Ralston JF Co Inc at 3200 U.S. 277, Carrizo Springs

Reviews

• Cynthia Whitlock

  Oct 21, 2018
  ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
  I am a small business owner and needed help in moving a metal container. Ralston was recommended by a friend who said he was a reasonable company. I called the company and they referred me to an employee who said I will get back to you on Friday after I see if we can move container. I heard nothing from the employee and I called him back on Monday or Tuesday. He said I am sending someone right now. As unexpected there were several issues that had not been resolved on my part. In the meantime the employee was there ready to pick up the container. He had told me he would charge $143.00 and hour. I figured that it would take 2 hours total to move. I had not been given enough notice so I could have resolved all the issues. I had to call the friend where they were moving the container to Carrizo Springs from Asherton which is about 9 miles and maybe 4 blocks off of Hwy 277 to the new location. When all was said and done I get a bill for 41/2 hours $643.50. I disputed the amount with the employee and I was referred to the owner. I told the owner that I would have never hired them because I got a quote for $375 as a flat rate that was calculated by time and distance. I called him because the friend said he was reasonable. When I spoke to him he said that all companies charge the moment they leave the yard. I told him where I live they do not do that. They tell you up front that there is a service charge for coming to you and what the hourly cost and they give you a ball park figure. No one had explained to me the charges. I did ask how much and they did say 143/hr. So from there I figured 2 hour 3 tops but that was stretching it. In all fairness they arrived and my friend was there and called me to tell me he had them go back and bring a torch to cut lock. That was a charge I was willing to pay. There were items in the container that needed to be removed and this was adding to the cost. Which I was ignorant to that fact, that they were charging by the hour at that point and not by the moment they were actually doing the work. I send him pictures with time stamp showing when it was loaded on truck 12:00 and another picture showing when it was at my friends 12:45. I was definitely ignorant to the fact and they were wrong in not explaining how they would charge and giving me the opportunity to decline. They were there and ready to pick up I was not ready and I needed it to be moved ASAP. Both of us were wrong and I want anyone using the company to make sure they ask all these questions, I am addressing this to the average person who is not educated on how these companies work. I am quite sure other companies are aware of how this company works. We did resolve issue to charge me the 3 hours which I figured was correct with them having to go back and get a torch. He gave me till the end of the week to pay. I agreed and my friend was going to pay the bill for me. I learned a lesson.

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