Classic Real Estate

When looking for a moving company, you might think that any company with a good reputation will do, but you would be wrong. Being an unregulated business, the moving business is a common place to get cheated.

Looking at the most recent year, there were 9,405 complaints from consumers regarding relocation companies, the BBB informs. 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 common scam in the moving industry is giving you a low ball estimate and then hitting you up for extra charges at the destination – sometimes as much as quadruple the original amount your signed for! If you decide not to pay for the additional fees, the relocation company will take your things and store them in a warehouse, hence forcing you to pay the extra charges. Even if you’ve put your signature on a “binding and not to exceed quote”, you are not safe, so make sure you’ve read the contract really carefully!

Subcontracting Your Move

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.

Low Insurance Coverage

Breakage is a third common scam that consumers complain about when they move their households. Most people don’t know that most companies’ mover’s liability coverage 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 photographs of your possessions and ensure that your movers sign a statement of your items’ conditions before you sign the receipt!

Cost According to Cubic Footage

The fourth potential scam is in the measurement of weight versus cubic feet moved. 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. If you get over 35-45 lbs per piece, be wary of the motives of your mover!

Extra Charges For Parking

The fifth popular scam is extra fees charged by movers claiming they were unable to park their truck in front of your home, resulting in “long carries” from approximately half a block. You may have to pay several thousands of dollars for this! Be sure that you make all the necessary arrangements to avoid this scam.

How To Avoid Scams

You will be able to stay away from these scams by studying moving company reviews online 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 company by making a hasty decision as to who to hire for your move. Request your free no-obligation online moving quotes from several seasoned moving companies to compare services, best value, and save up to 35% on your move.