You are moving. And you’ve many tempting offers. So how much can you trust them? Should you just be concerned about the moving company quote?
Definitely not!
There are many red apples in the moving industry and what you assume to be a lucrative offer can be a deadly scam. With all the planning, you assume everything going on the right track. But it’s easy to get caught up in promises that fake moving companies or deceptive operators advertise. The most important thing to protect your moving experience from fraud is to do your homework; a well-informed, educated consumer is the key.
So what should you do to avoid moving scams? Here, we discuss major moving scams and how you can escape from the clutches of fraudsters.
Always go for licensed moving companies
You need to know that moving companies are licensed and federal law requires every mover in the US to abide by certain regulations and standards of practice that make them more reliable and accountable. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) keeps a tab of every movement of a moving company. However, it seems that to save on a moving company quote, most people approaching moving companies that are not licensed. You should never hire a moving company that’s not licensed or approved by authorities.
You need to be beware of suspicious bids
One of the most ways scammers deceive people is by offering suspicious bids. You should not fall to extremely low moving cost estimates but legitimate companies visually survey all of your belongings and ask important questions about your planning, packing, and delivery. Be critical of the details and perform some due diligence research and you’ll spot a scam long before you fall victim to one.
Let us see a few types of suspicious bids:
The low ball bid
Whenever you receive a moving company quote that is too low than what you’ve expected, you need to think multiple times before accepting it. If you doubt that the company’s sales pitch may seem too good to be true, it is likely missing some important details and could, very possibly, be too good to be true. Before you accept a moving company quote, ensure that you understand the full scope of your final costs.
The Volume-Based Bid
Some moving companies offer quotes based on the cubic footage of truck space and not by estimated weight. Never accept such moving company quotes as interstate moves based on volume are illegal without a weight conversion factor and you need to report it to the FMCSA.
The Phone-Based Bid
Never accept a moving company cost estimate over the phone. It is important that the moving company representative visit your home, take a stock of your household items and ask questions about what you will be taking, where you will be moving, and how you will be packing.
The Handshake Bid
Haven’t you signed an agreement? You are on the wrong track. You should not sign before you let movers take possession of your belongings. This because there are a lot of scammers operating in the market who are notorious for tacking on unplanned fees for packing, climbing stairs, heavy moving, or additional weight at the last minute.
How can you save from the scammers?
With a little care, you can ensure that fraudsters are kept at bay.
Check with AMSA
The American Moving and Storage Association maintain an up-to-date list of Pro-Mover certified local and long-distance movers on file. Check with them to find a moving service or to screen a company you’ve already contacted.
Check with state and city federal regulators
Before you hire a moving company, it is important that you verify the business, license, and address information with the regulators. Also, check with the State Secretary’s office to check for up-to-date registration details and “does business as” (dba) aliases.
Moving scams exist in the market and to avoid becoming prey to them, you need to take precautions. It is sure that with a little care, you will be successful in avoiding moving fraudsters.
