A couple planning to move from California faced an unexpected and severe challenge when their moving company allegedly increased the agreed-upon cost. John Nelson and his wife, relocating from Oceanside to North Carolina, described a distressing experience that started in late May as reported by CBS 8.

Initially, the couple signed a contract with a moving broker for a full-service move at over $16,000, paying a $7,000 deposit upfront. However, on the day of the move, the company reportedly raised the price to $32,000, citing more belongings than initially estimated.

“They’ve got $30,000 and they’ve got our stuff… and they’re basically holding it for ransom,” Nelson said.

Despite agreeing to proceed to avoid losing the deposit, Nelson later alleged that the company attempted to impose further charges on delivery.

The company’s contractors tried to deliver the items on June 3, a week before Nelson was ready to receive them. This situation, according to CBS 8, led to an additional redelivery fee.

Nelson claimed that the original delivery attempt seemed staged. The truck showed in a video did not match the one that originally loaded their belongings. He alleged it to be a deceptive tactic to force them into paying more. “As far as I’m concerned, they’ve got stolen property that’s crossed state lines,” he added.

Nelson and his wife reported the issue to police in both Oceanside and their new North Carolina city. Complaints were also filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). CBS 8 noted that the broker had received 280 complaints over three years, contesting the couple’s claims but indicating efforts to resolve the matter.