How to Identify and Deal with Moving Company Scams

Hiring a moving company is a bonus piece in the overall moving puzzle. It makes your life easier, takes a load off your shoulders, and allows you to concentrate on other matters. You’ll likely never return to DIY moving once you experience the convenience of full-service movers.

But it can still be challenging to trust your belongings with strangers. How do you separate honest and legit moving companies in Utah from scam artists? Be wary of these red flags:

  • Shady forms of payment acceptance including cash only
  • Not certified with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
  • Requiring substantial deposits before the move during the slow move season
  • Promises instant, low quotes without even inspecting your stuff
  • Failing to provide you with a copy of “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.”
  • A handful of negative online reviews
  • Asking you to sign documents that look unprofessional

Examples of Scams

Be in the know so you can prevent yourself from getting entangled in a scam, and instead, report them to the proper authorities. Here are four common scams to look out for.

  • Creating a fraudulent bill of lading. This might mean altering or copying an existing one. The bill of lading outlines the destination, quantity, type of all items transported.
  • Giving a suspiciously low moving estimate to entice customers and then hold your stuff, hostage until you pay an amount significantly higher than the initial quote,
  • Lying about the volume or weight of your shipment.
  • Continually adding on more expenses.

Examples of Non-Scams

Unfortunately, moves aren’t always completely seamless. Things happen, even when dealing with the most reliable and honest moving companies. Here are some inconveniences that don’t constitute a scam.

  • Minor damage to belongings. Sometimes it happens.
  • Minor lost items.
  • Delay of delivery of a few days.
  • A less than 10% cost increase due to inaccurate estimates or quotes.

Filing a Complaint

Scammers need to be exposed to prevent other innocent movers from being scammed. Here are some reasons to file a complaint.

1. Outrageous Overcharges

If your charges seem outrageous, they probably are. For interstate moves, moving companies determine prices by mileage, weight of items, and additional services such as packing or storing. The final price should generally be at most increased by 10% of the original estimate.

2. Holding Items Hostage

Crooked moving companies may hold your belongings until you pay a large sum of money to get them back. This doesn’t seem right, and the FMCSA has a consumer protection plan called the 110% rule. Moving companies are not allowed to demand payment larger than 110% of the original cost of items agreed upon before delivery.

If you spot a scam, don’t hesitate to file a complaint. It may take time, but it’s one step you can take to resolve your issue and protect others from getting scammed or enduring what you did.

Even if you’re working with a reputable company, you’re still within your rights to file a complaint if something goes terribly wrong, such as severely damaged items, super delayed delivery within two days, lack of communication, or complete unprofessionalism. Your complaints might not merit legal action, but you can still file a complaint with your moving company.

How to Report Moving Company Scams and Fraud

If you’ve been a victim of fraud, we are so sorry. You probably wish you could step into a time machine and choose a different moving company. Unfortunately, the only way out is through the ugly situation you are in. Depending on the situation, you might need to take some of the following steps.

1. File a Complaint with Your Moving Company

Firstly, file a direct complaint with the actual moving company. Legitimate moving companies will address your issue while reaching a mutual agreement. If they are an honest and reputable moving company, their customer service will be vital to them. Contact their local office and possibly their headquarters to solve your problem.

2. Report them on a Higher Level

If your issue goes beyond a complaint to headquarters or if you were unsuccessful at getting a response, it may be necessary to file a complaint with one of these government organizations:

  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): This agency is part of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), and its purpose is to regulate aspects of the moving, storage, and trucking industries. The FMCSA deals with interstate moving scams all the time. You can file a direct complaint with them on their website.
  • American Trucking Association (ATA): The ATA represents movers country-wide. Their primary purpose is often to advocate for their members. However, they also hold them to a high standard and welcome customer complaints. File a complaint here.
  • Better Business Bureau (BBB): BBB prides itself on protecting consumers and helping them connect to reputable service providers. Filing a complaint with them might be an effective way to resolve your issue.
  • State agencies: Every state has an agency that handles in-state moving fraud and complaints. Contacting your state’s agency might be a good bet in dealing with your issue. Find your state’s agency here.

Consider Suing the Company

This should be a last resort. If you’ve tried everything else with no resolution, you could take your moving company to claims court. You should contact a trusted lawyer and get their advice on whether you have a valid case. We hope you are never in a position to need this information, but if you are, take action right away to get your issues resolved.

The best way to protect yourself is by doing adequate research on a moving company before hiring them. Read reviews, talk to friends, and ask lots of questions before you hire a mover. And, feel free to reach out to us about our services.

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How to Identify and Deal with Moving Company Scams

Infographic

If you’ve been a victim of fraud and need to take further action beyond complaining to the company, consider filing a complaint with a government organization listed in the infographic.

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