Cross Country Movers: 5 Scams To Watch Out
Many people looking for a moving company are frequently misled into believing that a good reputation is enough for a successful relocation. As the moving industry is largely unregulated, you have little recourse in case you get cheated.
In just the last year alone, there were 9,405 complaints against moving companies according to the BBB. Unfortunately, the agency that handles the safety and regulation for moving companies has limited resources so it's up to you to avoid the more common scams that even reputable moving companies can be guilty of.
Low Rate Bids
The most popular moving industry scam is giving you a low moving companies estimates and then changing you extra fees at your destination - sometimes as much as quadruple the original amount your signed for! If you refuse to pay the extra charges, the moving company will store your possessions in a warehouse until you cough up the money. Even if you've signed a “binding and not to exceed quote” you are not safe, so be sure to read every word of the contract!
Negotiating Your Move To A Third Party
Some companies deliberately overcharge their clients and then subcontract the job to other moving companies at a considerably lower price. Such subcontractors are not subject to the contract that you've signed and they are not bound to the schedule that you agreed to. What is more, their employees are often day laborers who have no real experience in moving fragile items and, consequently, breakage is common.
Minimal Insurance Policies
The third most common scam that consumers usually complain about is breakage. Did you know that most moving companies' liability coverage this is sometimes referred to as “valuation” allows them to pay you only around $60 per pound for a damaged item? Which means that if your gorgeous plasma TV purchased for a few thousand dollars gets broken, you will be reimbursed only $30!
The best way to beat low insurance coverage is to get a rider on your homeowner's policy to cover any damage that might occur during your move. What is more, take photographs of your possessions and ensure that your movers sign a statement of your items' conditions before you sign the receipt!
Price Based On Cubic Feet
The fourth common way that a national moving companies will rip you off is the weight versus cubic feet arrangement. You are allowed to watch weigh-ins and verify the number, but a mover can make your load take up as much space as they want it to in order to jack up the charges. You should calculate the weight of each item by dividing the total weight by the number of items. If you come up with more than 35-45 pounds per piece, be suspicious of your mover's motives!
Extra Charges For Parking
The fifth popular scam is extra fees charged by movers claiming they were unable to park their truck in front of your home, resulting in “long carries” from approximately half a block. The total can run well into the thousands of dollars! Be sure that you make all the necessary arrangements to avoid this scam.
Means By Which You Can Prevent Fraud
You will be able to stay away from these scams if you study moving company reviews online or consumer publications, obtain several quotes, get an attorney to approve the contract, and document your load's weight and condition. It may be a good idea to ask friends who have recently moved about how satisfied they were with their movers.
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