International Van LinesReviews of internationalvanlines.com

We had our move scheduled from Illinois to Exeter-UK. The company had us pack all our stuff on boxes, and the final cost of the move would be estimated at the port based on the final volume of the freight. We were provided with an inaccurate volume estimate to aim for based on our budget and on our initial quote. The initial quote was for 100 cft and the company suggested that we aimed for 70 cft after signing the contract. The reason for this is because the volume of the freight changes at the port after having all stuff palleted. We packed and measured every box and made sure that the total volume was under 70 cft. We the realized that at the port our stuff measured 160 cft, so the final price was $1,000 in excess of the initial cost. The company did not give us a refund, because they claimed that the freight volume estimated at the port was the final price tag. We found it to be unfair and dishonest.

We recently moved cross country from California to North Carolina. We researched and spoke with 3 companies, based on ratings and reviews, and eventually selected International Van Lines (IVL). It’s true what people say about reviews – are they real or are they bots? I can only say that our experience with IVL was a horror show. It was the move from hell! When I initiated the contract, their communication was virtually instantaneous. After I paid my deposit, the communication was virtually non-existent. It would take days or even a week before anyone got back to me. And that was before we even moved. The chaos started the day the movers came to load up our household goods. First, the truck arrived late, and they had a hand-painted cardboard sign on the door of cab that said “IVL”. Clearly not IVL movers but a third party. As they neared the end of loading up, they realized the truck they brought wasn’t big enough, so they had to go get another one. They also ran out of tags for all our goods and had to handwrite on the ones remaining. The home office had miscalculated the size truck that was needed. Not a good sign and it turned out to be a huge when it came to lost items. Then it got worse. I had notified IVL of our move-in date a full 38 days before the actual move-in date! They noted it and then for a month I never heard a word. I sent emails and voice mails and texts for over 2 weeks before someone got back to me saying “Your move is still 2 weeks away, so you won’t hear from us until a few days before. Emails will not be answered until then.” Two days before the delivery date I called and emailed again. Crickets. Finally on the day of the scheduled move, I called asking the ETA of the movers. The person I spoke to said there would not be a delivery for us that day. I asked when we can expect delivery but she couldn’t answer. I then asked, “Do you even know where our stuff is?” She paused (not a good sign) and said, “I will have to get back to you”. She did, about an hour later. She told me our goods were still in California and nothing had been done to initiate the move. We were stunned! We then asked when we could expect delivery and she could not tell us. Two weeks after the scheduled delivery date our goods finally arrived. Someone at IVL said they were allowed to take up to 2-21 days to deliver. I said that’s fine, but you had 38 days to get it done and now you tell us you are going to add another 2-21 days onto the delivery date! But that wasn’t the end of this IVL mess. The driver showed up with the truck with our goods, but he was alone and said we might have to wait until the next day so he could get some help. He then told us he was placing an ad on Craig’s List to try and get people to help him to unload. At that point, I notified IVL’s dispatcher and told him, “What the hell kind of organization are you running?” To date he has not replied. Maybe he doesn’t know how or what to say. Once we finished unpacking, we were missing 7 items and had numerous items broken. But that was bound to happen. Since they miscalculated the size of the truck and the number of labels for each of our items, it was a no brainer that the ones they had to hand write on were probably never going to reach us. Standing in our driveway on moving day watching these guys scramble, we knew it would be a miracle if all our goods arrived. And they didn’t. All we can say to those of you who may be considering IVL for your move – DON’T!!! There are other companies out there that must be better. The IVL website claims they are recommended by Forbes. Maybe they are, but who really knows? Is it a true review or was it purchased? I can’t believe a company like Forbes would ever endorse a company like International Van Lines if they knew what a terrible company it is. IVL gets an “F” for service, communication, honesty, and commitments. If you do hire IVL for your move, you do so at your own risk. You have been forewarned!!!

BEFORE YOU DECIDE -- PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW Having had bad experiences in the past, I decided to try IVL based on their many good reviews. What sold me were statments from the sales agents (also in their online marketing material) that they have their own team of movers. That was supposed to ensure some level of quality and provide more comfort. They lied to me. We received local day laborers and they didn't send enough people. Our move was a complete disaster. As for the 24x7 service they promise? Well--as I was told by the client service team I called for help, it's not available on weekends and they take 2 days to get back to you. PLEASE learn from our mistake. This was the single worst experience we have had with ANY company for ANY service. Hidden costs, cash payments without receipts, and lots of moving-day surprises will turn what should be a happy day (moving to a new home) into a nightmare. Do not fall for the internet hype.

They lost our boxes! They have never been found. 13 out of the 75 boxes were never found. We were advised by a competitor not to use IVL because they use third party movers. Should have listened. When the boxes arrived the deliveries didn’t even have a checklist they were delivering against. They could have given the lost boxes to anyone or they are rotting in a warehouse somewhere. Irreplaceable possessions. We are heart broken.

This move was a complete DISASTER!!! Do Not use International Van Lines. They said their quote would not change. The day of the move they asked for $5000 more on the spot or they would not do our move!! We had already paid them $10,000 which we would not get back if we didn't pay the extra $5000! This was TERRIBLE!! Then they did a horrible job unloading. Almost every box was put in the wrong room and on the wrong level of the house!! They didn't put back together at least 80% of our furniture that they disassembled!!! They said they never used contractors without packing skills to unload, but they did. They packed sharp wire hangers in with clothes that are now ruined! They packed heavy items on top of breakables that are now ruined! I will have to hire and pay someone to reassemble furniture and move boxes to the correct room. I can't even get to basic things I need because they put heavy boxes that I can't move on top of them. They didn't care at all about unloading. They contracted only 2 guys to unload when it was 100 degrees! I called and told them about the boxes in the wrong rooms and level of house and about all the furniture not assembled. They really didn't care. WORST MOVE EVER!! DO NOT USE International Van Lines

The first quote of the company for a « door to door service » was: $3834, for a volume of 120 cf. (840 lbs.) It would take « 6 to 8 weeks » We first payed $2080 and then $2121… not exactly what was planned, because of a weight overages of 115 lbs… (the company asked us to focus on the cf, not the weight but that’s fine). Our 20 boxes left our home in California on June 11th. It left SF on July 4th (too bad for us) and we are still waiting for the cargo to arrive in Sydney. And of course, after the quarantine, we should receive our personal goods more than 17 weeks after the pick up ! Even crazier, they ignored my last 2 e-mails (asking for help, and because their link to track the container doesn’t work). I rather believe that "service is not received". That’s not exactly what we paid for, and we paid even more than expected $5350 (instead of $3834)... We are very disappointed about the service. EDIT : I can't find a button answer so I edit to answer IVL message. You say "The issue that caused the delay was based on the balance of an unpaid invoice". I have the proof that we paid everything the day you sent the invoice. On the invoice received on June 18th, you said "need to be paid on receipt of receiving it, before June 20th" and we paid on June 18th !

I was unaware of the level of rage, anger, despair, frustration, and powerlessness a company could make me feel until I dealt with International Van Lines. My husband and I are senior citizens, but we are by no means inexperienced or frail. Between us, we have lived through adversity, loss and bureaucratic malfeasance, and have dealt with countless companies and service providers over decades. Yet none of them made me feel as mistreated, ignored, and ultimately abused as International Van Lines. I typically disregard reviews, assuming they’re written by people with too much time or a personal axe to grind. How I wish I had listened to the many warnings about this company. The problems began immediately after we paid. Before the move, they played games with the pricing. Despite sending updated videos proving we’d cleared out half our home — far less than their original quote — they refused to lower the price. Their excuse? They’d already accounted for us downsizing when quoting. A blatant lie designed to trap us. Too close to the move date to quit, we were stuck with their manipulation. And judging by the flood of similar reviews, this appears to be standard practice. Furthermore, despite giving us oral assurances of a delivery date, once they had our money, the company became evasive and uncommunicative. We were left in limbo, unsure when — or even if — our furniture would arrive. When we requested information, we were sent form letters that did not directly address our concerns. Since our belongings didn’t arrive when promised, and since they refused to provide an updated delivery date, we were forced to spend days in a hotel at significant expense. Eventually, we resorted to sleeping on the floor of our new home — with no support, updates, or accountability from the company. The misery didn’t stop when our furniture finally arrived — late. Items were damaged, and the company then began a ridiculously long and exhausting process of evading responsibility. Their handling of our reimbursement claim dragged on month after month after month, filled with stonewalling, delays, excuses, and an utter disregard for the emotional and financial stress this caused us. Eventually, we had no choice but to retain legal counsel to write a formal letter demanding the money we were owed. Only then did the company begin to respond with any seriousness. It should not take a lawyer’s involvement for a company to honor its basic obligations to customers. This entire experience left me emotionally drained and deeply regretful that I ever trusted International Van Lines. It is my firm opinion that this company should not be in business.

Exellent sales reps, but the WORST direct movers!!! Great interactions with sale reps. Professional, competent and responsive personal and online interactions, with excellent Zoom inventory process. HOWEVER -- the actual move experience was the OPPOSITE! (1) Move team showed up in a rental truck. The lead tried many aggressive tricks to inflate the price above the contract price -- despite my actual inventory being significantly LESS than the priced inventory. He mostly tried to convince me that the cu ft of my load was more than estimated, despite IVL inventory specialists performing the cu ft estimate. he also tried to claim items were damaged when they clearly were not. He was clearly very agitated that I did not fall for his tricks and -- after heated calls with IVL corporate -- he had to agree to load AT the quoted price. He also begged for staff tips after the load was complete. (2) After the move team left, I found several screws and industrial staples on my driveway. None of these were in my moved items. I can only guess why they magically "appeared" there. (3) My delivery was several days late. Be aware that they will make you agree that they can deliver up to 3 weeks after the schedlued date. Worse, they cannot (or will not) give you any idea of where your stuff is or when it might show up. They just tell you that the driver will contact you the day prior to delivery. After my second call they stopped returning calls regarding the status of my goods. (4) My delivery was awful. The driver contacted me late one evening with only a couple hours notice, wanting to deliver starting at 8pm. He agreed to 9am the next morning. I had requested two delivery points (a storgage unit and a nearby house). Prior to signing the contract, I was told there would be no extra charge for this. However, the driver informed me it would cost an extra $200. He then showed up -- again in a rental truck -- 40 minutes late and demanded final payment before opening the truck door. Once he started unloading, I noticed that nearly EVERY box was ripped or crushed. I had purchased and personally packed new, heavy duty UHaul boxes. It appeared that they were thrown about like the old Samsonite luggage zoo commercial). Boxes clearly marked "FRAGILE" were placed on the bottom of a 3-box stack. My mother's fragile cuckoo clock -- for which I requested IVL professional packing -- arrived broken, having been packed loosely in a box with a few sheets of packing paper, with the heavy weights left to bounce around loose in the box. My kayak sustained a 1 ft long x 6 in deep dent. My mattress cover was ripped, with the mattress filthy under the rip. One of my box springs arrived in a different plastic cover than the one I provided. My like-new office chair was heavily scratched. Everything was covered in a layer of dust. The driver exclaimed that he had picked my goods out of a warehouse in the condition delivered. By the way, the one staff (not the driver) questioned me early and often (3 times) how much tip I planned to give and then wanted the tip before they unloaded at the second location. In sum, the corporate staff at IVL seemed very responsive and professional. However, the moving staff seemed like 3rd party rip-off artists. BE WARY OF THE CONTRACT CU FT and PRICE -- THEY WILL PLAY TRICKS AT THE ACTUAL MOVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE. ALSO BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE SUBBING OUT THE PHYSICAL MOVE TO LOW-PRICE SHYSTERS! I am perplexed at how this company recieved a decent rating. I would give IVL a ZERO if I could. In the end, I was so disgusted with my exprience that I decided not to fight them on the issues. Therefore, this review will be my recourse.