BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
|
In the matter of the Order Instituting Investigation and Order to Show Cause on the Commission's own motion into the operations and practices of Mr. Move Moving & Storage, Inc., a California corporation, doing business as Load Rock N Roll Moving and Storage, Right Now Moving and Storage, Same Day Moving, Short Notice Moving and Storage, A All-American Relocation, Load Lock N Roll, Long Beach Security Storage, Mister Move, and its president, Eli Galam, Respondents. |
FILED PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION APRIL 21, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO I.05-04-019 |
ORDER INSTITUTING INVESTIGATION TO EXPEDITIOUSLY DETERMINE WHETHER RESPONDENTS' HOUSEHOLD GOODS CARRIER PERMIT SHOULD BE REVOKED WITH PREJUDICE AND WHETHER OTHER RELIEF AND SANCTIONS SHOULD BE APPLIED
I. INTRODUCTION
We issue this Order Instituting Investigation (OII) and Order To Show Cause (OSC) to expeditiously determine whether Mr. Move Moving & Storage, Inc.1 (Mr. Move) has violated the laws and regulations that govern household goods carriers, whether its household goods carrier permit should be revoked, and whether other relief and sanctions should be applied. The Commission's Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD or staff) has prepared investigative reports and obtained declarations from 19 consumers documenting the allegations in this case. Staff's investigation disclosed numerous violations of consumer protection rules in the Commission's Maximum Rate Tariff 4 (MAX 4), including "holding goods hostage" and threatening to auction them unless the consumers paid significantly more than the "Not To Exceed Price", and operations during periods of suspension notwithstanding staff directives to immediately cease and desist all operations.
Staff's reports and the consumer declarations also demonstrate that Mr. Move has done the following:
1. Failed to unload shipments upon payment of the Not To Exceed Price;
2. Failed to timely acknowledge and process consumers' claims for lost, stolen or damaged goods;
3. Failed to properly supervise and train its employees resulting in untrained and unqualified workers;
4. Failed to properly supervise and manage its employees and facilities resulting in items being stolen while in the custody of Mr. Move and/or its agents and employees;
5. Provided illegal verbal estimates; charged more than the provided estimate;
6. Failed to provide a valid Change Order for services and charges not covered by the estimate;
7. Failed to provide the required "Not To Exceed Price" on shipping documents;
8. Failed to issue the "Important Information For Persons Moving Household Goods" booklet;
9. Failed to offer or allow consumers to select a valuation coverage other than $0.60 per pound per article;
10. Failed to provide shippers with an Agreement For Moving Services prior to commencement of any moving services;
11. Failed to include required information on shipping documents;
12. Failed to provide shippers with a Shipping Order and Freight Bill;
13. Charged customer in excess of the total time loading, unloading and double the driving time;
14. Assessed unauthorized charges for paper and packing tape;
15. Charged hourly rates on shipments transported in excess of 100 constructive miles;
16. Failed to obtain a weighmaster's certificate when required;
17. Failed to provide requested records to a Commission representative; and failed to cross-reference all fictitious business names in its yellow pages directory advertisements.
In view of the scope and serious nature of the allegations, and the possible harm we perceive to the public, this proceeding shall be expedited.
