When looking for a moving company, you might think that any company with a good reputation will do, but you would be wrong. Taking into consideration the fact that there is little regulation for movers, you won’t be able to get recompensed easily if something goes wrong.
While checking with the BBB, only last year there were a staggering 9,405 complaints filed against moving companies. Unfortunately, even the most reputable companies can be involved in scams and you can not always relay on the regulatory agency as it has limited budget and resources.
Low Balling Quotes
The most popular moving industry scam is giving you a low estimate and then changing you extra fees at your destination - once in a while this ends up being four times the amount of the estimate you were given! If you refuse to pay the extra charges, the moving company will store your possessions in a warehouse until you cough up the money. Even if you’ve signed a “binding and not to exceed quote” you are not safe, so be sure to read every word of the contract!
Negotiating Your Move To A Third Party
Another common type of scam is when moving companies overcharge their clients and then subcontract the job to another mover for half the price. Such subcontractors are not subject to the contract that you’ve signed and they are not bound to the schedule that you agreed to. What makes things even worse is that their employees usually have no real experience in moving fragile items, so breakage is not infrequent.
Minimal Insurance Policies
Breakage is another common scam that consumers usually complain about when moving their households. Did you know that most moving companies’ liability coverage (this is sometimes referred to as “valuation”) allows them to pay you only around $60 per pound for a damaged item? It implies that if your few thousand dollars plasma television gets broken, you will get approximately $30 as compensation.
To protect yourself from damage during a move you should add a rider to you homeowners policy. What is more, take pictures of your possessions and be sure that your movers sign a statement of the condition of your items.
Price Based On Cubic Feet
One more popular method a moving company may cheat you with is the arrangement of weight vs cubic feet. You are allowed to watch weigh-ins and verify the number, but a mover can make your load take up as much space as they desire just to increase the charges. So, try to calculate the weight by dividing your load with number of items. Beware if you arrive at more than 45 pounds for each piece.
Extra Parking Fees
Another popular scam is extra charges incurred by claiming the movers could not park their truck in front of your residence, resulting in “long carries” from half a block or so away. These can add up to several thousand dollars! Be sure that you make all the necessary arrangements to avoid this scam.
Means By Which You Can Prevent Fraud
You can avoid these scams by reading moving company reviews on the internet or consumer publications, getting several quotes, having an attorney approve the contract, and documenting the condition and weight of your load. And the best way to choose a moving company is to ask others who they have used in the past or find out who the big companies use.
Don’t be taken by rogue long distance moving companies by making a hasty decision as to who to hire for your move. Request your free no-obligation moving company quotes from several seasoned moving companies to compare services, best value, and save up to 35% on your move.
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