Moving companies class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Laszlo G. Peterfai and Jane Peterfai filed a class action lawsuit against a number of interstate moving companies, including USA Movers, Hercules Moving Solutions and Monopoly Moving LLC, among others.
- Why: Laszlo and Jane Peterfai claim the moving companies work together to defraud and extort consumers by allegedly holding their property and possessions for cash ransom or converting it “for their own benefit and use.”
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.
A group of interstate moving companies have been defrauding and extorting unsuspecting consumers by holding their property and possessions for cash ransom, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Laszlo G. Peterfai and Jane Peterfai claim the moving companies, including USA Movers, Hercules Moving Solutions and Monopoly Moving LLC, among others, are “operating an illegal enterprise under the guise of legitimate moving companies/brokers.”
The plaintiffs argue the moving companies hold the property and possessions of their customers for cash ransom or take property entrusted to them and convert it “for their own benefit and use.”
The moving companies also fail to properly care for the property and possessions entrusted to them by their customers, who allegedly only recover it at all after they “scrabble to gather cash and money orders to pay Defendants’ ransom demand.”
“Defendants delivered much of Plaintiffs’ property and possession (and the property of others similarly situated) in shambles and damaged, with boxes ransacked, items broken, and property missing,” the class action states.
Hercules Moving Solutions worked with other companies to extort moving couple, class action says
The plaintiffs claim that, after signing a moving contract with Hercules, threats from movers with other companies caused the couple to have to spend $17,500 more than they had originally agreed to.
“Defendant Hercules operated and continues to operate with all of the other Defendants to capture consumers’ moving business by convincing them to enter into ‘Binding Moving Estimates’ via email, telephone and websites so that Defendants can load consumers’ property on to trucks intending to steal it, sell it, and/or extort consumers,” the class action states.
The plaintiffs claim the movers are guilty of negligence and conversion/civil theft, among other things, and of violating unfair competition laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of compensatory, special, general and punitive damages for themselves and all class members.
A similar class action lawsuit was filed against New Era in April 2021 over claims the moving company held hostage for cash ransom the cherished family heirlooms of customers after loading the property into its moving trucks.
Have you had your property held for cash ransom by an interstate moving company? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Deborah L. Raymond of the Raymond Law Offices APC.
The Moving companies class action lawsuit is Peterfai v. USA Logistics Inc., et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-01695, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
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September 23, 2025 | Legal News
59 thoughts onClass action claims moving companies kept belongings until consumers paid increased prices
So first, I’d like to start this off by saying that I was very naïve when it came to cost of long distance moves. I am previous military so the only moving experience I’ve had was via the military where they take care of everything for you so when it was finally time for me to move from Las Vegas, NV back to my small hometown in NH, I was not prepared. This move started July 14 and I am still in the process of getting my belongings.
I initially got a quote from what I thought was a moving company who ended up actually only being a broker. First thing I had no idea what that there was a difference between brokers and the actual moving company. America’s Family & Moving Services out of Pompano Beach, FL contacted me and after explaining the amount of items I had (about a 1 bedroom apartment size) I worked out a deal and was quoted $2,500 as that was the amount I was able to spend at the time. Looking back on this, I should’ve known that was an unrealistic number for the distance I was moving but again, I was naïve and truly did not know that average move prices were much greater than that. I was happy with the number so I went and signed a “binding moving estimate” that day for $2,500 and sent a 50% deposit and was told I would pay the remainder balance upon delivery. This was a lie. About a few days out from my scheduled pick up date, another customer agent from AF&MS called to, what he said was to, confirm the items in my shipment and confirm the pick up date was still good. NOT ONCE did this individual tell me they were raising my initial estimate on this call but just wanted me to electronically sign the confirmation of the itinerary/items. So I know this part is on me. I should’ve told the guy to wait on the call while I read through the paperwork but I felt pressured to sign right away while he was on the phone, which he asked me to do. Thinking this broker is a reputable business (mistake) I didn’t do my due diligence with the forms and unknowingly signed another “binding moving estimate” that raised my move from $2,500 to $4,150. The day the carrier shows up is the first time I am finding out what company this broker contracted out for me and was pretty irritated I was given no info on the carrier prior to them actually showing up. The company is LOADRANS LLC and I wish I had known who they were before they showed up at my doorstep. The reviews for these guys are abysmal! Everything from majority of items arriving damaged, boxes broken into by the movers and items stolen, and them keeping your belongings hostage until they get the money they up charged you on. I would’ve delayed my move to pick a more reputable company but again, I was never told who would be moving my things. I thought the broker was the mover originally.
LOADRANS LLC movers showed up and only the lead mover spoke english so he was the only one to communicate with. When he demanded another $1k on pickup i was really taken aback as I was under the impression I owed no further payment until delivery. I told him this and said my move was only supposed to be $2,500 period he laughed and shook his head no before showing me the estimate they got was $4,150. Again, this is on me for not doing my due diligence reading the second moving contract the guy had called me about days prior. Regardless, I told the mover I was unaware and didn’t have the money (that he wanted in cash or Zelle by the way). I asked if he could just leave items of my choosing behind to lower the payment and he refused, stating he needed to take all my stuff. I was nearly in tears trying to figure out where the miscommunication was but he would not work with me on that front and told me to contact the broker, which I did. To this, I basically got a, “that’s too bad, you signed this. Its not on the broker to verbally tell you your price is going up” and basically sucks to suck, nothing they can do. Deal with the mover. So that’s great customer service. So left with no options as this lead mover is standing in my living room, I scrambled to get $1k together and they took my items and said they had to go to a distribution warehouse to transfer everything over to a different truck before they can move my things. I was also told my AF&MS that everything the movers were loading on the truck at my house was going directly to the new destination. Another lie. So I don’t even know where my items are at this moment.
Later around July 19, over a week later from this, I found out that my stuff has not even moved out of state due to the fact that the second EFT that was processed on July 10 (the one I didn’t know about) was denied due to insufficient funds in my account. If I had known upfront that I was getting charged again, and for good reason of course, I would’ve made sure the money was there. I am not a scammer by any means but the broker said they couldn’t trust that my EFT wouldn’t bounce again so I needed to send them a USPS money order. Fine. Because I want my stuff, I sent the money order express. Then the post office goes and loses my money order LOL and I am now fighting the USPS for a refund of my money order they lost and the broker still doesn’t have their money. I am working on this currently.
This has been one of the most stressful times in my life due to life circumstances I find myself in and now I feel like I’m fighting for my own belongings back that I essentially gave two companies in good faith as I assumed they were normal people with good morals and wanted to keep their reputations up. Guess not. Now my move went from $2,500 to just under $6k and I am everything but impressed by Americas Family & Moving Services (broker) and LOADRANS LLC (carrier.) I will come update this when I receive my items with a damage report and potential stolen items.
The US federal govt does NOTHING to effectively regulate these businesses or provide any consequences. I was also scammed by Extra Mile – a moving broker that advertised as a mover, then had to pay an extra unanticipated $1k over their scam quote for a total of $3500. The mover that showed up was Super Jet Van Lines, which turns out to be a notoriously bad actor, along with their “partner” Extra Mile Van Lines (which is nothing but a scam moving ‘brokerage’). All I got was all of my furnishings completely destroyed and dropped off like a heap of trash, which was what it amounted to after they had their way with it. The company (Super Jet) seems to both have a listing in Clifton, NJ and a DOT listed headquarters in Las Vegas, NV. My movers were Arabic-speaking, and the primary mover described himself as an Israeli national, and was rude and frankly ruthless in getting as much money as he could out of me. While the company is registered in the US, it is operated by foreign nationals. Regardless, all of these companies do whatever they like with zero effective regulation or consequences. Since the federal govt offers this sort of opportunity for scams, individuals from around the world apparently exercise their ample opportunity to separate Americans from their money and property. The real problem is the toothless, inept federal govt and our own corrupt and ineffective politicians who expect to stay in office until they die and are bought and paid for by corporate lobby interests that offer such opportunity in the first place, not the scammers who are merely seeking out such spaces.
It was a total disaster from the beginning to the end I’m out of $3000 and won’t get anything else until I pay $900.00 I don’t have that type of money I barely make a living myself.
EXTRA MILE VANLINES & LOADRANS moving Company are theives and liar’s. They signed a contract with EXTRA MILE that they were to move my belongings from Spokane WA to Johnson City TN. I was supposed to get a direct move, not a load up unload and reload onto a multiple household load and it was supposedtobe delivered 5-7 daysafterpickup. The price was supposed to be $5145. This is what happened, LOADRANS showed up to load my house (it was previously packed by another moving company and was in a storage unit). Now know one told me about 2 companies being involved in my move. LOADRANS loaded my belongings onto a 24′ truck and told me that if I wanted my stuff moved they needed another $3928 to complete my move. I said no and was told they would hold my belongings until I paid or they sold my stuff. What could I do? I paid. They demanded either ZELLE or Wire Transfer. LOADRANS and I agreed on a delivery date of 3/3 (in writing). When know one contacted my to arrange a delivery time before the 3rd I contacted EXTRA MILE to locate my belongings and inquire about a delivery date. Nobody could tell me where my stuff was. On 3/6 I was contacted by LOADRANS letting me know they were going to ship my move on 3/11 and it would be delivered 4-6 days later. 3/15 came and went, then 3/17 came and went. I finally called my POC at EXTRA MILE and was told they didn’t know anything but would contact LOADRANS and inquire. I finally heard from LOADRANS 2 days later and was told it would be there when it got here. I received a call from a LOADRANS driver on 3/20 and got my things. 18 days after it was initially promised. Then upon arrival for drop off the driver tried to tell me it was greater then 50′ from the street to my door. And wanted to charge me another $1000 dollars. I told him that I was going to call local law enforcement and have them measure the distance for me. They didn’t want anything to do with that and began transferring my belongings from a 18 wheel semi to my house. I questioned them about the size of the truck and was told I was one of four households they were delivering. And now 24 hours later, I haven’t unpacked everything, but 90% of things that I have are damaged. They broke 2 of 4 antique Waterford Crystal glasses, all my drinking glass and about 50% of my Corelle dishes. Do you know how difficult I is to break Corelle? I have dropped a Corelle plate on a concrete floor previously and it didn’t break. So imagine was they must have done to the box to break 28 of 55 pieces. Additionally, every single wood furniture piece from end tables to dining tables, credenza and night stands are gouged scratched and beat to hell. They even ripped the fabric on my box springs. The didn’t deliver 2 of 4 of a Bose surround sound set. They left my 80″ TV in the box, on its side in my garage. They Called up all thier shrink wrapping and left it in my garage. Other things that weren’t delivered (so far) a shopvac, a toolbox with approximately $2000 worth of tools and a Marlin Rifle. They destroyed a $1000 Charbroil grill, Pulling apart and broke several welded pieces. They shredded the grill cover. So, they destroyed my stuff and were 18 days late delivering it AND charged me almost $4000 (double) what I initially signed a binding agreement for. These 2 companies are criminals, liar’s and theives, and if you have them move your stuff, shame on you. You’ve been warned. A side note, the people I dealt with at EXTRA MILE VANLINES LLC were all English-speaking and sounded American. The people from LOADRANS LLC were Eastern European sounding, very hard to understand and I got the impression that they didn’t understand most of what I was saying.
What I sent to the Better Business Bureau.
Complaint Against America First Moving Services
Nature of Complaint: Bait and Switch, Breach of Contract, Unethical Practices, Holding Belongings Hostage
I contracted America First Moving Services under specific agreements. When speaking with one of their employees, I needed my belongings delivered on 11/29/2024; I was assured of that date over the phone. However, they never intend on honoring that date. Even the services outlined in the signed contract were never intended to be carried out. When I tried to talk to them about their deception, they cut me off and only wanted to talk about me sending them the money in the amount they wanted, the way they wanted, which is not contracted. Unfortunately, they have engaged in deceptive and unethical practices, making this process an absolute nightmare.
I’m here now because they contacted me 01/21/2025. I thought I was done with them because I was issued a refund by them after I did a chargeback at the bank after lies to get my contract, mistreatment after pickup, and using bait and switch tactics . I was informed by America First it wasn’t a real refund; I still had to pay it to them in order to receive my belongings. I know the world has changed a lot, but I thought a refund was just that, a refund. Not I give it to you to look good at the bank and hold your belongings hostage until you give it back. I recently discovered there are three different companies involved in this transition; this was unbeknownst to me for awhile causing much confusion because they didn’t disclose it in the contract, I thought they were a moving company. I was ensured by Robert Moore the weren’t brokers. This company and their subsidiaries have proven to be untrustworthy, using the scam tactics below:
1. Bait and Switch Tactics:
Initially, America First Moving Services agreed to accept payment via credit card, as confirmed durng our communications and contract. However, after I made my deposit, they changed their stance, after already charging my card and after they had picked up my belongings, now they need the front and back of my credit card and driver’s license, and a selfie. I explained I didn’t feel comfortable with texting or emailing this information, or them having a copy of them because I had been identity theft before. I tried to send a wire transfer, however, they provided incorrect information. I asked about an ACH, they denied it. Now they are demanding a wire transfer for 70% and a post office money order instead of a credit card for the remaining 30%. This is a classic bait-and-switch tactic designed to make the process difficult and less secure for the customer.
2. Failure to Honor the Contract:
The company failed to allocate the entire truck space as per our agreement, which resulted in me needing to keep a $500 storage unit open unnecessarily because they left some of my belongings behind and told me the whole truck wasn’t located to me after that loaded my belongings. I would have never agreed to that; I know what I had and what I needed, and I wouldn’t have ever wanted my belongings with someone else’s; I don’t know if they had bed bugs or any other pest. I’m allergic to pet dander; I don’t know if they had pets. Now I have to hire another moving company and fly back to Las Vegas to finish closing the storage unit. They also claim to use professional movers; however, they hired day laborers at Home Depot. They now claim they are charging me storage fees, which were never authorized and are not part of our original agreement; I thought I was getting a door-to-door move; they even told me I can put my own lock on it and it’ll be there on delivery. I asked the driver to put my lock on, and he said, “We don’t do that; like I said, the whole truck is not for your use.” They say they’ll waive the storage fees if I pay them what they want, the way they want, meaning the money that was refunded by them at the bank. One of their employees told me in the beginning that “I had no choice but to pay them what they want, how they want it.” After all the lies, that statement pushed me to call the bank. They think they can make any demand they want, and the consumer doesn’t have any recourse.
3. Disrespect and Broken Promises:
Throughout the process, some of the representatives were dismissive and disrespectful. In the beginning before the contrat they made promises they had no intention of fulfilling, further eroding any trust I had in this company, and they have the nerve to tell me they don’t trust me. They don’t trust me for trying to hold them accountable.
4. Forged Documents: America First Services or one of their subsidiary companies, AMB or Sorto Express Transportation Inc., forged a document. (Identity theft.) AMB sent a form (bill of lading) to the Better Business Bureau with my forged signature. I never signed this document, and the information on it had clearly been altered.
I put down a deposit of $5031.11, yet they claim I still owed the entire amount at pickup. (Altered) You can look at the document and see where they removed and added information.
The driver refused to give me any documents unless I paid the inflated amount he demanded at pickup, creating a hostile and coercive situation after they had loaded my belongings onto the truck.
5. Extortion of Funds:
After I initiated a chargeback against America First Moving Services due to their lies, misrepresentation, unacceptable service, and unprofessional conduct, they refunded my money only to claim I must return it to them in order to receive my belongings. Their letter states that I need to return the refund before my items are released, essentially holding my property hostage. They are the broker, not the moving company; I don’t know why they are still contacting me. I received my refund from them; I’m done with them; however, they want to reinstate themselves back into the equation. If it wasn’t for their misrepresentation of who they were and what they offered, I wouldn’t be in this awful situation.
6. Unjustified Charges and Storage Fees:
They are attempting to charge me for storage fees, despite this not being part of our original agreement. I didn’t need a storage, I was trying to get rid of one, that I still have, because of them. They say they’ll waive the storage fees and give me $500 for my troubles only to coerce me into paying $9,127.27, 70% in a wire transfer, followed by the rest in a post office money order upon delivery, before they unload.
From the Company:
“America First and AMB agree that the deposit payment ($5,031.11) and 70% of the remaining balance ($4,096.16) totaling a payment amount of $9,127.27. We believe this is a fair middle ground considering the contracted terms allow up to 75% of the remaining balance to be collected prior to the goods exiting the origin state.”
It’s funny how they use the word contract when it benefits them. However, we don’t have a contract when I ask them to honor it. Because if they had honored it, we wouldn’t be here, not for payment anyway. I have tried to work with these companies, but at every turn they give me a reason not to trust them. With all the deception, I still tried to pay them all the way through this ordeal. When all I see from them are extortion tactics.
This company has acted in bad faith, violating the terms of the contract and employing high-pressure tactics to extort additional money from me. Their refusal to honor agreements and reliance on unethical practices has caused me significant financial and emotional distress.
I am requesting help by the Better Business Bureau, or any one to ensure that America First Moving Services:
1. Honors the original contract, including accepting credit card payments.
2. Release my belongings without further extortion or fabricated charges.
3. Ceases any attempts of threats to collect payment for unauthorized storage fees. All they had to do was accept the credit card. I never authorized them to put it there. They removed it from a storage that because of them I still have to pay.
4. Explain to me in writing why a refund is not a refund with them. It doesn’t matter that they lied to get my contact; I hadn’t received anything they promised. They think they shouldn’t have any consequences for their unethical actions. I would like to understand why a moving company has the leeway to conduct business in such an unlawful manner; no other legitimate company on earth can treat customers this way and continue to get away with it.
Correct the delivery price; what’s owed to AMB per the contract. Accept my credit card per the contract. America First Services refunds the initial deposit. Refund is just that; how can they refund the money back and tack it back to the bill and tell me they’re not until they get it?
This company’s behavior is unacceptable and needs to be addressed to protect other customers from similar experiences.
We are in the middle of being Extorted by Loadrans & their Shell Broker, Coastal Moving – their initial estimate was $5000, & has now grown to a staggering $17k. Unfortunately, I was not on site at the time, & my agent didn’t realize what was happening. They now have those items hostage.
The items in question belonged to an Army friend who killed himself. I did not perform due diligence in getting his widow moved out, & now have no recourse. I will be pursuing both legal action myself as well as pursuing their insurer & calling in a DOT violation, as it seems they have no legitimate endorsement to transport some of the items they picked up.
My husband’s parents passed away within 6 weeks of each other in California. He stayed at their house clearing it and fixing it up to rent. There was things from over 60 years. I am in Arkansas and called a moving company who said it would be 1900.00 that was quite a bit for retired people on a budget but I paid 600 up front. They arrived and took quite a bit of items then said it was 4500… I said no you said it was 1900 and they said, well it’s already on the truck and we can’t take it off. I gave them 2500 more… Maxed out my credit card… Then 4 weeks later they said now you have to come up with 1652.00 or we will auction your things off… I don’t have it… Then someone called and said they would settle for 1000… Still don’t have it. They said they put it in storage close to me but won’t give me the info till I pay… Moving and storage services. 833-604-0814…. Out of California
Cita Van Lines intimidation game – Had a contract with Coastal Movers (Ryan Rinker) for June 1st 2024. I asked specifically would Coastal Movers move our stuff, “Ryan Stated YES”. I gave a $1,000.00 deposit and Ryan gave me 3 phone #’s for contacts and 1-# was for Ryan. On June 1st, 2024 – Late in the day Cita Van Lines shows up and the intimidation began. I asked (Marisa Botello) where was Coastal Movers? “No Reply”. Not even 5 minutes in the door and Marisa Began to complain about our stuff and started writing a fake contract to override my original. He knew how much the deposit was and the rest of our info. Marisa stated, “we can just leave”. (Intimidation method). They already had $1,000.00 of our money and from that moment on I was not able to reach anyone from the #’s Ryan gave me (We had just been Ghosted by Costal Movers”. Then Marisa complained about the garden stuff on the patio, stating I would have to get someone else to move that stuff (Intimidation method again). Once we moved to our stuff in the storage room Marisa started to complain even more. You’re going to have to get someone else to move that stuff. (Me- what are you talking about, there is plenty of room on the truck (Intimidation method again. During this time, we went from $2,179.25 (original contract) to $5,000.00 and that wasn’t enough for Marisa so he wrote another fake contract for almost $7,000.00. They have our stuff held hostage and took $4,000.00 of my money. Moving to present time September 25, Ruslan contacted me and asked to clear this up. Ruslan began with, “Well now you owe us for storage also”. We went from 100 + boxes to Ruslan stating there are 560 boxes. (did I just go from a 1-bedroom apartment with storage to a 4-bedroom house)? HOW much money does it take to make some business happy?
I signed a moving contract between Dallas, TX and Corpus Christi, TX with Ryan Rinker from Coastal Movers for $2,179.50 on 5/28/24.
The movers showed up on June 1st around 3:30 PM; when I started to discuss the move with Mariso Botello (name on the phone), (Cita Van Lines), (312.826.30820. He looked around and started telling me we need to wrap all this stuff (furniture, TV’s, etc.) and it will cost for all the wrapping. I stated I already have a contract that covers that plus all your travel, etc. He just kept on talking and started t pull out work sheets which I didn’t think was odd while his 2 works started loading the truck. Mariso started pulling all these numbers out and stated again that I already have a contract and the pickup/ delivery are covered plus I already put down a deposit of $994.00. Again, he ignored me and just kept on producing about 5 sheets for me to sign all over the place with my signature which came to a total of a little over $5,000.00 and I was required to give him a check for a little over $1,500.00. Again, I stated this has already been taken care of. I tried to reach Ryan but he wouldn’t answer the phone. Note: the entire time Mariso kept on complaining about the contents while creating more boxes.
After the apartment we went to the storage unit and once the door was opened Mariso started throwing his arms in the air and started to complain about the amount of stuff. I again told him this was already discussed with Ryan. He stated not for this much stuff (I didn’t catch then that he did see the original contract). He stated we will need to create a new contract for even more money. Once done loading we went back to the apartment and he started a new contract sheet but now the amount was $6,657.51 less the deposit, and I was required to give him a check for $2,831.75 and another $2,831.75 once dropped off. As I didn’t have a debit card and couldn’t buck up another $600.00 and they wouldn’t take a check it had to be money order or debit card. They couldn’t deliver my belongings right away; they have to go in storage because they needed the truck for another move.
At this point I didn’t catch 2 things. 1, He knew how much the deposit was and 2, He knew how many items I discussed with Ryan. After they left, I started putting things together and realized I was just scammed! That morning, I sent a text cancelling the check and the fake contract noting I already have a contract for $2,179.00 and they are required to honor it. I drove to Corpus Christi and the next day there were 2 phone messages and a text to discuss delivery. I called the next day and spoke with Jennifer (941.782.18310 and while I was trying to tell her what had happened, she cut me and after a short discussion she stated I canceled the check for $2,831.75 and canceled the contract. I stated this was a bogus contact and she wasn’t honoring the original contract and that time we were done talking and they have my belongings.
Notes: Bud Van Lines (Linda Rodriguez – 732.271.2265)
Lisa (My girlfriend) spoke with another moving company in Irving, TX that stated the following.
Bud Van Lines (Linda Rodriguez – 732.271.2265) General MGR.
Movers go by weight not by box count.
The contract for $2,179.50 was very reasonable for Dallas to Corpus Christi.
There are no storage fees when the delay is on their part.
I was originally told they couldn’t drive more than 4 hours a day due to new trucking regulations so they would be charging me for 2 days travel there and 2 days travel back. This not, she said we can drive up to 14 hours a day as we are not bound by trucking regulations.
One of the guys approached Lisa and stated he was sorry your boyfriend isn’t happy with the contact but can we still get a tip when done.
Linda also stated that Cita Van Lines was trying to scam a senior citizen because we didn’t know any better.
855.935.5525 – Cita
941.782.1831 – Cita Text
305.400.4881 – Ryan – Coastal Movers
888.316.8329 – I think costal movers – Customer Service