This, to me is the sad part. The packers and the loaders were really very nice, and hard working people. The packers went out of their way to help us save money as soon as they knew that we were paying for this ourselves, and not part of some corporate relocation.

Monday:

Again, the loaders were really good people. They showed up on time (early actually) and worked very hard. Rather early in the day, the driver informed me that our load was going to be significantly over the estimate. It shouldn't be a problem, but he would have to run it by his dispatcher.

At some point in the day, I got a call from the Rep claiming that  the estimate that she gave me was a non-binding estimate, and that our charges would actually be more. I reminded her that we had discussed this, and that I had made a notation on the contract that I (and presumably they) signed that stated

Amount paid will be estimate or actual cost, whichever is less.

She then said that she shouldn't be held to something in a phone converstion, and I replied that the contract that I understood was what was on the paper that I signed and that included the above clause. I told here that I really didn't have time to discuss it at this time, (I was busy packingup everything that I owned ) and we would sort it out later. (First sign of impending trouble)

The packing itself went fairly well, and we ended up giving the driver a bunch of stuff that we didn't really want to move across the country, and hated to throw out.

Tuesday:

Went to the house closing, and things went reasonably well. We had to put some money in an escrow account to fix the furnace which had broken a couple of days before (great timing). Since I had our attorney there, I mentioned to him that there might be a dispute with the movers. He said if there was, just give him a call.  Here's a hint for companies.   Try to work with people who are involved with real estate transactions (and presumably already in touch with lawyers ) instead of just irritating them more.

After I got back from the closing, I get a call from the Rep again

Now, you have to picture all of this in context.  I just packed up everything I own.  I am in a (essentially) empty house. I just signed papers to sell this house.   I am trying to install a handrail in the stairwell so the house will pass an occupancy inspection that will happen in about 15 minutes. 

She still says that the estimate was non-binding, and that we will have to pay more to get our stuff moved (which is by this time already on the road).  I am firm on my point that what I wrote into the contract what I understood to be the agreeement.

I was not in the mood to discuss the finer points of contract law with this person at this point in my life, and asked her who my attorney should get in touch with.

We left town the next day.