This sure ain't helping with the moving stress

November 15, 2018 8:15 AM

I booked third-party movers through the U-Haul website to load/unload my moving truck this coming Saturday. They were supposed to call to confirm/provide more details within 24 hours: they haven't. I haven't been able to get in touch with them at all since I booked. Is it panic time? Looking for advice on next steps and much needed perspective, because it's starting to feel like panic time.

Kind of what it says on the tin, but here's more details if you need them:

I booked the truck + movers early last week. Truck seems good to go, and the order request for the movers to load/unload seems to be in the system.

U-Haul said to expect a call from the movers within 24-hours. I gave them 48 before I started to call. Haven't been able to get through—calls ring for a bit, go to voicemail, and then the voicemail is full, so I can't leave a message. I also emailed them earlier but haven't heard back yet. I'm planning on continuing to call them throughout the day today to see if I get lucky.

But I'm really starting to be very concerned that this moving company has gone out of business and U-Haul just hasn't updated their website? And if that is the case, I'm not sure what the next best steps here are.

Do I try to find other movers for this Saturday at super short notice and cancel the first order? Do I keep trying to get through to these movers hoping that they're just really bad at office stuff? Should I try to reschedule the truck rental + movers for a different day?

Cooler, non-freaking out heads: what would you do in this situation? The uncertainty is KILLING ME.

posted by helloimjennsco to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

I would certainly make some phone calls to see if you can find anyone else - this time, go to Yelp and start with the highest of the highest-rated companies.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:26 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

I got day laborers from the street by Home Depot once, and once I got some beefy teenaged guys from the gas station near my storage place. I only ended up with one kid to help me and my old lady friend, we couldn't have done it without him, and he made sixty bucks for a couple of hours.
posted by Oyéah at 8:29 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I used Hire a Helper to get movers (my truck, their effort) about 24 hours before a move and it all worked out. So I don’t think you need to panic but I think you need new movers.
posted by OrangeVelour at 8:30 AM on November 15, 2018 [6 favorites]

Does the UHaul website have a support number you can call? If they did have an out of business company on their website, they bear some responsibility and may be able to help you contact them/help you find a replacement.
posted by jouir at 8:32 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: This very thing happened to us but it happened on moving day. They just never showed. We ended up booking different movers who were able to come after they finished the job they were out doing. It was pretty surreal but we got through it.

I’d say book new movers. When I was phoning around to find new people one dispatcher told me it was not unheard of. She said they likely got offered more money from someone else so they just ditched us. She was not a bit surprised. Definitely find new movers.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 8:48 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Book new movers. The flake rate is way too high in the industry.
posted by praemunire at 9:09 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Update: FINALLY got in touch with someone at the moving company who informed me that he didn't think I was on the schedule for Saturday. (!!!!) Called back a few minutes later confirming I wasn't on there, but that he could still come by later in the day as long as I provided all moving materials (hand truck, dolly, etc.) which I'd have to rent from U-Haul for more $$. Um...no? Cancelled. Bring your own gear, dude, this ain't TaskRabbit.

Hire a Helper looks FANTASTIC! The U-Haul website was super glitchy and terrible, so I didn't want to book through there again. I'm booking new movers as we speak, which is great, but it's also very comforting to know that it's not totally impossible to book same day movers if I get in a jam on Saturday!

Thanks everyone for your great and cool-headed advice! My blood pressure is already moving back to normal. :)
posted by helloimjennsco at 9:33 AM on November 15, 2018 [12 favorites]

I've had some decent experiences with the u-Haul branded MovingHelp, for what it's worth. I've just always selected one of the movers with lots of positive reviews.

Some of them have more of their own gear than others, which ought to be in their listing. MovingHelp ultimately is kind of like taskrabbit, but for moving labor. After all, it's offered in conjunction with u-Haul rentals (which usually offer you stuff like dollies and furniture blankets and etc as add-ons).

Whenever I've booked through MovingHelp I've received a call with a day from the movers confirming. If I don't get it, I cancel and re-book w/someone else. That's happened once or twice.

Hire a Helper looks like a good alternative! The customer support at MovingHelp is definitely underwhelming (I don't think they're all that helpful to the movers when they call in for help, either).
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:11 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Final update: the company I booked through Hire a Helper fell through (!!!!) BUT Hire a Helper called me right away, told me what was up, and said they'd call around and find someone else. And they did! And they were great! And the move went off more or less without a hitch. SWEET RELIEF.
posted by helloimjennsco at 6:47 AM on November 20, 2018 [1 favorite]