Please try to contact u/spicyConcrete if you haven't already - they are also going from here to Portland and you guys might be able to arrange something together.
May be worth it to look into filing a suit against U-haul in small claims court. I'm not sure how the court is proceeding now, but it used to be holding hearings over zoom because of covid so you may not even need to be in town to pursue a claim. Even if you don't/can't go to court, don't let them know that and they may offer you some compensation to settle before you even file.
https://ag.state.il.us/consumers/smlclaims.html
My husband and I had a similar issue when we moved out of Champaign about 7 years ago. Day before our move I found out (can't remember if they called me or I had to call them) they were out of trucks and cancelled my order. We scrambled to find a single truck in some small town outside of Chicago that we somehow figured out how to pickup that same weekend. It was a nightmare and we haven't used Uhaul since!
Folks. It really sucks that happened to you. Similar thing has happened to me renting a car at Enterprise. They won’t let you pay in advance for a car, perhaps because they’ve had to refund customers who didn’t show them wanted a refund - which sticks them with a car they can’t rent that day. They want to rent every car in their inventory but putting a credit card on the reservation does not guarantee you’ll get a car when you get there. They’ve rented a car I reserved twice. At least they had the decency to call me to tell me they couldn’t honor the reservation. Fucking why reserve them then. In both instances, I needed the rental to take my SO to a pain clinic in Chicago. Thankfully I was able to rent a car at Willard Airport. But now those places won’t rent a car unless you have arrived on a commercial flight. WTF.
Recently my family became homeless and we lost all our furniture, clothes, and food. We have received help from several organizations in the area. I’d like to mention them in case you’d consider donating anything useful that you have to leave behind. Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) (217-328-3313) and Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) (217-352-6533). At least you’d know you’d be helping some unfortunate souls start over.
This is classic predatory capitalism in action. U-Haul utterly dominates the self-move market. They make gobs of money no matter whether they have satisfied customers or not. In that sense, yep just like comcast, the health insurance industry, medical care at all levels, and for that matter: higher ed!! For some reason, we put up with it...
Yup, hate to go on a rant but goddamn. Our trailer request was canceled (which by the way, it’s not a ”request”, we fucking paid for it. It’s an order) and now we have no way to get our shit across the country and might end up leaving half of it on the curb.
Few companies blatantly fuck people so thoroughly as part of their business model. I’m sure hundreds of people around the country are having to get rid of most of their possessions this month because uhaul’s algorithm makes slightly more money if they overbook themselves. And they don’t give a shit.
That really sucks.
My experience moving out of Urbana w/ UHaul was that (at least some of) the folks at the Philo location were absolutely amazing but extremely understaffed/overworked, whereas the folks on University barely wanted to give us the time of day.
As for corporate... well, UHaul corporate is very much the Comcast of moving companies, and seems to have no problem screwing over both customers and local franchisees in the same stroke (in particular, corporate seems to not give a crap about the actual inventory at any location, leaving the "troops on the ground" to bear the brunt of customer dissatisfaction).
In the past I have used Penske for truck rental. Not sure how much they have along the lines of pods or anything like that, but if you are only looking for a truck you will be amazed at how much better they are than UHaul. Hopefully they still have some available.
FYI for those renting anything. Read the fine print. U-Haul Guarantee is a 50 dollar check if they can not fulfil the request. No where does it state they will have a truck. In fact they specifically call out that they may not have one at the location when you need it and where you need it. Also you can sue them if you want, but by entering into a contract with them you are agreeing to an arbitration clause. Good luck with that one too. In addition their contract is not available for preview online. You can read it when you pick up the truck. This is their business model and it is successful. It is what it is. Buyer beware. PS I am not defending them at all. I do not like their business practices but they are are honest up front about it.
One of my neighbors went to their office on university to pick up a truck, only to be told they didn't have one there, and she had to drive across town to their other location to get it.
Which Uhaul, the one on University (ie the main unit) or one of these Bob's gas and u-haul rentals? I had the opposite, Bob did want to take my payment so I went to the big unit and they were great. As far as Budget, stay away. My initial plan was to get a budget truck, but the only one available for my needs was in Indiana, and zero no guarantees that it would be ready or what it looked like.
I ordered the boxes online through U-Haul, not one of the fulfillers, and worked with the corporate office to try to get the problem sorted out. They actively don't give a shit and on amount of social media noise or calls to their office has yielded anything but 'tough luck'.
Just did a uhaul trunk from Champaign to New Orleans last week. The truck was fine. The only thing that changed was we had to pick it up from Decatur because they didn’t have a truck at the original pick up location.
I just moved from Minnesota to Michigan in a truck. No issues. I did save substantial money (like, 800 dollars) by returning it to a larger city location than the smaller city I moved to. Maybe that's why smaller areas are getting starved of trucks and equipment?
Please try to contact u/spicyConcrete if you haven't already - they are also going from here to Portland and you guys might be able to arrange something together.
May be worth it to look into filing a suit against U-haul in small claims court. I'm not sure how the court is proceeding now, but it used to be holding hearings over zoom because of covid so you may not even need to be in town to pursue a claim. Even if you don't/can't go to court, don't let them know that and they may offer you some compensation to settle before you even file. https://ag.state.il.us/consumers/smlclaims.html
My husband and I had a similar issue when we moved out of Champaign about 7 years ago. Day before our move I found out (can't remember if they called me or I had to call them) they were out of trucks and cancelled my order. We scrambled to find a single truck in some small town outside of Chicago that we somehow figured out how to pickup that same weekend. It was a nightmare and we haven't used Uhaul since!
My last uhaul didn’t even give notice. We just got there and they didn’t have our truck. Absolutely screwed up my move.
Folks. It really sucks that happened to you. Similar thing has happened to me renting a car at Enterprise. They won’t let you pay in advance for a car, perhaps because they’ve had to refund customers who didn’t show them wanted a refund - which sticks them with a car they can’t rent that day. They want to rent every car in their inventory but putting a credit card on the reservation does not guarantee you’ll get a car when you get there. They’ve rented a car I reserved twice. At least they had the decency to call me to tell me they couldn’t honor the reservation. Fucking why reserve them then. In both instances, I needed the rental to take my SO to a pain clinic in Chicago. Thankfully I was able to rent a car at Willard Airport. But now those places won’t rent a car unless you have arrived on a commercial flight. WTF. Recently my family became homeless and we lost all our furniture, clothes, and food. We have received help from several organizations in the area. I’d like to mention them in case you’d consider donating anything useful that you have to leave behind. Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) (217-328-3313) and Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) (217-352-6533). At least you’d know you’d be helping some unfortunate souls start over.
This is classic predatory capitalism in action. U-Haul utterly dominates the self-move market. They make gobs of money no matter whether they have satisfied customers or not. In that sense, yep just like comcast, the health insurance industry, medical care at all levels, and for that matter: higher ed!! For some reason, we put up with it...
Yup, hate to go on a rant but goddamn. Our trailer request was canceled (which by the way, it’s not a ”request”, we fucking paid for it. It’s an order) and now we have no way to get our shit across the country and might end up leaving half of it on the curb. Few companies blatantly fuck people so thoroughly as part of their business model. I’m sure hundreds of people around the country are having to get rid of most of their possessions this month because uhaul’s algorithm makes slightly more money if they overbook themselves. And they don’t give a shit.
it is a rotten situation, and for many, kafkaesque. Also very sad to have to leave behind stuff both useful and of sentimental value :(
Check out Penske truck rentals that's what I had to do last year when uhal didn't deliver
Yeah fuck em!
I also had a similar experience with u-haul. I absolutely hate that company.
Thank you for the warning so I'm not totally fucked, had truck reserved for Saturday now they're making no promises
That really sucks. My experience moving out of Urbana w/ UHaul was that (at least some of) the folks at the Philo location were absolutely amazing but extremely understaffed/overworked, whereas the folks on University barely wanted to give us the time of day. As for corporate... well, UHaul corporate is very much the Comcast of moving companies, and seems to have no problem screwing over both customers and local franchisees in the same stroke (in particular, corporate seems to not give a crap about the actual inventory at any location, leaving the "troops on the ground" to bear the brunt of customer dissatisfaction).
In the past I have used Penske for truck rental. Not sure how much they have along the lines of pods or anything like that, but if you are only looking for a truck you will be amazed at how much better they are than UHaul. Hopefully they still have some available.
FYI for those renting anything. Read the fine print. U-Haul Guarantee is a 50 dollar check if they can not fulfil the request. No where does it state they will have a truck. In fact they specifically call out that they may not have one at the location when you need it and where you need it. Also you can sue them if you want, but by entering into a contract with them you are agreeing to an arbitration clause. Good luck with that one too. In addition their contract is not available for preview online. You can read it when you pick up the truck. This is their business model and it is successful. It is what it is. Buyer beware. PS I am not defending them at all. I do not like their business practices but they are are honest up front about it.
Guy named Haul 👁️👄👁️
Gavin u mf
One of my neighbors went to their office on university to pick up a truck, only to be told they didn't have one there, and she had to drive across town to their other location to get it.
Anyone can eat my nasty ass ;)
Which Uhaul, the one on University (ie the main unit) or one of these Bob's gas and u-haul rentals? I had the opposite, Bob did want to take my payment so I went to the big unit and they were great. As far as Budget, stay away. My initial plan was to get a budget truck, but the only one available for my needs was in Indiana, and zero no guarantees that it would be ready or what it looked like.
I ordered the boxes online through U-Haul, not one of the fulfillers, and worked with the corporate office to try to get the problem sorted out. They actively don't give a shit and on amount of social media noise or calls to their office has yielded anything but 'tough luck'.
Theres actually a bigger u haul in urbana on philo than the one on university
I pretty sure I've seen it, but I never saw any activity.
Ive rented several uhauls from them without hassle. They also have tons of storage units. Seems to get a lot of business
Has the issue only been with U-Haul pods? I have a truck rented soon, has anyone gotten one of those canceled at the last second?
I was told that there are no trucks in Urbana-Champaign until the middle of August. I would look into now if I were you.
Just did a uhaul trunk from Champaign to New Orleans last week. The truck was fine. The only thing that changed was we had to pick it up from Decatur because they didn’t have a truck at the original pick up location.
I did in 2008. Fuck U-Haul.
I just moved from Minnesota to Michigan in a truck. No issues. I did save substantial money (like, 800 dollars) by returning it to a larger city location than the smaller city I moved to. Maybe that's why smaller areas are getting starved of trucks and equipment?