The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Nov. 14 canceled the residential moving permit of Kent-based company All My Sons.
The decision comes after an investigation of more than a year that revealed “deceptive business practices” on the part of All My Sons.
According to the state, its investigation revealed that All My Sons had repeatedly overcharged customers, inaccurately estimated the costs of customers’ moves and mishandled damage claims.
All My Sons president Kermit Escribano said he felt his company was being “singled out.”
“They want to make an example out of me,” he said.
Sharon Wallace, assistant director for consumer protection, denied that undue pressure was put on All My Sons.
“This was the result of two investigations,” she said. “There were more than 500 violations in the second audit.”
The permit revocation stems from a July 2007 complaint against the movers. At that time, the WUTC conducted an post-audit review to investigate whether All My Sons had complied with a September 2005 finding that led to a $69,600 fine against the company.
All My Sons negotiated a settlement that involved a $40,950 penalty and an admission of violations.
The 2007 audit, however, revealed the company was continuing to violate Commission statutes and rules, as well as business practices that were “unprofessional, deceptive, and misleading to consumers.” The complaint cites violations in seven different categories including fuel charges, improper estimates and misleading and deceptive business practices.
The WUTC also reports that All My Sons has the highest number of consumer complaints of all residential moving companies in Washington, 42 since 2002.
According to Wallace, that is more than the all other 207 moving companies combined.
An August 2008 hearing was scheduled, but in a letter to the commission, Escribano declined to participate and voluntarily relinquished the company’s residential certificate.
In the letter and again this past week, Escribano stated he felt his company was receiving unfair treatment.
“We also believe we have come squarely within the ‘crosshairs’ of the staff and have been unfairly singled out for extraordinary penalties,” he wrote.
During a brief conversation this past week Escribano reiterated his stand.
The cancellation of the permit means the business is no longer allowed to move residential property within the state, but it is still able to handle commercial moves and out-of-state moves.
The company could in the future apply for a new permit, but Wallace said state law requires the commission to look at past performance, making it unlikely a new permit would be granted.
Escribano said this past week that All My Sons would continue in both of those aspects of the business, as well as storage.
“We’re going to do the best we can,” he said.
The company also on Nov. 16 – two days after the permit was cancelled – put out a press release on an advertising Web site called PRWeb.com outlining its services.
The WUTC forwarded the press release to the Kent Reporter with a note of concern that it seemed to imply in-state moving.
At the bottom of the press release, All My Sons Moving is described as specializing in “local and long-distance moves and proudly serves Seattle, Kent, Bellevue, Tacoma, Everett and surrounding areas.”
Wallace said residential customers who have hired the company for an in-state move after Nov. 14 should call the commission at 1-888-333-9882.
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