The FMCSA offers free resources, tools, and mandatory brochures to protect against moving fraud and understand your rights when moving household items. Read and understand your rights as a consumer. The Internet has made finding a moving company easier than ever. A quick search will turn up countless options that promise quick quotes, low prices, and an effortless relocation.
However, legitimate moving companies hide the middlemen of Internet brokers who sell your move to the highest bidder instead of managing it themselves. While their offers may seem convenient, hiring an Internet broker can lead to unexpected costs, delays, and even the loss or damage of belongings. At Allied Van Lines, we've seen too many customers fall into the hands of internet brokers, only to come to us when things go wrong. Here's why you should be careful when choosing your moving company. What is an online moving broker? An Internet broker is not a moving company.
Instead, they act as middlemen, collecting your data and selling your move to an external carrier. Brokers don't own trucks, they don't employ carriers, and they don't have control over who's ultimately responsible for your move. This non-intervention approach often leads to significant problems. Once a broker sells your move to an unknown carrier, they withdraw from the process.
If something goes wrong, your move is delayed, your belongings are damaged, or hidden charges pile up, the broker won't help you. You're left with an unknown company that you never researched or agreed to hire. Brokers attract customers with low initial estimates, often without conducting a virtual or in-home survey. Once your move is assigned to a carrier, the actual cost can skyrocket due to undisclosed fees, weight adjustments, or additional service charges.
When the day of the move comes, you may be forced to pay much more than expected or run the risk of having your move canceled. Accredited moving companies screen their employees, train them thoroughly, and ensure that they meet industry standards. Internet brokers, on the other hand, simply transfer your work to the company that accepts it, sometimes without verifying your credentials, insurance or reputation. This puts your belongings at risk.
Since brokers don't physically handle the moves, they don't offer liability coverage. If something happens to your belongings, you may have few or no recourse to file claims or receive compensation. On the contrary, licensed moving companies offer valuation protection to protect your items. Look for physical locations: Brokers usually operate only with a website and a call center.
Accredited moving companies have real offices, trucks, and trained staff. Ask them if they are moving agents: Federal law requires brokers to disclose that they are not real removers. If a company doesn't respond directly or tries to hide it, walk away. Choose a trusted name for moving: Work with established companies like Allied Van Lines, which have more than 95 years of experience and a proven reputation for reliability. When it comes to moving, peace of mind is priceless.
Avoid Internet brokers and choose a moving company that stands behind your service. Allied Van Lines offers transparent pricing, professional carriers and dedicated support from start to finish so you can move with confidence. Contact Allied Van Lines today to learn how we can help make your next move a great experience. On the day of the move, if you object to charges accruing in addition to your low initial price or refuse to make a cash deposit, the moving company will threaten to leave.
Not only will this allow you to compare prices between companies, but it will also help you determine how much the move should actually cost. The American Trucking Association's Moving and Storage Conference keeps an updated list of local and long-distance moving companies certified by Pro-Mover on file. The quote is binding (the moving company guarantees the price) or non-binding (the final charge is unknown until they weigh the shipment or load the property onto the truck). Unauthorized moving companies probably won't give you a moving contract until the day you move, once they're there.
If you're the victim of a moving scam, act quickly to protect your belongings and seek recourse. Unscrupulous moving companies will try to accelerate the conversation beyond prices and will forget to discuss the full terms of service until the whole family has boarded their truck. If the moving company is responsible for packing, make sure you know how much they will charge for this service. However, some moving companies may request an advance deposit to guarantee the date of the move, especially during peak moving season.
We recommend that you work with a moving company that schedules a pre-move inspection so that there are no surprises on the day of the move. There are several important steps you can take before and during a move to protect yourself against scams. The regulation of intrastate removals falls under the purview of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Chapter 507, F. On the day of your move, a clandestine moving company usually shows up and begins charging you fees for random things, such as heavy objects or ladders.
Moving companies will evaluate your home to identify any obstacles or hazards, such as a broken ladder, that may arise during a move or any property damage that existed before your arrival.
