What would you do if you moved out of state only to be robbed of your entire life’s belongings and those of your children by the moving company you not only hired but paid and entrusted to move you across state lines?

Unfortunately, this has been our story.

As a single mother, we left the only home we’ve ever known in California for a new life in Texas, free from circumstances necessitating change to begin a new life, a new beginning. Unfortunately, this journey has not started off as we had hoped and prayed. The moving company we hired, First National Van Lines, has, in accordance with the law, committed theft by extortion robbing us of all of our belongings. Unbeknownst to me, there are loopholes within our federal regulatory system allowing dishonest and disreputable moving companies to mislead consumers into believing they are hiring a reputable company when, in fact, the opposite is true. With that being said, there is an active police investigation on charges of grand theft. The Department of Transportation, and the FBI are conducting their own investigations on allegations of fraud and a well-organized scam, with no resolution to date. My point of contact for Ernest Moving Company, with whom the move was brokered to against contract, disguised under the alias of Alex, has breached the contract and refused the release of our belongings, the presumed storage location, and proof of possession until his demands of thousands more dollars than originally agreed are met. Despite offering Alex payment in full for our belongings, Alex increased the price, and upon offering the increased amount despite ethics, the price was increased again to an unreachable level, leading to the conclusion by the police that most likely our belongings were sold once the movers took possession. It is presumed through the discovery of fake aliases, addresses and such, police and government officials believe these are experienced criminals operating an organized scam outside of the U.S. and potentially committing crimes of a higher caliber, such as embezzlement.

What we’ve lost may seem like "just stuff," as some may say, but it was our stuff—our entire life’s belongings—that we worked over the course of many years to acquire. We left California with the clothes on our backs, a trunk full of essentials, and animals in tow. For almost two months, we have been forced to survive on the items we could cram into the back of a small sedan, with every bit of money left tied up in moving costs. We sold everything we could part with before leaving California for pennies compared to what it cost to begin this new chapter, only holding on to the things that meant the most to us: mementos, baby books, homemade Christmas ornaments, Mother’s Day crafts, as mothers we save from preschool, photo albums, yearbooks, my children’s childhood memories wrapped up in teddy bears, first toys, clothes, locks of hair, ultrasound pictures, things I will never be able to replace; things as a mother, I held near and dear to my heart and truly cherished. With a sentimental disposition, these were irreplaceable valuables that money can never replace: things my children should’ve been able to pass down to their children someday, yet now will never have that chance: letters, pictures, and items from some of the most important people in our lives who have since passed, including the father of my oldest child, whose only memory we had left were handwritten letters, a baby blanket holding fragments of hair, and handprints he left us upon his passing—belongings we often sought comfort in that we’re now being forced to let go of. There is no dollar amount that can make up for the loss we have endured or the substantial emotional and financial hardship this has created. This move was challenging enough, but to then be scammed and extorted by hardened criminals whom we paid to essentially steal our belongings has left me with no words to express the level of despair and grief my family and I have experienced. 

In sharing our story, I ask for your signatures for the following reasons to assist in promoting change:

1. Please share our petition with your family and friends and help us seek justice for not only my family but every consumer past, present, and future who has been forced to abide by the exorbitant demands of criminals or pay the extensive price of losing everything they own.
2. With your signatures, you will assist us in calling for an amendment to Title 49 through the Department of Transportation, compelling our governing agencies to institute stricter policies and regulations against interstate moving companies.
3. These amendments would prevent operations from performing without proof as to the validity of their business names, addresses, and documentation, ensuring credibility before being legitimized into the DOT system. 
4. This change would provide consumers with a DOT database secure with honest and reputable businesses where any and all complaints or allegations of shady business practices would be outwardly visible to us as consumers, allowing for informed consent, which we are currently denied.
5. Unfortunately, as the current status holds, interstate moving companies are being allowed to evade fines and consequences by obtaining a new DOT number, regardless of past mishandling. By doing so, any and all bad marks or allegations against these companies are hidden, and they’re being allowed to establish a new DOT number free of allegations, making it impossible for us as consumers to make an informed decision on the basis of credibility. 
6. Furthermore, I call for changes in our judicial system to allow our public safety officials the authority under the civil code to protect us as consumers against crimes such as theft and extortion at the time of origin and impose consequences against these companies in accordance with the law. 

With that being said, this will not break us; we will rebuild, stand strong, and continue fighting for justice until we reach a resolution. There is power in numbers; therefore, I respectfully call for your support. Help us revamp our laws and agencies to support consumers, strengthen jurisdiction, and utilize these unfortunate circumstances as a catalyst for change. We thank you immensely for your support.