and paid them.