Company Response
Goliath Auto Transport from
Goliath Auto Transport Submitted this response.
Response Date: 5/1/2019 4:56:00 PM
Denise is leaving me, Brenden of Goliath Auto Transport a negative review for damage she says happened by her carrier company, (A completely separate company than me, named DIRECT AUTO TRANSPORT, INC)
First off - Denise Signed an order form with me that stated she will do an inspection of her vehicle on pick-up and on delivery for insurance purposes. And that if in the case, there is any damage, to make sure she notes it on the bill of lading before she signs for the release of her car. Denise did not even read my order form. She just signed it.
Secondly - On delivery, the driver gave her MORE PAPERWORK, in the case of damage- another chance for her to inspect her vehicle and mark it on the bill of lading. She says "it was raining and getting dark" so she could not see any damage. So she simply signed the driver's paperwork stating "the vehicle was picked up and delivered in the same condition."
I am a broker. I am not a carrier company. Meaning, the insurance that covers a customers vehicle is held by Direct Auto Transport, NOT Goliath Auto Transport. I did everything I was supposed to do. I set Denise up with a reliable carrier who picked her car up on time and delivered it on time. I also sent Denise a copy of the insurance, as I do every customer. That way if there ever is damage (although that is extremely rare, about 1 out of every 1500 vehicles I ship has a damage claim) but that way if there is damage, I have set her up with everything she needs to take action.
I get a text message from Denise the day after delivery. She claims there is damage. A paint chip on the door, 2 scratches on the back left side of the car and 2 dents somewhere near the tail-light. She sends me pictures of the damage and admits right away, that the damage cannot be seen in the pictures, that it's "hard to get".
What I could see in the pictures, was a paint chip no bigger than half the size of a nail head on the driver's side door. She demanded $550 for this damage. First of all, how am I supposed to know if this paint chip occurred during transport? It's a 2016 Mustang that was in NY while she was in Florida. She even told me another member of her family had been using the car for an extended period of time. So Denise actually does not know when the damage occurred. But she is blaming the transporter.
She could not make a claim through the carrier's insurance because she signed paperwork on delivery after doing the inspection with the driver, stating "NO DAMAGE."
In my professional opinion as an auto mechanic and auto transport broker, this damage did not occur during transport. Even though I cannot see the damage in the pictures, it would be extremely uncommon for a carrier to cause damage to her car the way she describes.
A paint chip here, 2 scratches over there. A couple of dents in the back. (not able to be seen in pictures she took from 1 foot away) is EXTREMELY INCONSISTENT with the type of damage you would get while your vehicle is being transported on a trailer.
She has 3 completely different locations on the car where she "says" there is damage. It just does not add up.
Anyways, I am a nice guy and I figured - let me pay for her paint chip since it's the only thing I can see in her pictures. EVEN THOUGH, she signed paperwork on delivery stating her car was not damaged.
She asked for $550.00! For a ~$75 cosmetic fix. I realized she just wants her money back for the transport! She DID NOT get an auto body tech. to quote her. She came up with her own number.
Denise made her own rules. She neglected to read my contract. She neglected to read the carriers inspection report. But she did sign both very important pieces of paperwork.
I must learn from this as well. This is the first negative review I have ever received in business. I will be more efficient as a coordinator during the time of delivery- and I will remind my customers to check their vehicles for damage! It is wrong of me to assume that customers will inspect their cars for damage even if they signed my contract stating that this is their duty and obligation. I now understand that not everybody reads their contract.
Additionally, It is always a good idea to READ what you are SIGNING.
I will become a better broker because of this & Thank you for your feedback, Denise.