Moving and relocating is already a stressful and significant event by itself, we do not want any further complications by dealing with a scammer. If you watch out for these warning signs and precautions, you will be able to have a relatively stress-free interaction with your chosen professional moving company.
Firstly, you need to make sure that your professional helpers come to your residence to give you a on-site inspection. This will make sure you will not face any hidden or extra charges for your belongings. A mover who does not comply for an on-site inspection may be a suspected scammer who will try to rip you off.
Reputable movers will never ask you for a deposit of any cash beforehand before moving you and completing the job. If you pay up front you will lose all the power in this deal so be wary of any such issues. You should not have to make any form of large down payment or even ‘cash only’ payments.
After you have checked the company with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), make sure that they have the correct name, licensing and insurance. Certain scammers have been known to change their name constantly so that they can get around verification companies such as the BBB. To be safer you can ask for references from around the area that you live in. Ask around if a friend of neighbor has used the company before. Check and double check!
Here is one of the easiest ways to figure out if a company is legitimate or not. When you choose your package and read the contract, make sure they have TWO liability options that they are required to have by law. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) requires a moving company to have the two following liability options by law:
- Full Value Protection: “your mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment…This is the more comprehensive plan available for the protection of your belongings.” The cost of Full Value Protection varies by mover.
- Released Value Protection:“The most economical protection available is Released Value, since it is offered at no additional charge. However, the protection is minimal. Under this option, the mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound per article.”
In addition to these simple to detect warning signs, you should always check to see what types of complaints the company has against them, if any and check their reviews. Reviews are a great way of examining and investigating a service which you are interested in.
We urge you to choose a reputable and reliable mover like ‘Pro Ace Intl Moving and Storage’ for a stress free moving process! We know that your relocation and moving phase is one which is very important, and we make it our responsibility to treat your belongings like they’re our own, with respect and diligence. To get an accurate and HONEST moving quote, please request it at http://moving.proaceintl.com/hone.html and get to your destination safe and sound without losing your shirt.
Article written by, Don Sahan. a contributing author for ProAce International blog.
References:
How to know if a moving company is legitimate. Marian White. Moving.com.