Cross Country Movers: Tricks Of The Trade Movers Do Not Want You To Know

Steer Clear Of Moving Scams

When looking for a moving company, you might think that any company with a good reputation will do, but you would be wrong. Taking into consideration the fact that there is little regulation for movers, you won't be able to get recompensed easily if something goes wrong.

Looking at the most recent year, there were 9,405 complaints from consumers regarding relocation companies, the BBB informs. As the regulatory agency that oversees movers has limited resources, it can not always protect you from numerous scams that even reputable moving companies can be guilty of.

Low Billing Estimates

The most common scam in the moving industry is giving you a low ball moving estimate and then hitting you up for extra charges at the destination - sometimes as much as quadruple the original amount your signed for! If you decide not to pay for the additional fees, the relocation company will take your things and store them in a warehouse, hence forcing you to pay the extra charges. Simply signing a "binding and not to exceed quote" is not enough to ensure you are safe from scams, so you should read every word of your contract very carefully!

Negotiating Your Move To A Third Party

Some companies deliberately overcharge their clients and then subcontract the job to other cross country movers at a considerably lower price. These subcontractors are not subject to your original contract, nor are they bound to the schedule that you agreed to. What makes things even worse is that their employees usually have no real experience in moving fragile items, so breakage is not infrequent.

Minimal Insurance Policies

The third most common scam that consumers usually complain about is breakage. Most people don't know that most companies' mover's liability coverage 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!

To protect yourself from damage during a move you should add a rider to you homeowners policy. What is more, take pictures of your possessions and be sure that your movers sign a statement of the condition of your items.

Price Based On Cubic Feet

The fourth potential scam a long distance movers can pull is in the measurement of weight versus cubic feet moved. You are entitled to witness weigh-ins and verify the amount, but a mover can make your load take up as much space as they want it to in order to jack up the charges. So, try to calculate the weight by dividing your load with number of items. Beware if you arrive at more than 45 pounds for each piece.

Extra Parking Fees

Another popular scam is extra charges incurred by claiming the movers could not park their truck in front of your residence, resulting in "long carries" from half a block or so away. You may have to pay several thousands of dollars for this! Still, you can avoid being sucked into this scam by planning everything ahead.

Ways To Steer Clear Of Scams

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've moved recently which companies they used and how well the movers performed.