According to the Better Business Bureaus Scam Tracker, 100 moving fraud scams have been reported in the last two years, with losses up to $8,000 per scam of household goods. There are an infinite number of ways a rogue shipping company can scam a person. By being aware of common moving scams, you can avoid these companies and the problems they create for their customers.
In previous articles, we have discussed common moving scams and what you can do to avoid them. Now that you know what to look for, let’s dive into how to avoid being scammed on the go. The good news is that you can avoid moving scams if you know how to identify red flags, how to protect yourself, and how to find a reputable mover. The best way to avoid move theft is to research legitimate movers and look for warning signs such as consumer complaints and lack of licenses or insurance.
Contact the Better Business Bureau for more information about the company’s past customer experience. Visit their website for tips on keeping your move safe and to check complaints. If you are indeed dealing with a fraudulent company, you can contact various government agencies and file a formal complaint. The FMCSA is the agency you can contact if you are moving stolen property, but the FMCSA is not a lawyer and cannot act on your behalf against dishonest movers.
You can also contact FMCSA to file a complaint if the moving company has lost an item. After the contract is fulfilled, file a written complaint with the company responsible for moving your item. If you employ a self-employed person or someone who is not authorized to provide moving services, file a written complaint with that person.
To avoid dealing with fraudulent movers that may have covered past fraud, always make sure it is local, licensed for your state, has proper insurance, references, and trackable public information. This is the main thing to make sure that the company you are looking for is a registered mover and if they have moving insurance.
This will help prevent you from working with a potentially fraudulent company. You can also file a complaint with the BBB – The Better Business Bureau creates a company profile and your complaint will contribute to a realistic profile.
While it will take time to file a complaint, it is the only way to protect yourself and avoid being scammed by your shipping company. However, whatever the reason, in the event of loss of household property, it is correct to contact the shipping company and file a report.
Because the cost of moving depends on the size and weight of your property, these companies deliberately misjudge. Get a quick move estimate, of course, there are times when the cost of a move can legally go up, but sometimes companies artificially inflate the price to line their pockets at your expense.
The FMCSA has a consumer protection provision called the 110% Rule, which states that shipping companies cannot charge you more than 110% of the original written estimate before shipping your items. Under federal law, interstate moves are required to deliver your items to you when you pay 100 percent of the mandatory estimate, or 110 percent of the non-binding estimate if the extra weight or services increased the final cost, according to InCharge.org.
However, the fraudulent moving company would like to hide this information, making it impossible for you to file a claim against them and therefore is not responsible for any damage or loss of property. A legal loader will provide a detailed estimate of how much it will cost to move your belongings. In any case, the company will provide you with an approximate price range for the cost of your move well in advance of the day you move. However, as soon as your belongings are loaded onto a moving truck, they will suddenly notify you that the price will be higher than the estimated price and will refuse to return them before you pay the new price.
A typical example of this scam is charging a customer to replace a moving truck that never happened and claiming it was due to narrow roads or something. The last moving scam model we are going to talk about is when movers send you an invoice after your move. The most common scam in the moving industry is holding your belongings “hostage” for an additional fee.
However, if a rogue moving company gets involved in a hostage incident and steals your belongings, the local police may arrest them for the theft. If the employer has “some fault”, such as not conducting a proper background check before entrusting the employee with the custody of other valuables, the transport company may be held liable for the theft by one of its employees.
According to media reports, in the event of a cross-border crossing, the FDA could impose a fine of up to $ 10,000 a day on a transport company holding people’s belongings hostage. It can block frequent offenders by revoking their interstate relocation permits.
The facility could have dispensed with the other way with smaller shifts, but billing per volume or cubic foot for interstate shifts is actually illegal unless a weight conversion is included. A good rule of thumb is that if you are unhappy with something in the company, or if you intuitively feel that something is wrong, then most likely it is. As with everything else in the relocation industry, it is very important that you familiarize yourself with each company’s claim processes during a pre-move check.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make sure you are working with a legitimate company to complete your move quickly and efficiently. When it comes to choosing to work directly with trucking companies, you can help others avoid falling prey to the same irresponsible illegal movers by writing an online review (which could more accurately be called an online notification) letting the Better Business Bureau know about your situation. and file a complaint with government agencies and the FMCSA.
Tips on How to Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Movers
Moving is often a stressful and time-consuming process, which is why it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from fraudulent movements. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:
1. Research your moving company thoroughly. Make sure to check their licensing, insurance, and customer reviews.
2. Request a written estimate of your moving costs. Make sure you have a copy of the estimate so you can track your expenses.
3. Request a copy of your contract and check the terms carefully. Make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to and that the company is licensed and insured.
4. Get a security deposit and keep it in a separate account. This will help protect you in case of any
There are also things you can take ahead of time to protect yourself from fraudulent transport companies. These relocation tips will help protect your valuables in the event of a dishonest relocation and will help protect you from identity theft. Check out these tips to keep in mind to make sure you don’t have to deal with theft on the day you move.
Finally, the best way to avoid moving scams is to research and hire a professional mover for your local or long-distance moves. Take action immediately if you sense a company is trying to scam you either increasing moving costs not on the moving contract or requiring a large deposit not previously agreed upon.