The Moving Planner Blog

Most often, these companies get their clients mainly from Internet web sites that let you enter in your basic moving information, and then send the information to the so called moving companies. The moving companies then compete for your business which in most cases would be a good thing - not so for the moving industry.

At first the people at these moving companies are very nice to you. They give you a low-ball bid, and tell you that your things will be in good hands because “Our people are professionals” or something. It’s when the movers actually show up, and it’s too late for you to save yourself where things start to go horribly wrong.

One thing I should point out, is that the bids from these companies that I have seen often quote you by cubic footage not by weight. If you get a quote that is priced by cubic footage, that should raise a red flag right away. The reason for this is that if they charge you by weight, they have to provide proof of the weight of your belongings at no charge to you. In fact, as of August 2005, interstate moves based on cubic feet are illegal.

Once the movers show up and most or all of your things are in their truck, they will hit you with the real price of the move. By then it’s too late. Your things are on their truck, and they won’t get anything off of it without full payment in cash. They will tell you that if you don’t pay up, that they will take the truck and sell everything you own to cover the contract. In my case, I put down a $150 deposit, and was told before the movers showed up that the rest of the $1869 would be due on delivery. When the movers showed up, the price jumped to $5012.50, and the movers demanded half of that on the spot or else there wouldn’t be a delivery!

And then there is the amount of time that these companies take to actually deliver your things. America’s Best Movers took over six weeks to deliver my belongings from Virginia to Nevada. I drove it in three days. During the time that I waited for my things I was not only told lie after lie about where my things were, but I incurred a lot of expenses for things that you need every day… you can only sit on the floor for so long before you need a chair, and try to cook a Thanksgiving dinner without a pan.

These companies break a lot of laws pulling off this scam, but be aware that since Congress did away with the Interstate Commerce Commission in the 1995, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for oversight of the industry. The FMCSA, however, has very few investigators enforcing the regulations in this industry… and companies like America’s Best Movers know it!

Also, demand to see the contract up front. America’s Best Movers had a clause on their contract that says you can only sue them in Florida - this is on the contract as the ‘choice of venue’. The FMCSA has recently informed me that choice of venue is not applicable to movers and you can file a small claims suit in your local jurisdiction, but you should contact an attorney and speak with them about your options.
For black list clic here:http://www.movingscam.com/blackList.shtml

  Source:http://www.movingscam.com/theScam.shtml

Moving home is often quoted as being one of the most stressful experiences we ever go through in our lives. The whole process of packing up our belongings, leaving our home and moving to pastures new is bad enough - add to that the fact that we have to entrust our possessions and their transport to complete strangers and it’s no wonder our stress levels soar!

The problem is we don’t tend to move often enough in our lives to make it a process we get used to. We’re generally all novices when it comes to moving and it shows! But, like any process, moving is all about being smart and knowing what you’re doing. You’re about to find out more about the hardest part of the process - choosing a moving company. You’ll find more information on the other ins and outs of moving on the menu on the left of the page.

Choosing a good moving company is difficult. We’ve all heard horror stories from friends and families about disreputable companies and it’s vital to sort the good from the bad as soon as you can. Wherever you live, you can guarantee that there will be various moving companies just waiting to help you out. Your hardest task is choosing one that’s right for you - it’s vital that you get this choice right. Getting it wrong can cost you time, money and heartache. Choosing a moving company is very much an individual choice and your decision should be tailored to your actual needs.

Nowadays, moving companies can offer you a wide range of services on top of their basic removal competencies. These can include packing, the sale or hire of packing materials, unpacking and storage facilities. Some companies will even pack your possessions, transport them, clean your new home, unpack your possessions and arrange them at the other end according to your instructions. These additional services will obviously cost you more money.

As a guideline you should have chosen your moving company at least 4-8 weeks before your moving day. Leave it too long and you’ll find that the good companies are fully booked and you’ll have less choice in the matter. It’s far better to choose and book your company as far in advance as possible. You should be talking to your shortlist as soon as you have an estimated moving day. Bear in mind that movers are often busy at the end of the month, on Fridays and at weekends and may charge more for these premium times. Many will tell you that they have certain quiet days - such as Mondays - they may even be prepared to offer you a discount to move during their less busy periods. It’s always worth asking!

To make the best choice, you need to think about what you want from a move - and the first thing you should do before contacting moving companies is to make a quick checklist of what you need them to do. This list will help you get the best quotes, as you’ll be able to be very exact about your needs. Examples include:

Your preferred moving dates
Are you looking to move locally, long-distance or, even internationally?
Do you want help with packing, want to hire/buy packing materials or simply want to pack up yourself?
Will you need the moving company to transport valuable or fragile items?
Do you just want to hire a vehicle to move yourself?
Do you need storage facilities?
How much stuff do you have?
How much insurance will you need?
The best way to find a reliable moving company is by recommendation or reputation. If someone you know has had a good experience then copy it! You do still need to be careful, however. If a local moving company successfully moved your mother-in-law across town, they won’t necessarily have the skills, resources and experience to move you internationally, for example. Talk to your Realtors or estate agents - they should be able to give experienced and knowledgeable recommendations. If you’re looking to move relatively close to home then a quick and easy way to spot local companies is to keep your eyes peeled on the street as soon as you start thinking about moving. You’ll see the vehicles of certain movers time and time again and you can take some comfort from the fact that they are busy.

Many of us will simply pick a moving company from a Yellow Pages type directory or from an Internet search. Some of us will simply choose a known name - i.e. a national company - and others may opt for a smaller local company. In all cases, it’s especially wise to choose companies that have taken the time and trouble to become accredited members of a moving association or trade body. You can assume from this that they take themselves seriously and you can probably do the same too. They will probably have to adhere to certain standards and you’ll have recourse to action if you do have problems. But you should still beware - if you are at all suspicious, check out their membership. You can even ask them for referrals from previous satisfied customers. You don’t have to follow up on this but, if the company seem less than keen to let you talk to people they’ve dealt with in the past, then you need to start thinking hard about whether they’re right for you.

When you’ve drawn up a shortlist of potential moving companies you need to start the negotiation process. You’ll find a wide variety of costs and services out there and various types of pricing. Some companies will charge you on an hourly rate, some by estimated volume based on the rooms of your current property, some by estimating what types of furniture and goods you need to move and others by the estimated weight of your load.

It’s wise to draw up a quick list before you start talking to people, as you don’t really want to be thinking on your feet here. Write down how many rooms you have, list big items of furniture and try to estimate how many boxes you’ll be packing. The easiest way to do this is to mentally go through every room in your house, list the big items and then work out how many boxes it’ll take to remove the rest of the stuff in the room. Don’t forget to think about garden furniture and the contents of your garage! Don’t worry about it being exactly right - the moving companies don’t expect it. But it won’t suit either of you if you get it completely wrong and they send a mini-sized vehicle for a juggernaut-sized job! If in doubt ask a couple of the moving companies for advice on how to estimate. You’ll be surprised at how helpful they’ll be - many will happily send estimators to your home to put together a quotation, especially if they price by weight.

When it comes to costs, you should be looking to get at least 2-3 quotes before you make a decision. Don’t just look at price but look at what they’ll offer you for the cost. It may be more cost effective to pay a little more to get more services. Don’t be afraid to ask them about how long they’ve been in business, their experience or for customer referrals. Talk to them about how long it will take to move you. DO ask them about their insurance cover and claims protection and how far it extends (and doesn’t!). You should NEVER choose a moving company that doesn’t have adequate insurance. It’s also important to get a quote in writing and to make sure that you completely understand how the quotation works. This is one of the times in your life when it really does pay to read the small print. For example, some moving companies won’t cover you for damage if you pack goods yourself unless they play an obvious role in damaging them. You must make sure that they not only explain your quote to you but that you get a full copy that includes any relevant terms and conditions, bills of lading etc. It’s also good to ask how many people will be assigned to your move - the more there are, the quicker it’ll go. Most people generally find that 3 is an ideal number - this gives you 2 people to do most of the loading/unloading and 1 to sort out the vehicle. It also means that somebody is with your possessions most of the time for added security.

You need to be particularly careful if your moving estimate is based on weight. This type of quotation has specific problems, as it is hard to estimate the weight of goods before you actually weigh them. In these cases, an estimator will generally work out the weight for you before you are given a price. But, your goods will be weighed once they are packed up and, if the weight is higher than the estimate, you might be liable for extra costs. In these cases always check first about how the moving company’s system works and establish how binding their quotation is or isn’t. If you run into problems here, you really will be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Refuse to pay excess charges and the mover will simply hang on to your possessions until you resolve the dispute. It’s vital to spend time here assessing the company. For example, you have the right to be present when your goods are weighed to check the accuracy of the process and you can ask for a reweigh if you aren’t sure - make sure that the company agrees to this upfront.

Once you have talked to your shortlist of moving companies and have read through their quotes, you’ll be ready to make your choice. You may simply choose on cost or may prefer to go with the company with which you feel most comfortable. Once you’ve made a decision you’ll probably be asked to sign some kind of confirmation that outlines your agreement. This is always a good idea, as all parties then know where they stand. All you need to do now is get ready for your moving day - just don’t forget to give your movers a call a few days beforehand to confirm your arrangements!
 

Source:http://www.moving-company-guide.com/

My name is Jack Holmes and I have just recently moved to LA from Florida. At first I had many difficulties arranging my stuff, I didn’t even know where to start. So I call up one of my friends which moved not to long ago himself. He told me that as he was searching the Internet last month, he saw this company called FLATRATE they don’t charge by the hour and they move over long distances. So I took my friends advice and I contacted  Flatrate.

 Ever since I did that, my moving process couldn’t have  gotten any easier. The guys from Flatrate helped me all the way from arranging the technical details, to the actual packing. They told me “If you ever need any help at all, with anything that has to do with packing we are always available”. The next day by about mid day every thing was unloaded and in its place. All the big things were pretty much in their place. They had such good service that the guys even started unpacking kitchen utilities and more things.

If you are looking for a reliable moving company Flatrate moving is it. 

I truly recommend Flatrate moving. 

Small moves in Florida takes a lot longer than moves in NYC. The distances are bigger and if you choose to go with a company that charges by the hour, don’t be surprised if a move you thought will take four hours will take six hours.

Also, a lot of the building here in Florida allow four moving companies to use the elevator at the same time, imagine how long it takes to complete loading the truck if four different companies are moving four different customers?

We have seen customers that were so stressed, looking at their watch every five minutes and praying not to have to pay for another hour, while our customers didn’t really care. They knew how much they are paying from the start and didn’t have to worry about a thing.

Also, some movers here don’t carry sufficient insurance  for the building and if you don’t ask them or if your building management didn’t tell you to ask, on the day of the move your building manager will tell you they cannot work in the building  and you will have to look for a moving company that is available to move you right now. If it is the end of the month, I doubt you can find one. So make sure to ask.

Posted By Natalie FlatRate Moving

People have to know how to compare a few different quotes, most of them look at the bottom line which is the price and decide to go with the lowest one.

They should compare the services offered and quality of the company and not necessarily the price. They should compare reputation and reviews.

I realized that people don’t read the small words on the quotes sent to them which 99% of the times say  black on white: “here are your hidden charges”

When it says packing materials are excluded, they think that the fact that they are packing their own boxes means that they will not be charged for packing materials but it is not true, because when you move, you have to get your sofa covered (and usually you don’t do it yourself) and if you have a glass coffee table, you cannot expect to move it without protecting the glass, protecting this glass is packing materials. When you get an estimate that says this and this is not included ask what it means so there will be no misunderstandings later.

Natalie

FlatRate Moving

 www.flatratemoving.com

Source: DOT Office of Inspector General

Owners of Five Unlicensed Moving Companies Charged with Racketeering in Consumer Shakedown Scheme 

This story goes back to February 2002, but I think it is still relevant. Be the judge!

“It should be noted that criminal complaints are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”  

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown holds up a couple of flyers from unlicensed moving companies whose owners were charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from scores of unwary customers by holding their personal belongings hostage and demanding unlawful and excessive cash payments to complete the moves or unload the items from the truck.

The owners of five New York moving companies were arrested on charges of racketeering, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and other offenses after they repeatedly lured customers with “low ball” moving estimates, only to hold their household goods hostage unless an additional payment was made in cash. In scores of instances, these demands raised moving costs by several thousand dollars more than estimated. Those charged were Daniel Mantoza, his wife Ronit Mantoza, and Morad Alfar, of Queens, NY, who controlled Allstate Moving and Storage, On Budget Van Lines, Eilid Moving and Storage, Online Moving and Storage, and In & Out Moving and Storage in Deer Park, NY The investigation, known as “Operation Moving Day,” is believed to be the first to employ New York’s Organized Crime Control Act against the owners of moving companies. This investigation was performed by a task force consisting of the OIG, NYPD, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, and New York State DOT, with assistance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Full details at: http://www.queensda.org/Press%20Releases/2002%20Press%20Releases/02-February/02-13-2002.htm

Best Mover 2006 - You voted for the best Mover in New York, and we counted. Check out the results below. 

1. Flat Rate Movers [ Audience Winner] [Editorial Winner]
466 Broome Street, 5th Fl., New York, NY. 1-800-486-FLAT
A bill with no surprises is the appeal of this New York mover.

2. Volt Relocation Services
47 Hall St, Brooklyn, NY
Everything needed for residential and commercial moves including packing and storage. Handles local, long-distance and international moves.

3. INTEGRITY MOVERS, Inc
210 W 22nd St, New York, NY
Free in-home estimates for commercial and residential moves; packing, crating, moving supplies and furniture disassembly available, plus warehouse and self-storage.

4. Advantage Movers
1079 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY
Residential and commercial movers offer packing supplies, online quotes, and warehouse and mini-storage. Local and long-distance services are available.

5. Divine Moving & Storage
New York, NY
Full moving services for households and businesses within the five burroughs and the tri-state area. Long-distance moving also available.

6. West Side Movers
644 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
Movers specialize in antiques and fine arts, offer residential and commercial moves, and sell a variety packing supplies.

7. Moishe’s Moving Systems
450 W. 15th Street., New York, NY
Since 1983, uniformed movers pack, transport boxes and unload trucks for residential and commercial moves. Warehouse, commercial and mini-storage available.

8. Advantage Movers
217 E. 86th St., New York, NY
Residential and commercial movers offer packing supplies, online quotes, and warehouse and mini-storage. Local and long-distance services are available.

9. NewYorkMovers.org
270 Lafayette, New York, NY
Moving-company referral service allows customers to post reviews of movers, offers moving tips and customers’ rights education.

10. Active Moving Inc.
300 East 72nd St, Manhattan, NY
No extra charge for moving weekends or holidays; one month free storage for long-distance moves. Can move on short notice.

This category will help you to answer “What should you look for when moving house?” (A)  In terms of the “mover” or “moving company” (B) Watch out for those “little things” you tend to forget.

The perfect moving company 

Ask yourself how the perfect moving company should be:

1. I’m not going to have anything like the moves I had before!  
2. Is this company worth every penny?
3.  Are they professional and friendly?
4. Flatrate they promised was exactly what I paid
5. cares for my furniture and does not screwed up on the day of the move
6.  I didn’t pay a cent more than what we agreed on
7. the trucks are clean and stylish looking and most important
8. My furniture arrived in one piece
9. Ask friends if they used them in the past and will use them again?
10. Are they coming on time? Would they leave you in the middle of work?
11. How many years are they in business?
12. What would they do with challenging set of stairs, or unexpected situations?
13. Abundantly clear moving team has well established procedures & training
14. Are they licensed?
15. I can move without my husband! Movers will take care for the details.
16.  Can I get stress free, piece of mind move?
17.  Mover not only move me but packed the apartment as well
18.  Boxes are clean and placed in the correct rooms at the new location
19. They pay for they broke!
20. Some moving companies send teams that are scary - Are they?
21.  Am I trust the team and not be worried things will be stolen? 
22. Are team prepared for any exceptionally bad, or rainy weather? 
23. They have clean record and no complains in Better Business Bureau reports: Perfect moving company report ; Terrible moving company report 1 ; Terrible moving company report 2