Beware Of Crooked Moving Companies
The one thing you are probably not worrying about may be the biggest concern of all: that the moving company you hired is a scam company and they're holding your stuff hostage until you fork over a wad of cash.
Two primary scams consumers should watch out for when hiring movers are the "hostage goods" scam and the advance deposit scheme.
In a hostage goods situation, someone has already moved your stuff and quoted you one price. But by the time you get to the destination, they're holding onto the goods and they ask you to pay an inflated price.
In a deposit scam, movers ask for a lot of money upfront and then they never show up.
How can you protect yourself from a moving scam? There are a few big red flags you should watch out for, including:
* The moving company has no interest in an on-site inspection of your goods, which is key to giving you an accurate estimate of your total moving costs.
* The movers will only accept cash or a large deposit before they move you.
* The company's web site does not have a local address or information about licensing.
* The estimate is much lower than any other estimate you receive (which is why it is always good to get at least three separate moving estimates).
*They refuse to put everything, or anything in writing.
Doing your research before you commit to a mover will help you avoid getting scammed. Check with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbbonline.org) to see whether the company is a BBB accredited business and if there has been governmental action against them. They list the number of complaints, the types of complaints and the patterns of copaints against a company.
Another good source is the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (www.fmcsa.dot.gov). Consumers who suspect they have a problem or who have had their belongings hijacked should call the FMCSA's toll-free hotline at 888-368-7238 to file a complaint.
Here are a few other helpful websites:
www.protectyourmove.gov, www.moving.org and www.movingscam.com
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