Description

Mitch Kloter has been advertising his licensed & insured private transportation services across various Facebook groups. There are also several people across the posts who recommended/endorsed him. I reached out to Mitch on May 30th and requested a quote for an upcoming trip I had with my family, for a ride from Southington to JFK on 6/20/2025, and JFK to Southington on 6/29/2025, for 5 people all with large luggage. He guaranteed in a written message he had a Ford Transit (11-passenger van), we spoke on the phone, he sent me an invoice via InvoiceFly for $625 (which included his business name header “Eastern Rentals & Transportation”), and asked for payment up front through Venmo. On June 5th I Venmo'd him half ($313) and asked if I could pay the other half after he completed the first trip scheduled for June 20th. A week passed and he finally responded back, stating he needed the full payment up front. In fear he wasn’t going to pick us up for our family vacation, I Venmo'd him the other half on June 13th ($312). The morning of June 20th, he texted 20 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time (3:40 AM), that he has vehicle issues and would send a “backup driver”. A woman showed up in a Subaru SUV, and I immediately reached out to tell him we were not able to fit. He responded “it’s an 8-passenger car, everything should fit. A seat may need to be folded down”. My dad struggled to puzzle piece all the large luggage to fit, and my brother had to squish in the back with suitcases literally pressed against his face. On the ride to JFK, I texted him that we were extremely disappointed, we had specifically booked with him because he guaranteed the 11-passenger van, and he said he can work with a slight refund for the inconvenience (side note – I received several other quotes that were cheaper, but we went with Mitch so we would have a comfortable amount of space). However, we’re understanding and know vehicle issues can arise at any time, so I didn’t push the issue any further. When we arrived to JFK, the woman who drove us said it would be $200 for the ride. I told her that I already paid Mitch on Venmo, she seemed super confused but we tipped her and went along our way. By the time we landed at our destination, I received several texts from the woman who drove us (and her boss) asking for the $200 and that Mitch has not been responsive, blocked them, and explained they had no idea who Mitch was. They informed me, he had hired their company the night before claiming that it was a ride for “his own family vacation”. We both came to the realization, he hired them as a third-party company claiming they were “his backup drivers” and up-charged my family. Same day June 20th, I reached out to Mitch and cancelled our second trip coming home for June 29th, as well as reiterated the partial refund for not providing the large van as guaranteed. Mitch responded that, that is not how his refund policy works. I referred to the invoice he sent, that states at the bottom "fully refundable if traveler cancels within 72 hours of the pickup time". I screenshot and point out to him that I provided well over 72 hours in advance of our second trip scheduled for June 29th. Since June 20th, I have reached out to him almost every single day. At first he claimed he tried to Venmo me and his account was locked, followed by several other excuses. On July 9th I sent a text to Mitch stating – “Hi Mitch. If I do not receive my full refund by the end of the week, via Apple Pay or Venmo, I will be filing a policy report as well as a report to the Department of Consumer Protection.” He responded that he would meet up to give me cash. I responded – “it’s Venmo or Apple Pay. That is how I sent the money and that is how it needs to be refunded.” He insisted it needs to be cash (*my first thought was that he was going to give counterfeit money, however, that’s only an assumption). Today is now July 27th and I still have not received a refund nor has he agreed to meet me at the police station for the cash exchange. I have since researched his “business”. Nor him or his business name is licensed with the state of CT, and as I stated earlier, he is advertising across many Facebook groups in CT and MA that he is licensed and Insured.