Avoid scams when hiring a moving company · Check the company's registration and reputation. An official website of the United States government Official websites use. gov A. The gov website belongs to an official government organization of the United States.
The first step in avoiding this scam is to know your rights and responsibilities. When you know what you're entitled to as a consumer, it'll be easy to avoid contract scams. In addition, be sure to carefully read all the details of your contract before signing any documents. Doing so will protect you and your belongings during the move. To avoid being a victim of this scam, get multiple (preferably binding) estimates from reputable moving companies and be wary of quotes that are much lower than the average price range.
Always ask about possible fees and make sure that all communication with the company is in writing. Advance deposit. This is an important indicator that you are dealing with a criminal moving company. Always clarify payment terms before signing a contract.
Under federal law, all interstate moving companies must offer free refunded value protection and the option to switch to full value protection. If you pay in advance, this will give your potential scammer or moving agent full control of your move. Request your moving quote today and have the peace of mind knowing that you are working with an accredited and certified moving company to take care of all your belongings. Some companies may add hidden charges to a move, including charges for additional packaging materials, additional insurance, or special handling for certain items.
To verify the existence of the moving company, go to the address that appears on the list or use online street map and satellite tools to see if the company has a physical location. This document will serve as a basis for determining the cost of the move and addressing potential disputes or claims for lost or damaged items. Doing so will help ensure that the moving company doesn't add any additional charges to the total cost of the move. Because of this, unreliable moving companies often offer customers a quote over the phone and, after the move, increase the previously quoted price. A pre-move inspection ensures that the moving company knows how many items you plan to move so they can give you an accurate estimate of the cost of the move.
This scam consists of giving estimates to consumers only by phone, instead of inspecting the goods being moved on site. The moving company provides the service, but then charges the customer's credit card for an amount greater than the agreed price. The customer pays the moving company a significant deposit and, on the day of the move, the moving company does not show up. Withholding payment until the move is complete will help ensure that your belongings are delivered in a safe and timely manner.
A legitimate interstate moving company, such as United Van Lines, always does a visual study of your belongings and asks important questions about planning, packing and delivery. In fact, volume-based interstate moves are considered illegal without a weight conversion factor and must be reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).).
