Top 10 most common moving scams
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Greg has changed approximately 15 homes in the 30+ years he’s been alive. Some would say that he cannot be satisfied, but he likes to think of himself as a free spirit, trying new living locations all over the world. Now even though he is not sure where he liked it best, he’s 100% positive he’ll love the next place he moves to!
Moving is a business that’s been growing rapidly over the past years, and that’s no surprise! An average American lives in 11.4 homes in his/her lifetime. In addition to this, we can do our jobs online, so, naturally, many people decide to move homes and experience new things while still working. Unfortunately, as a certain business grows more popular and profitable, there are more and more scammers who want to take advantage of it. It’s no different in the moving industry. Luckily, as a man who changes a lot of homes during his lifetime, I can help you avoid becoming a victim of the top 10 most common moving scams. With the help of my experience (and some good old-fashioned common sense), you’re bound to uncover any frauds who’ll try to trick you during your relocation.
- Over the phone
The bait: Reach a great agreement over the phone.
The switch: Your “great agreement” is void the second the scammers have your belongings.
The dodge: I like to avoid these “phony” movers altogether. Additionally, once I call my movers, I usually visit their offices to make sure they are legit. It could also be helpful to find local movers in your area. Then, you can visit their offices easily and see for yourself what they’re like.
Researching your movers online is great, but you’ll need to see them in person before you can be sure they’re up to no good.
- Unrealistic estimate
We all hope our relocation turns out extra cheap. This is why this trick works even when it’s one of the most common moving scams ever.
The bait: Your moving costs are estimated insanely low. You’re over the moon and thinking about what you’re going to do with all the money you’ll save on your relocation.
The switch: When the movers have your things in their possession, they double (or triple, even) the moving costs. If you refuse to pay, you’ll never see your things again.
The dodge: When you receive an extremely low estimate, ask your movers (very politely) to either give you a real estimate or stop wasting your time!
- Cursory estimate
This happened to me when I was already an experienced nomad, so it didn’t work. However, if you don’t know what a proper moving estimate looks like, you can be fooled by this.
The bait: A “representative” of the moving company comes to your home and gives you an estimate without taking the time to look at everything carefully. Naturally, you don’t question the estimate and you agree on the moving date.
The switch: On the day of your relocation, your movers ask you to pay more than the estimate was. You can’t refuse since they’re holding your things hostage.
The dodge: Ask your movers to put the “estimate” in writing and make it binding. If they refuse saying you need to sign a contract for a binding one, ask for the contract and review it with an attorney. Also, you can get a free moving labor quote in Georgia to improve your chances of dodging the most common moving scams.
- Deposits
The bait: I was once asked to pay around $300 before my first box was even loaded on the truck. They called it “administrative fees”. I called it outright thievery.
The switch: There’s really no switch needed when you hand out cash to people before they do any of the work you’re paying them for.
The dodge: Your movers shouldn’t ask for a large deposit or any cash whatsoever before the relocation is done. If they do, just send them on their way. So, even if you decide to relocate to Hawaii from Georgia, your relocation specialists can only bill you once the relocation is finished.
- Blank contracts
The bait: You’re offered a blank contract because the “representative” is in a hurry and will fill it out later.
The switch: The contract is filled out to suit the scammers and not you.
The dodge: It’s actually pretty straightforward – don’t sign blank contracts, ever! I mean it!
- The fine print
The bait: You’re rushed to sign a contract.
The switch: It has a lot of fine print basically giving your movers free reign over your belongings.
The dodge: Don’t put your name on anything you haven’t read and examined thoroughly. You can even bring in a lawyer if you’re not clear on some parts.
Be very careful and always ready to get out if you feel you’re being scammed.
- “Doing business as”
The bait: A new company emerging as an underdog in the moving world which makes it very likeable.
The switch: It’s an old company with a new name.
The dodge: It’s critical to research your movers before you hire them!
- Packing issues
The bait: Asked if you want to pack by yourself or you need help.
The switch: If you pack by yourself the movers aren’t responsible for any damage to your items. If you ask them to pack for you, their costs are extremely high.
The dodge: I just pack by myself and don’t let my mover relocate anything I can’t live without. But, if you’re not an experienced nomad packer, you should ask about the costs of packing before you hire any moving company. This will help you avoid even the trickiest most common moving scams.
- Additional fees
The bait: “No need for a contract, this is your estimate and we’ll move your things for this amount of money”.
The switch: “However, if you want them delivered safely and released once you arrive at your new home, you’ll need to pay more”.
The dodge: Sign contracts with your movers, ladies and gentlemen! They’re made to protect both sides, so your movers should want to sign them as well.
Don’t pay any additional fees which weren’t in the contract.
- Insurance?
The bait: Scammers assure you they have insurance but they forgot the paperwork.
The switch: There’s really no insurance (surprise surprise).
The dodge: Always double check everything when moving your home. Don’t risk it!
How to avoid the top 10 most common moving scams
Now, there’s not much more I can tell you that you haven’t figured out yourself after reading this article. However, the best way of avoiding moving scams is to choose movers according to your friends’ referrals. Also, what I like to do when choosing a moving company is research them very well online. Additionally, their customers’ testimonials will usually tell you all you need to know about your potential movers.
Researching your movers before hiring them is a must for any person planning their relocation.
Finally, you can bring in a lawyer or a friend to help you negotiate with your potential movers. Unsurprisingly, scammers don’t feel comfortable with legal representatives and they’ll try to wiggle out of the relocation themselves. As a last resort, you should rely on your gut feeling. If something seems off, but you can’t quite put a finger on it – choose different movers. It’s better to lose some time looking for the most reliable moving labor in Georgia than to have to pay exorbitant amounts just to get your things back.
This is how we protect ourselves from becoming a victim of the top 10 most common moving scams! Hopefully, this article will help you avoid these issues in the future! Good luck with your next move!