There isn’t a single industry that hasn’t been infiltrated by con artists who like making a buck by running a quick scam. The moving industry is not an exception. We have lost count of the number of horror stories we’ve heard from people who had their entire moving day ruined by a scam.
While we can’t stop people from attempting to scam you, we can provide you with some useful information that will help you identify a potential scammer and avoid becoming their next victim.
Movers who Steal
There is no shortage of moving companies who offer to help a family move. They usually show up on moving day with a big moving truck. They pack everything up, presumably to take it to the owner’s new location only the items never arrive. When the owners contact the company, they usually learn that the number has been disconnected and that the company never existed. While the owners are free to file a police report, in most cases, both the movers and the belongings simply disappear.
The best way to avoid falling into this scam, which is both expensive and terrifying, is to check the history of the moving company you’re considering. The longer they have been in the business, the more likely it is that they are legit. Another thing that helps is tossing some geo trackers in some of your boxes. The trackers send their exact location to your phone so you’ll immediately notice if the movers are no longer taking the planned route and are potentially trying to steal your stuff.
Movers who Take a Hefty Deposit and Never Show Up
This scam has been around for as long as people have been using professional movers. A moving company takes a deposit, or worse, the entire amount, but never actually shows up to help with the move. This is both frustrating and stressful since you’ve blown your budget and have no way of moving your belongings.
Once again, the best way to avoid having this happen to you is to do a great deal of research before you hire a moving company. Make sure you hire one with a good reputation. You should also make sure you only pay deposits with credit cards that you know will allow you to file a complaint and appeal for a refund.
You Got a Low Estimate but Once the Move is Complete the Bill is Sky High
Some moving companies have no scruples. They attract customers by offering rock bottom estimates. The customer is delighted. They think they’re getting a great deal. This story usually turns into an “if something seems too good to be true it probably is” lesson.
What usually happens is that once the move is complete, the final bill is significantly higher than the estimate. The final invoice is packed full of hidden costs and will also usually say that the move was way more complicated than anticipated.
The best way to avoid this scam is to make sure you work with a moving company that genuinely understands what to expect on moving day and who offers a binding estimate which means that once they provide a formal, written estimate, they will honor it.