Moving overseas or interstate is the most stressful event in a person’s life. Bringing one’s entire life to a new place is not easy, so professional help is welcome. However, relocation can get even more challenging if people encounter moving scams. Learn what they are and how to tell a real business from a scammer.
What Are Moving Scams in the Relocation Business?
You’ve likely heard of fraud in every other part of life except relocating. However, relocation fraud is quite common, considering how freely some people give their belongings to anyone presenting themselves as professional movers.
The customers can’t be blamed, though. People sometimes don’t check who they’re dealing with because they might be in a hurry, have a very low budget, or are just naive. It happens, and scammers are counting on that.
How do moving scams work? They can range from the most extreme, like taking a customer’s entire cargo and never delivering it, to something smaller but equally frustrating, like inventing additional charges and fees along the way to make the whole ordeal more complex than it is.
Those moving internationally may have it even harder if caught up in relocation fraud since it seems impossible to know if you’re hiring legit international moving services. There are legal channels that allow customers to keep tabs on relocation businesses and file a complaint so that they can be safe and protected under the relocation industry’s regulations.
One of the Most Common Moving Company Scams – Asking For Advance Payments and Adding Fees
People are used to extra fees and advance payments sometimes, so they don’t always question a mover who asks for them. However, this is one of the most common relocation mistakes; legit relocation companies don’t have hidden fees, and they don’t ask for large sums of money before the move.
When you schedule a move, the company will provide price estimates based on your household inventory list. The only additional charges that may come up are other services, like car shipping and other in-depth packing service options.
A legitimate company will introduce you to these secondary options as soon as you show them what you want to transport. Don’t let anyone take your money by arriving at your house without seeing it first and deciding this or that will cost you more than predicted.
No serious relocation business will wing it in situations where you have more goods than they expect. Actually, you won’t be able to surprise movers with the number of items you have because they’ll be more than aware long before relocation day. The only way that could go wrong is you suddenly adding a big item to the roster, which they’ll simply refuse to pack.
Guaranteed prices for International Moving. No hidden fees or surprises!
A Low-Price Offer Is Also a Sign of Fraud, No Matter How Appealing
Budgetary restrictions are common, but they’ll simply allow scammers to jack up the prices after picking up your stuff. Some do it that way – they bid a very low price on relocation and make you feel lucky for finding an affordable business.
Then, they pack the goods, ride away with them, and don’t deliver them to your new home until you pay additional costs. The problem with this isn’t only that it’s extortion and fraud, but it can last for as long as they want.
Cheap offers aren’t realistic and don’t represent legal businesses; while it’d be wonderful to score low relocation estimates, this industry is regulated on a federal level and needs to maintain specific standards so companies can make money.
How to Avoid It? Ask About Services Payments and Fees as Soon as You Contact Them
Movers don’t care about your reasons to move, but they care about the type of goods you need to pack. If they don’t ask about fragile items and recommend a custom crating option or don’t keep track of your belongings, they’ll likely charge you later or do another type of fraud.
When you contact a relocation business of your choice, pay attention to which options they introduce. The following presents a list of things a relocation firm will usually provide:
- Furniture packing, unpacking, assembly, dismantling,
- Appliance packaging,
- Truck loading, unloading, and transportation,
- Full and partial packaging service,
- Custom crating service,
- Auto transport,
- Options for auto transport – choosing the type of trailer and delivery,
- Storage service,
- Relocation insurance and additional insurance policies.
Companies That Don’t Send Movers to Your Home May Be Running a Moving Scam
Movers can help you make a relocation to-do list if you’re having trouble deciding what to bring and leave behind. Once you contact a relocation business and opt for their service, they’ll send a professional to take a look around your house.
When they visit you, they’ll take measurements of the furniture and larger items, recommend specific packaging methods for your stuff (like custom crating for valuables,) and ensure you don’t have anything that they cannot or mustn’t pack.
A business that wants to help you move but doesn’t even ask about household inventory or send someone over will try to scam you as soon as a good opportunity comes. They can use that argument against you in many ways and send any random person to pick up your stuff on relocation day.
Ask When They’re Planning to Send Someone Over Soon – If Not, Try Other Companies
So, if you call movers and they start planning your relocation without planning a personal visit, ask them about it directly. You can ask when they plan to send someone over to check out the household inventory and how they assess the relocation cost if no one comes to your home.
When no one gives you a direct answer, mention that every legitimate relocation business is under federal obligation to inventory your belongings. That’ll make them scared of messing with someone who’s obviously familiar with the regulations.
What can you do if you get scammed by a mover? If there’s time to back out, make up an excuse and cancel the relocation. If there’s not and the deed’s been done, you can file a complaint with the FMCSA or use legal advice from businesses like MoveRescue and Better Business Bureau.
A Company Unclear About Its Objective, Obligations, and the Basics (From Name to Address) Is Likely a Front for a Moving Fraud
Whether it’s an international or an interstate relocation business, you should have the option to contact them during the move and ask for information. They’re scammers if they dismiss you, give half-true info, or don’t answer the phone. It’s easy as that.
Checking on the progress of the move is one of the relocation essentials a business should be able to provide. They understand that they’re dealing with people who just sent out their entire homes to a new place, and those people will occasionally get nervous about the ordeal.
A business that doesn’t want to share information with you may be hiding something; when you first talk to them, you must clearly understand their objectives, obligations, and regulations.
Don’t Get Fooled by a Different City, Name, and Address From What You Found Online
Hiring an international moving company via their website should be easy. A common sign of a scam is a business that doesn’t provide its address on a web page; either that, or you find the page, call them, and they say a completely different name upon answering.
While that’d be confusing, it’s also a telltale sign that they haven’t coordinated their business (or scam) well. No explanation would work in that situation, so pay attention to how the customer support answers the phone and speak to you.
How Do You Avoid Moving Scams Like This? Check Their USDOT Number and FMCSA Registration
How do I know if a moving company is legit? That’s one of the crucial relocation hacks to figure out, and luckily, the method is pretty simple. All relocation businesses, from interstate to international movers, must register on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database.
Every business in the federal database has an assigned USDOT number that anyone can check online. It’s possible to get scammed by a registered business, too, but it’s really, really rare because the repercussions are huge.
The woman in the video below teaches viewers how to check the FMCSA database for legal trucking and relocation companies. It might help you find your chosen business and communicate with them easier.
A Bonus Tip: Check the Reviews and Recommendations on Their Website
What’s a business without customers? A fraud, very likely. A good, legitimate firm takes control of its online presence and uses customer reviews to its advantage. They have blogs, an overview of services, and other helpful info. Whenever you find a relocation firm online, head to the site’s comment section.
It doesn’t have to be their official website, either. There could be Yelp or Reddit reviews, which are all beneficial to your decision-making process. One or two nasty comments shouldn’t dissuade you from booking a business, but it depends on their context.
When you should be worried about the legitimacy of a business is if it doesn’t have absolutely any negative reviews, has very few comments about its performance, or the overwhelming majority of commenters are dissatisfied.
Asking a Friend for Recommendations Will Be the Easiest Way to Move With a Legit Business
One more thing you can use to your advantage is communication with people who moved before. You most likely have a relative or friend that’s moved at least once in their life, and these are the best types of recommendations you could get.
Your decision may not be entirely based on what this person recommends, but it can be a good segway into researching the business.
If you’re in a good relationship with the person in question, they’ll gladly spill the beans on every aspect of their move and recommend a business that won’t fool you. Doing due diligence is crucial when entering a contract that could save (or ruin) your life.
Whether an Interstate or an International Mover, You Can Hire Professionals Without Falling for a Scam
While there are various ways to safely go through the aftermath of relocation fraud, we think it’s a much better idea to do your homework before hiring just about anyone. How to spot scammers is pretty simple, but you must give some effort if you want a safe and professional move.
Only when you’re sure you’ve made the right choice the benefits of relocating with this business will become evident. As long as it feels right, it’ll be right, and that feeling should be on the top of your list of reasons to hire or fire someone. Good luck with finding the right business and with your future move.