California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov
CPUC INVESTIGATIONS RESULT IN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND FINES IMPOSED ON VARIOUS MOVING COMPANIES
SAN FRANCISCO, November 9, 2009 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in its ongoing commitment to consumer protection, has recently taken a number of actions to protect consumers from illegally operating moving companies.
During the third quarter of 2009, CPUC staff took the following enforcement actions against moving companies for violations of the Public Utilities Code and CPUC rules and regulations, including Maximum Rate Tariff 4 (MAX 4), which contains maximum rates that carriers must observe as well as rules and regulations governing intrastate moves.
1. Administrative Citation
Six companies were cited and fined (totaling $29,250) for one or more of the violations listed below. One of the companies was also directed to pay $7,475 in consumer restitution.
1. Assessed unlawful charges for paper pads
2. Engaged employees without evidence of workers' compensation insurance on file
3. Failed to include "Not To Exceed Price"
4. Failed to issue and/or properly complete the "Important Notice About Your Move" document to shippers
5. Failed to issue the "Important Information for Persons Moving Household Goods Booklet" to shippers
6. Failed to issue the Combined Agreement and Freight Bill document to shippers
7. Failed to produce requested records
8. Incomplete Combined Agreements for Moving Services and Freight Bills
9. Operated and advertised without a valid permit (prior to issuance, after suspension and revocation)
Companies cited:
1. ASAP Relocation, Inc. dba Americas Best Movers, San Jose (MTR 189718)
2. Continental Express Inc., a California Corporation dba Express Moves and Fast Lane Moves, Fremont (MTR 190272)
3. Luis A. Morales dba Louie's Central Coast Movers & Labor, Santa Maria (MTR 190552)
4. Scout Relocation, Campbell (MTR 190371)
5. The Charles E Corporation dba Storage and Moving Center, San Leandro (MTR 190102)
6. Trans United Moving Service, Inc., Reseda (MTR 190485)
2. Phone Disconnect
In its ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal moving companies, the CPUC had telephone service shut off to three moving companies operating in California without a household goods permit. These companies continue to advertise and hold themselves out to engage in the business of transporting used household goods, notwithstanding CPUC staff directives to immediately cease and desist unlawful acts and to obtain a household goods permit.
1. Bradley John Wincott dba KTE Piano Moving, San Jose (Unlicensed). The carrier advertised on the Internet offering piano moving services. The advertisement displays a CPUC license number that is no longer valid. Notwithstanding CPUC staff Cease and Desist letters directing the carrier to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the carrier continued to violate the law as evidenced by sting calls conducted by CPUC staff. On July 28, 2009, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Paul Teilh. The order finds that telephone service at two numbers was being used to violate criminal laws in the State of California.
2. Darragh Skelton dba Gaelic Moving and Storage, San Francisco (Unlicensed). The carrier advertised his unlicensed moving business on the Internet and listed one phone number and represented to the public that the company has over six years of experience from working with other moving companies. The carrier also uses other trade names including Irish Professional Movers N Truck, and Two Professional Movers with a Truck. Notwithstanding CPUC staff Cease and Desist letters directing the carrier to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the carrier continued to violate the law as evidenced by sting calls conducted by CPUC staff. On September 17, 2009, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Peter Busch. The order finds that telephone service at one number was being used to violate criminal laws in the State of California.
3. BGT Trans Inc. dba Advanced Moving and Storage, San Jose (Unlicensed). The carrier advertised its unlicensed moving business on the Internet offering household, corporate, and commercial moves. The website also provided tips about storage and allowed a consumer to obtain an online quote for a potential move. BGT also displayed one of its telephone numbers in one of its ads, as well as a Cal-T permit that belongs to Ron Bar, President of CHS Transportation, Inc. Mr. Bar stated that CHS was not operating under the name of "Advanced Moving" and that BGT is owned by Ashley Randall. Notwithstanding CPUC staff Cease and Desist letters directing the carrier to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the carrier continued to violate the law as evidenced by complaints and sting calls. CPUC staff obtained phone records which showed that CHS Transportation is the subscriber to all 13 numbers. On September 8, 2009, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Paul Teilh. However, CPSD was informed by the service provider that six of the 13 numbers were ported out to another service provider in mid July. In addition, CPUC staff discovered that BGT advertised a new toll-free number on its re-designed website. CPUC staff obtained the necessary records and obtained another signed Finding of Probable Cause on September 23, 2009. The order finds that telephone service at 14) numbers was being used to violate criminal laws in the State of California.
3. Criminal Filings
CPUC staff investigations of unlicensed operations resulted in two moving companies being charged criminally for violating the CPUC's rules and regulations. CPUC staff submitted its reports to the Los Angeles City Attorney's office requesting a criminal complaint be filed against these unlicensed companies:
1. Amex Movers, Inc., Los Angeles (MTR 190039) - Complaint #9CA01177 - The carrier was charged with 30 counts of violating various provisions of the Public Utilities Code, and the CPUC's MAX 4 Tariff including but not limited to operating and advertising after permit suspension and revocation; engaging employees without workers' compensation insurance; failing to maintain in effect public liability property damage and cargo insurance; and failing to issue Important Notice with Not To Exceed Price.
2. L.A. Transport Inc. and its president Hassan Velashierdi, Tarzana (MTR 190257) -Complaint #9CA01215 - The carrier is charged with nine counts of violating various provisions of the Public Utilities Code, and the CPUC's MAX 4 Tariff including but not limited to operating and advertising after permit suspension and revocation; engaging employees without workers' compensation insurance; failing to maintain in effect public liability property damage and cargo insurance; and failing to issue Important Notice with Not To Exceed Price. The carrier is also charged with one count of probation violation (36 months probation) from previous misdemeanor filed in 2006 for operating without CPUC authority.
4. Official Notice
Five companies were issued Official Notice for one or more of these violations:
1. Failed to include Cal T-number in advertisements
2. Operated and advertised without a permit (prior to issuance, suspended)
Companies cited:
1. Anthony Sapeto dba Placer Moving, Loomis, (Unlicensed)
2. Conrad D. Hanns dba A Master Movers, San Rafael, (MTR 155500)
3. Paul. Daniel dba A Way To Move, Rocklin, (Unlicensed)
4. Teco Piano and Organ Movers Inc., Downey (Unlicensed)
5. William Leeming dba Billy's Moving, Sonoma (Unlicensed)
5. Cease and Desist Notice
Twenty-two companies were issued Cease and Desist notices for operating and advertising without a valid permit or after permit revocation.
Companies cited were:
1. Aaron Gordon dba Independent Moving Assistance Service, Sacramento (Unlicensed)
2. Affordable Moving, Los Angeles (Unlicensed)
3. BGT Transportation dba Advanced Moving and Storage Systems, Sunnyvale (Unlicensed)
4. Brendan O'Halloran dba South Bay Moving and South Bay Moving Services, San Jose (Unlicensed)
5. Direct Moving & Storage, Sherman Oaks (Unlicensed)
6. Express Moving Network, Inc., and Ohad Ben Shushan dba and Best Moving Van Lines, San Jose (Unlicensed)
7. Fabricio Lunardi dba Lunardi Moving Services, Santa Clara (Unlicensed)
8. FlatRate Moving & Storage, Inc., Maryland (Unlicensed)
9. Francisco Alvarez dba Roosters Moving Company, San Jose (Unlicensed)
10. Georgios Paitaris dba SD Moving Assistance, San Diego (Unlicensed)
11. Graduates of Starving Students, Los Angeles (Unlicensed)
12. Happy Hauling, Malibu (Unlicensed)
13. Johnny Wong dba Golden Gate Moving, San Francisco (Unlicensed)
14. Layne Craig dba Movers on the Side, Napa (Unlicensed)
15. Leroy Luckett dba The Movers, Beaumont (Unlicensed)
16. Mike Horgan dba Mikey Moves4U, Anaheim (Unlicensed)
17. Neil Crofton dba 2 Irish Men And a Truck, San Francisco (Unlicensed)
18. Santa Rosa Music Center, Santa Rosa (MTR 189705-Denied)
19. Teco Piano and Organ Movers Inc., Downey (Unlicensed)
20. Union Moving Services, Encino (Unlicensed)
21. William Leeming dba Billy's Moving, Sonoma (Unlicensed)
22. Zakaria Saakian dba Zaks Moving, Los Angeles (Unlicensed)
For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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