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Family Says Botched Move Left Them With House Full Of Destroyed Possessions

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens family was ready to celebrate their daughter's fourth birthday by moving into their first home.

But the Moffats told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan that their move from Queens to Holbrook did not go well.

Bella's Bellini bed was splintered, her mattress was torn by boxcutters, and a matching dresser was scratched and gouged.

"The movers broke my bed, and I am sad," 4-year-old Bella said.

The family said their joy turned to sorrow as a moving company from Suffolk county unloaded their prized possessions.

Items that were wrapped appeared cracked and crushed.

"One of the glasses was broken and then I took it out and I heard more crunching and then another and another and I just burst into tears," Jennifer said.

Lamps and bulb sockets were bent, washing machine electronics were shorted.

Moffat said she bought the men breakfast and had lunch delivered, but when the movers appeared behind schedule, they began arguing among themselves.

"'Hey guys, who is going to fix the refrigerator? You have to put the doors on,' and they started arguing among themselves," she said.

The Moffats hired Bay Shore Moving and Storage because the company came highly recommended and was given an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.

"My company does hundreds of moves each year for families and companies, we try to do our best on each and every move, we regret that this move wasn't handled to the Moffat's complete satisfaction," Kevin Montera, Bay Shore Moving and Storage, said.

The company said it cannot refund the move and that the Moffats must file individual claim forms for each damaged items.

"I definitely want to recoup losses. We paid $1,980 with the deposit. I want that back and I really want my refrigerator replaced," Jennifer said.

Recouping those losses could take weeks, and in most cases the Moffats do not have receipts.

The New York State Department of Transportation said recourse is available. Complaints can be lodged with the DOT, and companies can be forced to rebate losses even without receipts.

 

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