Interstate Car Transport Experiences

XYLINC · 02-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Well it looks as though I'm going to get absolutely nowhere in getting VIP to honour their advertising claims so I would like to share my experience with all fellow car enthusiasts out there in the hope that what happened to me does not happen to any of you.

Last year I bought a rolling shell XY Falcon from interstate and as the body had been restored I needed a specialised car carrier to deliver it to Melbourne at which time I would pick the car up and bring it home. Having not used a specialised carrier before, but seeing V.I.P's advertising everywhere I assumed they were the people to use. Their advertising suggests that cars are transported in fully enclosed VIP transporters, fully insured against any damage whatsoever and constantly monitored by trained professionals. I decided it was worth paying three times the price of a conventional carrier to ensure this car arrived safely.

Bear in mind this is exactly the same service that would have been provided for a phase 3.

I got a phone call late on a saturday morning to let me know the car had arrived in Melbourne. I advised that I couldnt get there until monday and asked if the car would be safe and secure over the weekend to which they assured me it would. I arrived Monday to find the car outside on a dirt hardstand area in a commercial transport depot in Dandenong, on full view to the main road and collecting all the dust and dirt thrown in the air by the other trucks coming and going 24/7. Upon inspecting the car it had been damaged, paint was scratched and chipped on the guards and the bonnet, and the guards were also marked from a strap that had been used to tie down the front of the car. I advised the depot manager, who was not aware of any damage and asked for the condition report. "The what" he said! As there was no sign of VIP in this depot I loaded up the car as quick as I could, pulled out of the yard and rang VIP. Initially they were quite helpful and it looked like I was going to be taken care of. By the time I got home however there was an email waiting for me that claimed no responsibility due to the damage being as a result of a poor quality restoration.

Upon further investigation I found that VIP did not transport the car at all. They subcontracted it out to a conventional carrier that transported the car in an open normal transporter. The subcontracted carrier was not interested in hearing about a claim at all and VIP's insurance wouldnt cover it because they didnt carry it. After getting nowhere with VIP I contacted consumer affairs. Consumer affairs contacted VIP who stated they had no record of dealing with me and suggested I may have dealt with "Pitstop Automotive", another of their companies but one that was now in liquidation, leaving me nowhere to go and a repair bill of $1400.00.

Now I am sure there are others out there that have used these guys with no hassle at all but be warned, if you do have problems, this is the level of service you may well get for your money.

pertuan · 02-02-2008, 09:15 PM

Surely you would have gotten some paperwork that has a VIP letterhead?

XYLINC · 02-02-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

Surely you would have gotten some paperwork that has a VIP letterhead?

Booked and paid for over the phone by visa. Never sent a reciept. Apparently they also have two companies nearly called the same thing, VIP Automotive and VIP Automotive Solutions. They claim I went through VIP Automotive which is a part of Pitstop. All their advertising stated VIP Automotive Solutions but apparently I have no control over which company they use the process the transaction.

Kryton · 02-02-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mltucker

Booked and paid for over the phone by visa.

and what does the VISA statement say?

XYLINC · 02-02-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

and what does the VISA statement say?

It says VIP Automotive but seems to abbreviate it due to space. Have requested a search from the bank but as yet the slackers have only come back to me with more questions. Getting frustrated with every turn in this matter.

JOSH · 02-02-2008, 09:41 PM

do you have photo's of it before it went on the truck?

Tiapan · 03-02-2008, 12:24 AM

well thats f*cked! i wont be using them to get to nats, neither will any mates

pauljh74 · 03-02-2008, 01:10 AM

Did you ring them from home? Your phone bill should show you called the number of VIP automotive solutions. The email may have been sent from the same as well. This would be evidence of who you contacted.

Sure they can subcontract it, but ultimately they are still responsible.
Perhaps a charge back on the credit card is another option to investigate? I don't know how much they charged for the car transport, but it should help pay your repair bill.

XYLINC · 03-02-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauljh74

Did you ring them from home? Your phone bill should show you called the number of VIP automotive solutions. The email may have been sent from the same as well. This would be evidence of who you contacted.

Sure they can subcontract it, but ultimately they are still responsible.
Perhaps a charge back on the credit card is another option to investigate? I don't know how much they charged for the car transport, but it should help pay your repair bill.

Unfortunately, according to my legal advice, regardless of who I contacted if the transaction went through one of these other companies that are being wound up I'm buggered. Aside from that, yes they are still responsible if they contract it out but how much do you spend in legal costs to recover a $1400 damage bill. Consumer affairs got nowhere and they are a toothless tiger anyway, they cant force anyone to do anything, they can only try and negotiate on your behalf. Transport cost was $1100 whereas the same shift with a conventional carrier would have been in the $300 range.

XYLINC · 03-02-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiapan

well thats f*cked! i wont be using them to get to nats, neither will any mates

I have used a couple of smaller firms since then that are owner operators and the service you get with them is EXACTLY what you should expect. They have also told me a few stories about other customers experiences with VIP and I have to tell you they made me cringe, I got off lightly. These companies need to learn that you cant walk all over us like we are nothing, without us they are nothing and our biggest voice is not using them so tell as many as you can.

Yellow_Festiva · 03-02-2008, 01:15 AM

If it has been paid in Visa, perhaps you can go to your bank and dispute (and possibly reverse) the payment, under the grounds that you did not get what you have paid for??

ELGT4me · 03-02-2008, 06:10 AM

In all honesty, I would not use TNT/Ceva (or whatever they are called this week!!!) VIP or Autotrans. Both my EL GT,s were badly damaged by these companies. Does anyone remember the TS50 from Perth that was stripped (inside a container!!!) enroute to Melbourne for the 2005 FPV/Tickford Open Day? To avoid libel allegations against this forum, pm me & I will tell you how I succeeded in my damages claim against TNT/Ceva & VIP Car Transport.

:

XYLINC · 03-02-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

In all honesty, I would not use TNT/Ceva (or whatever they are called this week!!!) VIP or Autotrans. Both my EL GT,s were badly damaged by these companies. Does anyone remember the TS50 from Perth that was stripped (inside a container!!!) enroute to Melbourne for the 2005 FPV/Tickford Open Day? To avoid libel allegations against this forum, pm me & I will tell you how I succeeded in my damages claim against TNT/Ceva & VIP Car Transport.

:

Thanks mate, neither will I from now on but there are many of us car enthusiasts out there that are not aware of how unscrupulous these guys are. If I knew then what I know now there is no way I would have used them and all it would have taken is someone like me sharing my experience as I'm doing now. Word of mouth is the best, or worst, form of advertising. I will PM you mate, cheers.

esp302v8 · 03-02-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

In all honesty, I would not use TNT/Ceva (or whatever they are called this week!!!) VIP or Autotrans. Both my EL GT,s were badly damaged by these companies. Does anyone remember the TS50 from Perth that was stripped (inside a container!!!) enroute to Melbourne for the 2005 FPV/Tickford Open Day? To avoid libel allegations against this forum, pm me & I will tell you how I succeeded in my damages claim against TNT/Ceva & VIP Car Transport.

:

I've had my ESP shipped from Sydney to Perth 2 1/2 years ago then from Perth to Melb. and back to Perth Nov-Dec last year all by TNT/Ceva and had no probs what so ever. Even my mates XD Phase 5 went with my ESP to Melb as well with no damage at all.
Even had my XD Ghia from Melb to Perth via TNT/Ceva 15 months ago with no dramas.

Guess we were lucky then !!! or you were real unlucky ???

Andy.

XYLINC · 03-02-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esp302v8

I've had my ESP shipped from Sydney to Perth 2 1/2 years ago then from Perth to Melb. and back to Perth Nov-Dec last year all by TNT/Ceva and had no probs what so ever. Even my mates XD Phase 5 went with my ESP to Melb as well with no damage at all.
Even had my XD Ghia from Melb to Perth via TNT/Ceva 15 months ago with no dramas.

Guess we were lucky then !!! or you were real unlucky ???

Andy.

At some point you have to expect that a car is going to get damaged, its how its dealt with thats the issue. If they had covered the damage as per their advertising claim "100% fully insured to $60k" I wouldnt have a problem. Youve had a good run and I have no doubt most people do but this just shows what you could be in for if damage does occur to one of your cars. Its all good and they are full of smiles and promises till you throw a claim into the mix, and all of a sudden the reputable companies rise to the top and the scum show themselves for what they really are.

ELGT4me · 03-02-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esp302v8

I've had my ESP shipped from Sydney to Perth 2 1/2 years ago then from Perth to Melb. and back to Perth Nov-Dec last year all by TNT/Ceva and had no probs what so ever. Even my mates XD Phase 5 went with my ESP to Melb as well with no damage at all.
Even had my XD Ghia from Melb to Perth via TNT/Ceva 15 months ago with no dramas.

Guess we were lucky then !!! or you were real unlucky ???

Andy.

Well I must be unlucky, Heritage Green EL GT arrives in Melbourne, COVERED in red dust on the interior? grease all over front seat & steering wheel. Scuff plate on drivers side scratched & covered in grease. Drivers side carpet & mat, covered in grease, work boot marks across the bonnet.(from climbing out of the vehicle when it was supposedly put into a container!!!) Drivers side mirror scratched & chipped. Front spoiler almost detached from the car. Obviously the car "bottomed out" when being loaded onto ramps. (Since when do you use ramps when your car is in a container?) I also enquired how the "red dust" got into the car, when all the windows were wound up & the car was in a container? TNT,s reply "the container must have a hole in it" As if. From what I can make out my car left Perth in a container, arrived in Adelaide, then was trucked to Melbourne. Luckily I paid the "premium rate" for the cars transport, can you imagine what would of happened to the car if I went with the "budget rate"? The TS 50 was "raped" inside the container because someone "forgot" to lock the container. Did TNT pay for any of the damages? No Sir, but they managed to try & remove the rear bumper on the return journey to Perth. They did admit liability for the TS50 & numerous other cars, but the TS has never been completely repaired.

:
'

XYLINC · 03-02-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

Well I must be unlucky, Heritage Green EL GT arrives in Melbourne, COVERED in red dust on the interior? grease all over front seat & steering wheel. Scuff plate on drivers side scratched & covered in grease. Drivers side carpet & mat, covered in grease, work boot marks across the bonnet.(from climbing out of the vehicle when it was supposedly put into a container!!!) Drivers side mirror scratched & chipped. Front spoiler almost detached from the car. Obviously the car "bottomed out" when being loaded onto ramps. (Since when do you use ramps when your car is in a container?) I also enquired how the "red dust" got into the car, when all the windows were wound up & the car was in a container? TNT,s reply "the container must have a hole in it" As if. From what I can make out my car left Perth in a container, arrived in Adelaide, then was trucked to Melbourne. Luckily I paid the "premium rate" for the cars transport, can you imagine what would of happened to the car if I went with the "budget rate"? The TS 50 was "raped" inside the container because someone "forgot" to lock the container. Did TNT pay for any of the damages? No Sir, but they managed to try & remove the rear bumper on the return journey to Perth. They did admit liability for the TS50 & numerous other cars, but the TS has never been completely repaired.

:
'

They are unreal arent they, they must think we have "di@# h%#d tattoo'd across our forehead. These guy's told me they believed it was a poor quality restoration and the paint had just fallen off the car!!!!! They also said running a strap across the bonnet from guard to guard does not happen and is against safety policy, also the car was seen arriving in the depot with only tyre straps in use. I said out of all the cars arriving at the depot 24/7 are you to tell me that mine is remembered for such a thing!, and how is it my car can be seen arriving when I paid for fully enclosed transport.............no answer!

AU Mont · 18-07-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

In all honesty, I would not use TNT/Ceva (or whatever they are called this week!!!) VIP or Autotrans.

nothing wrong with posting your personal experience?

i used ceva once and the car showed up with a nasty scrape on the rear guard, but because it had been touched up with the right colour, i assumed it the car had that before hand, as i bought the car sight unseen so didnt know who to blame?

SPArKy_Dave · 18-07-2012, 11:00 PM

Here's some pics of what they (ALIGN) did to my baby............. the dogs......

Bush mechanics fix on the negative battery lead

The diode rectifier pack in the altenator got fried too, so I bush mechanic'd in a falcon unit, to get me home.

Laminge · 03-02-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

If it has been paid in Visa, perhaps you can go to your bank and dispute (and possibly reverse) the payment, under the grounds that you did not get what you have paid for??

If you paid within the last 6 months on Visa, dispute the transaction, in their own words they appear not have transported the car, get your money back at least.

XYLINC · 03-02-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laminge

If you paid within the last 6 months on Visa, dispute the transaction, in their own words they appear not have transported the car, get your money back at least.

Thanks mate, I will check that path on monday.

theunfairadvant · 03-02-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mltucker

Thanks mate, I will check that path on monday.

Just go to the bank and fill in a chargeback forms, tell the bank that they
did not provide the service as promise so you want to do a chargeback.

Just keep doing the chargeback as everytime you do a chargeback,
VIP will have to pay $110 bucks to their merchant.
It cost you nothing just your time at the queue.

I have done a chargeback to a merchant 15 times
till they decided to give me my money back.

OLDFORDNUT · 03-02-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laminge

If you paid within the last 6 months on Visa, dispute the transaction, in their own words they appear not have transported the car, get your money back at least.

yes its amazing how they can trap themselves

OLDFORDNUT · 03-02-2008, 10:34 AM

a friend got his big dollar Monaro taken from QLD to Melbourne with toll's a couple of years ago,picked it up from there transport depot in Melbourne and the brand new street strip tyres (mc cleary) i think they were called,half bald and tyre rubber all over his inner guards and bottom of rear quarters,scratches around door handles and bonnet ,fuel guage gone from half to just above empty, the trip was supposed to take about 4 days yet took 7,he kicked up a stink but got nowhere as photos his brother took when truck turned up were useless as they were not of car actually on transporter.since then i always take photo of driver loading my cars and tell friends to do the same.

vandrsxr6 · 03-02-2008, 11:09 AM

Very dodgy behaviour, I'd be going to the office of fair trading and get them to investigate their very devious acts.

The way they have done this with sister companies and stating that it was the other one is not on. They are owned by the same man and that man needs to be responsible.

DON"T GIVE UP.

fordon · 03-02-2008, 11:32 AM

Write a letter to Today Tonight,there always looking to make a story on something !

**Falcon Coupe** · 03-02-2008, 11:41 AM

I find the personal accounts in this thread absolutely disgusting.
These so called professional car transporters have a lot to answer for.

Yellow_Festiva · 03-02-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

I find the personal accounts in this thread absolutely disgusting.
These so called professional car transporters have a lot to answer for.

Hear here... I'm the sort of guy that tries to do EVERYTHING myself, time and time again im sick of hearing stories like this, as well as removalests etc stuffing up other peoples stuff.

I'm looking at buying a car thats down in Melb, vary rare and unique.. I wouldn't ever consider paying a company to load it up and bring it up to Syd, I'll be flying down and driving her home if the transaction goes through.

Same if the car was in Perth, but thats just me.

MRHELE · 04-02-2008, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Hear here... I'm the sort of guy that tries to do EVERYTHING myself, time and time again im sick of hearing stories like this, as well as removalests etc stuffing up other peoples stuff.

I'm looking at buying a car thats down in Melb, vary rare and unique.. I wouldn't ever consider paying a company to load it up and bring it up to Syd, I'll be flying down and driving her home if the transaction goes through.

Same if the car was in Perth, but thats just me.

My mate purchased a car from Melbourne that needed to be brought back up to Sydney.
After throwing around a few idea's including;

* Driving it back (no High Octane Fuel on the way up)
* Towing it back (hire a Car Trailer and go for a 12 hour trip towing 2 tonnes, no thanks)
* Get it picked up by one of the Logistics companies (the car is/was mint, so he didn't want those rough c*nt's messing it up)

he got a tilt tray tow truck to go and pick it up and bring it back.
My mate flew down and witnessed the car go on the truck, then flew back in time to drive it off.
The proprietor was Caringbah Towing, and their service and reliability was spot on, with no hiccup's at all during the transaction. Sure the price was higher that the other option's, but for the piece of mind you'd definately pay if you're a fussy c*nt.
Highly recommended.

Plugg3r · 04-02-2008, 11:56 AM

How you going guys,
My old man owned a car carrying company for many years so i'll give you all a peice of advice.

V.I.P carriers will always be top dollar they will be enclosed inside a solid trailer not a normal car carrying deck.

They're great but yes high priced.

If they're inside a normal car carrying trailer with tarp sides they're not V.I.P but just people who claim they're.

Also always go for private companys not big names, you'll get better service and they will always look after your car better as its there livally hood.

If you're looking for a good car transporter for Melbourne - Adelaide - Perth - Darwin have a ring up of GJH Haulage.. It's my cousin's business and they're very reliable.