These days, sadly, no sector is safe from scams and fraud, and while it’s not a nice topic to broach, understanding how people take advantage of others can ensure you stay safe and protected, and unscrupulous vendors or individuals don’t prosper from their illegal activities.
One area that is seeing an increase in complaints from proposed scams is the moving sector. In 2022, the Better Business Bureau received nearly 15,200 complaints against moving companies for scams, ranging from lowball offers that suddenly increased once goods were loaded onto a van, so they had no choice but to pay to belongings being held hostage, upfront deposit scams where companies didn’t turn up after receiving the deposit, and fake companies that didn’t exist.
How can you avoid falling victim to one of these scams when it comes to moving home?
Check Licensing
There are multiple resources you can use to verify the legitimacy of a business. You can check if they’re registered with the Better Business Bureau or protectyourmove.gov, where you can uncover their registration and complaint history for added peace of mind. You can also check if they have a US DOT number; a unique number issued by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) for interstate moves too.
Get A Written Quote
When asking for quotes, make sure you get an official quote in writing that stipulates exactly what you’re being charged for at that price. The quote should be based on an actual in-person inspection of your goods, what you need moving, and the distance. Get multiple quotes from different companies to help you get a better idea of how much your expected services should cost. Companies like Top Chicago Moving Company allow you to request a quote online, and then they will contact you for more information for a more accurate cost.
Don’t Hand Over Huge Deposits or Full Amounts
If a company says they need a large deposit or you need to pay upfront, this can be a warning sign of a scam. This isn’t the case for most companies, and legitimate movers won’t ask for a deposit up front to secure the service on the date.
Ask for Proof of Insurance
All moving companies should be insured and able to provide details of coverage for your goods during the move. Ask them how much they’re insured for and what they’re valuing our belongings at to make sure you are covered for everything that you could potentially lose.
Additionally, ask for additional insurance for your peace of mind. All companies will have insurance for their activities, but ask them what they charge for insurance for damages not covered by their policy, and what they replace or pay out in the event you need to make a claim.
Read Reviews
It’s really important you don’t take all reviews at face value, but that you look for common threads. Search reviews on as many different sites as you can and look for words like “scam” or “complaint”; these can help you find people who have had issues or haven’t received the expected service. Don’t just take a single review with these words as proof; look for overriding themes in reviews to get a better idea of what you can expect if you use that company.
