The Moving Planner Blog

Source: http://www.protectyourmove.gov/ Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration memories. Department of Transportation.

Are You Moving? Protect Yourself From Moving Fraud

More than 40 mil lion Americans move each year for personal reasons and career opportunities. It’s a significant event in anyone’s life. Your money, your memories are at stake. It can also be stressful, even under the best of circumstances. Know how to avoid one of the most stressful situations that can arise; protect yourself from dishonest, “rogue” movers. Most moving companies are legitimate businesses that do quality work. But in recent years, a growing number of complaints have been filed against interstate movers and many of those complaints spring from the fraudulent practices of a small percentage of dishonest movers known as rogue movers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMCSA), of the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT), has initiated a partnership with other Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies, consumer groups, and the moving industry to make sure you have the information you need to “Protect Your Memories. Your Money. Your Move.” from fraud.

Red Flags For Spotting Rogue/Scam Movers

Rogue movers typically work like this: Without ever visiting your home or seeing the goods you want moved, they give a low estimate over the telephone or Internet. Once your goods are on their truck, they demand more money before they will deliver or unload them. They hold your goods hostage and force you to pay more — sometimes much more than you thought you had agreed to — if you want your possessions back. 

Your best defense is to recognize a rogue mover before they have your goods. Here are the “red flags” to look out for:

1. The mover doesn’t offer or agree to an onsite inspection of your household goods and gives an estimate over the telephone or Internet — sight-unseen. These estimates often sound too good to be true. They usually are.
2. The moving company demands cash or a large deposit before the move.
3. The mover doesn’t provide you with a copy of “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move,” a booklet movers are required by Federal regulations to supply to their customers in the planning stages of interstate moves.
4. The company’s Web site has no local address and no information about their registration or insurance.
5. The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance.
6. When you call the mover, the telephone is answered with a generic “Movers” or “Moving company,” rather than the company’s name.
7. Offices and warehouse are in poor condition or nonexistent.
8. On moving day, a rental truck arrives rather than a company owned
   or marked fleet truck.

[Continue…] Click here to download your copy of Protect Your Move Pamphlet.

Related information: Unlicensed, fraud, Pitfalls, criminals