Atlantic Van Lines

Furniture destroyers--lost items--nothing good to say about them.
Overpriced and they use handlers that could care less about your stuff.
I have moved across Canada several times using the big national firms--no problems----should have read these reviews first!

I'm writing this review because I continue to see that people still use this company.

In 2022 I moved back to Calgary, AB from Sarnia, ON. As no ATVL representative was in the area, I had to complete their form of my contents that needed to be moved to Calgary to get a quote. I paid a deposit and booked them.

On the scheduled day, they arrived and starting loading into a large delivery trucking (they would have to unload it at their central Ontario facility for a reload into a long-haul moving truck). They soon determined that I had more boxes than I had originally guessed (I was still packing); therefore, I paid another $1,500.00 deposit.

The movers in Sarnia were very nice men however even after I fed and provided them with beverages, and gave them a practically brand new $800 BBQ, they still HELPED THEMSELVES TO SOME OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS; as they did not appear in Calgary.

When the driver arrived in Calgary to unload, I showed him a possible option to park in the back alley so they could unload directly into my unit (I live on a SLIGHT hill). The driver made the decision to reverse into the alley but ran over a condo complex yard (shrubs, rock garden) and hit some overhead lines. The parking authority, police and fire dept were all called. He likely received a ticket or fine. Needless to say, my belongings were not delivered that day.

The next morning a very rude ATVL Dispatcher called me to say that they were unable to deliver to my address (because I lived on a hill - they had the address for 3 months). People move in and out of homes and condos on my street all the time.

The rude Dispatched provided 2 options:
1. I could either hire a moving company to meet them and transfer my belongings into their truck and deliver to me
2. I could have ATVL rent a local U-Haul truck to transfer my belongings into that truck and then they would deliver.
Of course, I had to pay additional money for either of these options.

My hands were completely tied as they held my belongings hostage until I paid them more money.

When the ATVL movers finally arrived with my belongings, they refused to take anything but my bed, dressers and 1 desk to the second floor. ATVL wanted to charge me an additional $700.00 because the driver counted 28 stairs (I only counted 23 stairs) - I was not charged for stairs in Sarnia. ATVL eventually dismissed the stair charge but that only made the movers angrier. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, they intentionally dropped furniture, boxes, pictures, etc.

When all was said and done, I submitted a claim but only received $50.00 from ATVL, for the thousands and thousands of dollars THEY did in damages.

My insurance company dealt with ATVL insurance dept. and because I didn't by THEIR insurance, $50 was all they would pay. I asked, "How would me buying THEIR insurance have prevented their incompetent and unethical workers (dispatcher and movers)?" They had no response.

Atlantic Van Lines doesn't weigh an empty and loaded truck. I figured that they charged me $67.00 a box/item. Silly me, as I had only had the experience of moving from Calgary to Sarnia, I figured ATVL would also go by the weight of my belongings and not by each item. Good lesson learned.

I never received an acknowledgement or apology from Atlantic Van Lines for the behaviour of their movers, driver, dispatcher and their unethical business practices.
Truly a horrific and traumatic experience.

When I moved from Calgary, AB to Sarnia, ON 3-1/2 years earlier, I paid 1/2 the price from a national moving company; who were wonderful. I should have stuck with them.

The other national moving company based their actual cost on the weight of my belongings (mileage, fuel, taxes, etc). They presented me with the weigh scale weight prior to loading and then again when they finished loading. I immediately knew the cost and paid them.

This company added multiple extra charges AFTER I signed the written contract aswell as AFTER they collected my stuff so I felt very obligated to pay the random extra fees to ensure they didnt hold my belongings or intentionally damage my things. Honestly if I could have cancelled I definitely would have but at this point it was too late in the process. Horrible experience, I was very worried about the condition of my property the entire time it was under their possession. Multiple things wrecked & ruined in process aswell. Brutal

I would never never never recommend this company to anybody, please check other company before you come to Van lines. The worst worst worst Moving company in the world i will say. Don't trust this people their is a lot of uncaring people working there. my overall experience with Atlantic Van Lines moving company was nothing sort of nightmare. their negligent handling of my belongings, lack and offering only fraction of the value for a damaged item have left me extremely dissatisfied. I strongly discourage anyone from using their services and suggest exploring other moving options that prioritize customer satisfaction and care for belongings. In addition to the missing bag, one of my valuable items worth over $ 500 was missing due to careless handling, however, when i requested a refund they told me to wait 8 to 10 week whereas they offered me a mere $ 20, which is an insult, considering the sentimental and monetary value of the damaged item.

Those who are writing good review there are people that work there or some of their contact, take care don't read those good review, read the bad review you will see. Most of my items is broken and what you will get wait 8 to 10 week and get paid $$$$$20.00 as an Insult.

Only one person is writing good review there so you guys can understand nobody is happy.

WORST WORST WORST COMPANY.

don't trust them.

ITS A terrible COMPANY. They are providing a horrible service they dont use weight for charging as they claim they do. Dont have supplies. Their packing will break your stuff by the time it reaches destination. Im attaching pictures of they packed my stuff.
Also they canceled my refund because I did a review for them.

These people treated our beloved belongings like garbage. We specifically went to U-Haul to get all of our packing materials and boxes so as to have higher quality packing supplies. But that doesn't matter when they throw your things around and stack all your fragile boxes on the bottom of a stacked pile. I've only uploaded a couple of photos but my wife and I have a while album as proof how how much they will care for other people's belongings. They ruined our queen sized mattress even though I bought and wrapped it in a heavy duty cover. It looks like they dragged it behind the truck while moving. It was torn apart and cover in oil stains. The same goes for our bed frame, which was also covered in oil and grease. For the life of me I also don't understand how they managed to break my tiller, they bent the metal frame on it. Nothing it seems was safe from their complete disregard for our belongings. Lamps broken, antique dishes shattered, a wooden chest was turned into kindling, wedding gifts pulverized, etc. The list goes on. But in the end they did offer us compensation after 6 months of back and forth emails for a total of $30 Canadian (After paying them +$11,000 and waiting for the worst pick up and drop off times). If I had to move across three provinces again I would do it myself and save my wife and I the heart break and the sleepless nights of playing "what if we hired a different company". I would never recommend these people to anyone.

if I could do zero stars, I would. This is by far the worst company I have ever encountered. I hired them to move me from my basement apartment at the end of September. I tested positive for Covid with severe symptoms that day. they claimed I could do curbside pick up. which of course I could not agree to because I cannot move my furniture on my own out of a basement while severely sick with Covid and a 3 year old child sick as well. their other solution was to do the same Monday. My landlord refused to give me any extension so that was not an option. They have claimed they arrived and I sent them away, which they did not and I did not. Theyre forcing me to pay $950 now for nothing. no service provided at all and my only option is court. This is how this company treated a very sick single mother with a small child. I ended up having to rent a uhaul an hour away after all. I will be reporting them to the newspaper and local news as well. Absolutely disgusting.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY TO MOVE ANYTHING BELONGING TO YOU! MUCH OF MY STUFF WAS EITHER SEVERELY DAMAGED OR CONFISCATED ALTOGETHER!

Horrible. I packed my boxes and my TV, they were the only items not damaged! I literally watched them throw my stuff off the truck. They did not wrap any furniture in blankets, only cellophane. My bed frame did not arrive with the bed frame supports or the rest of my things. I called immediately to locate my bed frame and was told they couldn't check into it until I filled out a claims form that took 3 months for them to process. I was offered $30 because I chose standard liability. The liability offers 60cents for every pound. Does not mention lost items . This company is horrible and unprofessional. A lot of hidden charges and incompetent movers

Expect no service and extra extra charges, double the quote and add up to 3000 $ extra charges and nearly all my furniture were damaged. They gave me a few hours to fill their claim forms. It has been the move from hell. It is an careless service and a money pit.

I encourage people to file a complaint to Consumer Protection Ontario.