State regulators are asking the courts to shut down a Kent-based moving company that they say is operating illegally within state borders.
The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission is seeking to shut down operations at All My Sons Moving and Storage because the company is continuing to handle intrastate residential moves despite the November 2008 revocation of their permit to do so.
“This company is violating an order to stop moving residential customers is the state of Washington,” said Sharon Wallace, assistant director for consumer protection at the UTC. “And they blatantly continue to do so.”
The UTC in November revoked the intrastate residential moving license of All My Sons following an investigation that revealed the company repeatedly overcharging customers, inaccurately estimating the costs of moves and mishandled damage claims. The UTC also found that the company repeatedly violated state laws governing movers and received more than 60 complaints, more than any other mover in the state.
The Feb. 18 court filing details a customer complaint from Nov. 19, five days after the company’s residential permit had been revoked.
“We received another complaint a week after that,” Wallace added.
According to the filing, All My Sons moved a residential customer from University Place to Tumwater while lacking a household goods motor carrier permit. The UTC discovered the violation when that customer complained to them about damaged goods during the move and sought reimbursement for damages from All My Sons.
The company’s Web site also still offers rates on moves within the state of Washington. The complaint also alleges that All My Sons continues to advertise its intrastate household goods motor permit on the Web site, even though the company no longer holds such a permit.
The revocation of All My Sons permit stems from a July 2007 complaint against the movers. At that time, the UTC conducted an audit to investigate whether All My Sons had complied with a September 2005 finding that led to a fine against the company.
The 2007 audit revealed the company was continuing to violate Commission statutes and rules in seven different categories including improper estimates and deceptive business practices.
The November cancellation of the permit meant the business was no longer able to move household goods within the state, though intrastate business moves and residential moves between states were still allowed.
Wallace said any decisions on the case would be left to the judge, but said she knows of at least one mover who was jailed and fined after being found in contempt of a commission order.
“Commission staff are going to seek remedy for the consumers of the state,” she said.
Wallace urged consumers to check with the UTC regarding the license and record of any movers before making a decision on any company.
All My Sons owner Kermit Escribano did not return calls for comment.
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