This is a really bizarre story. Apparently, the now twice-nominated (and utterly brilliant) actor Tituss Burgess from Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt called a moving company to pick up his couch to be reupholstered. When the movers didn’t show up on time, Tituss called back and the company said they were 15 minutes away and would give him a discount. Immediately after telling him this, they asked that Tituss write a Yelp review for them. As most of us would, Tituss said he would write a review when the job was done. From there, things spiraled. Tituss said the company texted him as soon as he hung up and said “no review, no show” which led to a 45-minute text exchange. They never showed up and Titus wrote the following review to Yelp:
“My name is Tituss Burgess. I’m an Emmy Nominated Actor for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt currently streaming on netflix. Thats besides the point. But watch it. These guys are the absolute most UNPROFESSIONAL workers I have EVER DEALT WITH. I called this man this morning. We chatted. He said he could move my couch at 1pm which was the time I requested. 1:30 still no movers. I called back and he says I will give you a discount .. I said ok. He says but you have to post a review on yelp. I said when you complete the job I will complete the review. FOR THE FOLLOWING I HAVE THE ENTIRE TEXT EXCHANGE SAVED. He texts saying no review no show. This went on for about 45 minutes. It Completely threw my entire day. I called him about 9 times but he wouldn’t pick up but he somehow was capable of texting. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Im going to post this to twitter to my instagram to my Facebook. You messed with the wrong Queen.
#franksexpress #Igotcha #lizaminelli #Iamgonnamakeavideoaboutyoubecauseofthedeepangerifeel #DONOTTHREATENMEIWILLWIN.”
Following that, Tituss took to both Twitter and Instagram as promised. Here is what Tituss has to say about the incident on Instagram (NSFW – language):
You can read the screencaps of his text conversation via his Twitter here and here. There is some language that I don’t want to post. I can’t believe a company would be so stupid to put this in writing.
Or are they? The manager claims that they don’t know Tituss and that no one at the company ever spoke to him. Whether they knew him before or not, the company panicked and ended up posting this to the landing page for their website. I copied it for you, just in case it gets taken down:
Dear Tituss! We are very sorry for fatal misunderstanding. But we have never spoken with you by phone. We never reserve our trucks and crews via phone. It is rule! Our process is next: a customer send us request via website thn a customer must confirm a move plan via email. If you have phone number, saved chat and messages please provide us. We never ask our customer about good reviews before a move. And of course our dispatcher never threatens to our customers. We are very small Company and we watch our reputation. It would be an honor to help Tituss Burgess for us. We would try to do our best. But we suspect that someone is using our good Company name and our reputation. We have appealed to USDOT for help to find cheaters. Please help us with any information about those guys. Please contact with our Owner for the discuss. Thank you in advance. We are using only follow phones number: (—) ——- ; (—)——-; (—) ——-. We are ready to give you any evidences that we did not have any requests from you.
So what happened? Somebody answered “Franks Express” when Tituss called, he has the phone records to prove it. The number from his text exchange is not the same as the ones they list on their website but it is the right area code. Currently, the company is being dragged so badly on Yelp, they have to monitor the page.
I am glad that Tituss is handling this with his usual Tituss flair. No matter what happened, he has every right to be ticked off, yet he can still keep his sense of humor (and plug his show!) Sorry hateful company – you did come for the wrong person and you got SCHOOLED!
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Instagram
Does the company use independent contractors or something? Is that why the different number?
OH MY GIDDY AUNT. I clicked through to the screencaps. The driver used the F word at him. I am actually shocked.
There looks to be a cover up too! Apparently they actively manage the Yelp page by getting people to remove bad reviews. Through bribery and threats.
This company seems so sketchy.
That was my thought, often the actual drivers or movers will have their own phones, so their numbers don’t match up the company’s “general” number. Crazy story.
“Oh MY GIDDY AUNT” I’m stealing this for my new sassy word for my non cussy friends!!
I adore Tituss
HA! You’re welcome!
I don’t know who he is, but I like him now I’ve read this about him.
Sixer, he also had a small (but memorable!) recurring guest role on 30 Rock as D’fwan. I think some of the clips are on YouTube.
I have a guy bff who uses the expression ‘Oh my giddy aunt’ all the time. He’s also fond of exclaiming Merciful Minerva! I have to tell him he has an equally witty British counterpart on line.
Do not use that company if only because they are illiterate. I mean, WT ever-loving F?!
–TheRealPinky
Come on we can call these people out for being awful without laughing at some who is clearly not a native English speaker/writer.
This company is still awful (prior to this story their Yelp page had similar stories and then a bunch of fake 5 star reviews) and I get that there are errors and that takes away from the message. But it’s like one can’t win. Don’t write perfect English and you get dragged, feel more comfortable writing your own language and you get yelled at for not being a good citizen. It’s lose/lose.
English is not their second language, yet the person Titus texts knows the word “f*ggot” like the back of his hand. They get no pass from me. F them. I don’t give a rat’s behind where they’re from or what language they (cannot) speak. My guess is they’re hateful and illiterate in every language. Again, F them.
–TheRealPinky
Plus they knew this had blown up and was a national story. You owe it to your company to put your best foot forward. Let an English speaking employee edit it or write it. The person texting had a grasp of English and someone there has to be a native New Yorker and high school graduate.
The rest of the site is fine. Cynically I think this statement is meant to come off as a small, family business in over their heads dealing with an imposter trying to use their name/reputation when that is not really true. They are full service national movers and partners with a large national moving company as well as providing valet services around NYC.
Meant to write “English IS their second language…”
–TheRealPinky
@ Pinky: Muphry’s [sic] law: if you write a critique of someone’s spelling or grammar, there WILL be a fault in whatever you have written. It’s guaranteed.
I had the same thought!
Strange… I couldn’t find the number on their site – I checked the source code out of curiosity as well… but that number does bring up ads for movers in NY. I also saw a yelp review from 2015 complaining about a company that uses different names and numbers… and there’s a ton of pages out there complaining about movers who used that number. So either they USED to use that number, or someone is playing everyone.
Then they should recognize it and say that rather than this convoluted story.
Was it the personal cell phone of the employee? Sometimes they give you the number of the person coming to your house so you can communicate with them directly
Lol they messed with the wrong person. And yes there were reviews dating back complaining about the same shady behavior or not showing up or using different numbers. So funny
“My name is Tituss Burgess. I’m an Emmy Nominated Actor for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt currently streaming on netflix.”
I wish I was famous enough to introduce myself like that. I know this is supposed to be serious, but I have been laughing so hard since I read about this yesterday. Good on Titus for not putting up with bad service and turning the tables on this fool. Social media has been trying my patience this last week, so this was a welcome story.
At first I was rolling my eyes, but then he added:
“That’s beaide the point. But watch it.”
I couldn’y stop laughing. Way to chill for your show!!!! Hahaha
Totally agree. At first I thought he was just boasting (because I can easily imagine an actor saying that with no irony at all), but he played it nicely in the end. +1 Tituss.
Wow, that statement makes no sense.
Mainly because of grammar.
Extremely weird, especially since the company claims that the number he used doesn’t belong to them. Then where did he get it? I don’t understand how it could be a scam if the person on the other line said to leave a yelp review for the company.
That’s the hang up for me too. Why would someone pretending to be the company insist that he write the company a review?
So the reviews are negative. Could be a competitor?
Whatever the reason, they seem to be a shady company.
Cee – They asked him to leave a five star review though. That is what they were holding service hostage for. Did they just get extremely lucky in that he reacted the way he wanted him to (not just saying “whatever” and putting up a five star review just to get it over with) on top of the luck of a minor celebrity, whose name they recognized contacting them believing he was speaking to their rival. If another company was behind this there is too huge of a risk of this blowing up in their face, especially after using the homophobic slur and putting this all in writing. Plus, Frank is getting a lot of publicity and will get even more if it turns out to be a shady competitor.
I have often been given the cell phone number of a service provider. They generally call you from their cell phone when they’re on their way.
Bullpuckey, it wasn’t their number! I’m betting it was the cell phone number of one of their drivers, I’m sure they recognized the number, and they’re just panicking now because they are being ruined publicly.
The moving industry is among the most unscrupulous service industries, and I have heard countless nightmare stories. The one time I needed to use a moving company, I spent five days researching for a company to use in order to move half a truck worth of furniture less than three miles to my new house. But I’m glad for the effort, everything went smoothly.
Yep, moving can be annightmare, especially when they use subcontractors, as happened with my most recent move.
this reminds me of an article i read awhile back:
http://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/forced-yelp-review
YES!!! I knew I had heard a very similar story before. I read it on xoJane too.
Yelp can really make or break a business — it played a huge part in killing a new and quite decent family owned restaurant in our town after less than a year — so I can see way they would be desperate for good reviews but holy cow did they go about it in the wrong way. Outrageous. I love how Tituss handled it.
Sounds like this company tries to hold people hostage with their services until they get good reviews.
I’m not buying that someone is impersonating this company. If they were doing that they would just pilfer their jobs and income, they wouldn’t ask for online reviews of that specific company. It doesn’t make any sense.
After someone was a half an hour late and saying no review, no show, I would’ve said screw them and called a different company, but I can also understand Titus being so frustrated that he had to vent, and warn others .
There’s nothing in the world better than #lizaminnelli. Thank you Titus. You gave me a gift I didn’t know I needed in my life.
Lmaoooo, the best!
You go Titus(“Pinot NOIRRR- now I can’t hear that w/o cracking up!). He is beyond hysterical.
“Try Jesus, don’t try me! ” I will be saying this forever. Love it!
yes my Queen!
Loved that part as well.
I love Titus!
I think it was likely a driver situation.
One night I worked late and I don’t drive to work because I work in large downtown area that can get expensive. I requested an uber and got all the usual messages, someone picked up your request, headed your way…. But just before the arriving now message I got a text from a number I didn’t know (the uber driver) telling me to cancel so I wouldn’t get charged. Um why would I cancel I need the ride. I watched him on the app drive past me and to the nearby university to do a pickup. I ended up getting charged, which I disputed and having to request another car. I have never had that happen and I don’t blame Uber I blame the driver who was probably more excited at the the thought of picking up drunk college girls then an old lady at an office building.
Well, now I really want to watch UKS…
I love the ridiculousness of the entire show, but it’s worth watching for Tituss alone. He’s so hysterically funny.
I read everything Tituss wrote with his voice in my head and it was amazing.
#TryJesusDon’tTryTituss
I read that and just laughed. They screwed the wrong guy and he has proof too. What was even more funny was Frank emailing Entertainment Weekly with their excuse and denial. EW posted the whole thing online! Go and read it.
The company is full of sh*t. Why would someone impersonat “Franks Express” and not try to get money or personal information out of it which is what these scam artists want.
Yet they just wanted good review for the company they are impersonating???? How stupid do they think the public is.
Not to mention how did Tituss get the number when he made an appointment with “Franks Express” which they acknowledge. Any one who used a moving company or had furniture delivered knows the drive has your number and you sometime get their’s . Just in case there is a problem or they need directions. The drivers number is not on the company websites or in the phone book.
Yassssss! He is brilliant and makes the show! I love him. He’s talented both with acting singing. And he is right… they came for the wrong one! Girl, bye!
#Iamgonnamakeavideoaboutyoubecauseofthedeepangerifeel put me into a giggle fit!
If you look at their Yelp reviews, there are a ton of 5-star reviews and just a handful of 1-star reviews. No business has 5-star reviews ALL the time unless there’s shenanigans going on. Based on Tituss’ texts, I say this company has been holding their customers hostage at the last minute, threatening to not show up if they didn’t post a 5-star review, and if you need something moved immediately, you’re going to just do it. My question is why didn’t the customers go back and edit their 5-star reviews and give them 1 star instead. Even two of the 1-star reviews going back beyond Tituss’ experience says clearly that these people are bigots and misogynists, so go Tituss. Shut ’em down!