How to Avoid Moving Scams
"Checking a mover's credentials is critical and easy. Last year alone, consumers relied on BBB more than one million times for finding a trustworthy mover," Stephen A. Cox, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, said in a statement. "When making the final choice, go with a BBB Accredited Businesses or, at the very least, choose a business that has a good rating with BBB." In many cases, some highway robbers held the customer's worldly possessions "hostage" until their billing demands, which often ran into the thousands of dollars, were met. For instance, the BBB reported that a consumer hired a Brooklyn, N.Y., moving company via Craigslist for a reasonable $80 an hour. But when A-1-A Jay's Way Moving arrived at the new apartment, they jacked up the total price for the job to $800 -- almost double the original estimate for the five-hour job. Then the movers refused to unload the truck and threatened to put all the furniture in storage unless their demands were met, in cash, which the hapless consumer had to agree to in order to get their things. After investigating, the BBB discovered that A-1-A Jay's Way Moving lacked the required licensing as a household mover with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A-1-A Jay's Way Moving , which received an "F" rating from the BBB, failed to respond to the complaint. "Because anyone with a truck and a website can claim to be a mover, our industry is plagued by con artists who don't adhere to standards for honesty and ethical conduct," AMSA President and CEO Linda Bauer Darr said in a statement. "When it comes to such an important decision, you can prevent a lot of headaches by checking on a company in advance to identify which put customer service and integrity first." Research the company thoroughly. While state regulations vary, all interstate movers must be licensed by the federal government and are assigned a motor carrier number you can verify on the FMCSA's website, www.protectyourmove.gov . You should also check the company's rating with the BBB , which maintains more than 17,000 reviews on movers throughout North America. A satisfactory BBB rating is one of seven criteria the AMSA uses to authorize its interstate mover members to display the ProMover logo, the sign of a professional mover that's pledged to abide by the organization's code of ethics. Get at least three written, in-home estimates.Moving Company Scams - News
To help ensure that the first memories of your new home don't include getting shafted by movers, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) are offering consumers advice on how to avoid moving scams.
"Anyone with a website can claim to be a mover," said Carl Walter, vice president of Mayflower, one of the oldest moving companies in the country. "It's important to do some homework to avoid falling victim to a scam that could add thousands of dollars
(KABC) -- It's considered moving season but beware of bandit moving companies you unknowingly hire to move your goods. All of Lauren Nydam's furniture is being held for ransom by a moving company and she has no idea where any of it is.
If this is the case, identifying the right moving company may be a crucial part of the planning. In order to stay protected against potential scams, the Better Business Bureau urges that people make sure they know exactly who they are hiring.
Each year, about 15 million American households move, and the majority do so in this window: America's peak moving season. In other words, right now. Sadly, now is also a peak season for moving company scams. All too many of us seek out the cheapest
Moving Scams Rise
Please, be smart. There will always be bad movers and moving scammers. And there’ll also be the great moving companies !
This website is dedicated to helping you out. There is plenty of useful information here to help ensure that you find the very best movers. But no matter the amount of advice that I give a away for free, there are many that will not take this advice.
Implore that you do follow this advice and advoid moving scams.
With Complaints Up 33%, The Better Business Bureau Urges Consumers to be Smart when Selecting a Moving CompanyThe Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggests a few simple rules when selecting a mover will go a long way toward protecting yourself from being victimized by scammers this summer.
May is National Moving Month and the start of the busiest time of the year for changing residences. More than 37 million Americans—or about 13 percent—move to a different home every year, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau.
“Moving can be an overwhelming and expensive process, but it’s important to not put your valuable belongings in the hands of a moving company you cannot trust,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “When it comes to such an important decision you can prevent being scammed by doing thorough research on moving companies, and selecting a BBB Accredited Businesses or a business that has a good rating with the BBB.”
In fact, complaints against Movers have been on the rise. The Chicago BBB has received 402 complaints in the past 12 months, compared to 301 for the previous 12 month period, or a 33% increase. In addition, inquiries about Movers are up with 54,608 in the last 12 months, compared to 39,508 for the previous 12 months, or an increase of 38%. These complaints were primarily about damaged or lost goods and final prices in excess of original estimates.
“Because anyone with a truck and a website can claim to be a mover, our industry is plagued by con artists who don’t adhere for honesty and ethical conduct,” said American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) President and CEO Linda Bauer Darr. “When it comes to such an important decision, you can prevent a lot of headaches by checking on a company in advance to identify which put customer service and integrity first.
Moving Company Scams - Bookshelf
People Get Screwed All the Time, Protecting Yourself From Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft, Fine Print, and More
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The FMCSA also warns of “rogue movers” who scam customers by providing a lowball estimate—either by phone or through e-mail—without even visiting the home ...Casual Info Directory
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