Moving APT - New York

This review involves two moving companies working together to defraud a customer. Moving APT (Miami, FL) and Best Choice Moving Services (Raleigh, NC). After some 10 + moves over 60 years my wife (who has dementia and Parkinson’s) and I at age 80+, contract with a 3rd party mover (Moving APT Inc - Miami, FL) in May 2025. I did not believe the negative reviews. I only looked at the positive ones. Big mistake, their job was simply to pack and move household goods from VA to MO. (800 Miles). We live in a one bedroom one living room apartment (no kitchen). Due to our health we requested a turn key move. We paid Moving Apt $3,800 up front with credit cards. They, not me, hire a carrier named Best Choice Moving Services (Raleigh, NC). The carrier arrives at 10PM on 24 May. Immediately driver gave me a blank Bill of Lading which I refused to sign. Driver said no packing and moving without signing. Agreed to sign if the same quoted dollar amount $3,800 and a 29 May delivery date were kept. He said of course. After packing and wrapping some of the goods he demanded $2862.68 in cash before he would load the goods. He now completes the Bill of Lading showing $9,400 as the new total. A $5,600 increase and he states he has 21 days to deliver the goods. This far exceeded the 29 May date agreed upon by Moving APT Inc. I did not sign the revised contract. Driver took the cash and then said he must unload the current partial load going to New York in a warehouse. I told him to load boxes and furniture into the current available space. He refused to load the truck. I said take one piece of furniture and load it, he refused again. At that time I cancelled the job with him and informed Moving APT Inc. that I was cancelling due to non-performance. Driver would not give back cash and he did not address the damage he had done to the four apartment walls. I have to pay an additional $900 to the lessor. He departed with the cash. I rented a Penske truck the next day, loaded it and transported goods to final destination. I requested Moving APT refund money and they refused. They said Best Choice Moving Services LLC had already delivered the goods and were paid. I said Best Choice Moving Services did not move any goods. Moving APT requested info on Penske truck I rented for $2,800 which I emailed to them. Shortly after, I receive a call from Best Choice Moving Services requesting info on truck I had rented. I asked for refund of cash payment and they refused. Said they were filing with insurance company and they would subtract their time and material costs from any refund. I could expect a 90 day delay. Both companies failed to do what they were paid to do and that was pack, move and unload our household goods. I paid both moving companies over $6,600 to move our goods and an additional $2,800 to rent a Penske truck all totaling $9,400. Both companies took the money without completing the job and tried telling me they had already delivered the goods.
The attached photo shows the 29 Ft. Penske truck I rented to haul our goods from VA to MO. The goods fit into a space of 625 Cu.Ft.. The same goods would have fit in the Best Choice Moving Services’ rented 29 Ft. Ryder van.