VIP still has NOT returned my deposit, which is illegal

Christine Submitted this review about VIP Auto Transportation Inc.
Review made Live: 8/17/2007 1:44:00 PM
VIP charged my credit card a $200 deposit on 7/20/07. I originally talked to Mike and was told my car would be picked up on 7/23 and then told it would be no later than 7/25. This was the beginning of a daily promise that my car would be picked up "tomorrow", however as you see - tomorrow never came. I called VIP daily to check on the status of pick up and was told it would be tomorrow. After about 3 days of calling and being told "tomorrow", I was told the dispatch called the trucker and found out he was broken down in New Jersey and was getting welding and some parts fixed on his trailer. I was told that they were just waiting on his repairs to be completed and he would be in Delaware to pick up my vehicle as soon as the repairs were completed. This again happened for about 1 week and I made daily calls to follow up and was told it "should be tomorrow".
Every time I called and asked them to contact me back with an actual date that I would be picked up or a status on the trailer being repaired I was told they would call and they never returned my call. During the week of 7/30/07 I was told I could cancel and receive my deposit back, however I was told I really shouldn't cancel, because it will be any day that my car will be transported. Then on 8/6/07 when I called and said another company Browns Auto Transport (which I highly recommend, based on their Customer Service, promises they follow through on, and just good business practices, and Kara who works there is very polite, respectful, and honest) was willing to pick up my vehicle on Wednesday 8/8/07 and I wanted to cancel because I felt my car would never be picked up by VIP and by the lack of trust I had in their organization I was told NO, you can NOT have your deposit back. Larry yelled at me and was very rude and disrespectful. He got very defensive, told me I was not getting my money back, and hung up on me. I talked to him again and it was a very heated conversation on both ends. I haven't ever been treated so rudely by any company that represents themselves as a business, and I have since contacted my credit card company to dispute the charge.

It is illegal for a company to hold funds, or charge you for a purchase and not deliver it. Reputable auto transporters do not charge your credit card until your vehicle is picked up. This was they are not holding funds. I have reported VIP to my credit card company and hopefully soon, they will loose their right to use Visa and MasterCard International based on their chargeback ratio.

PLEASE DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH VIP AUTO, save you the time and stress and deal with a reputable company.

I was even told by a truck driver that picked up my vehicle that "VIP is a scam; they agree to one price and then try to change it on delivery".

Company Response
George from VIP Auto Transportation Inc. Submitted this response.
Response Date: 8/29/2007 4:12:00 PM
This company first of all had booked the order with several companies [4 to be precise]. It had taken a little longer to pickup the vehicle then originally estimated, due to the fact that it was in Delaware and none of the drivers wanted to go there, finally a trucker[P&K carriers was going to pick up the car and the customer would not give it to them]. As a result the order was cancelled and the deposit forfeited as per the contract terms and conditions. You should be advised that there is no one that works here by the name of Larry and never did. Everyone should understand that we do not own the trucks and can make no guaranty other than what the driver relays to us. It is unfortunate that customers like this, that have no understanding of the business are able to make the statements that have been made here. We cant hold the customer at fault for this, since they do not do there homework. There are no additional charges other than what is outlined in the contract.