Moving is a very stressful activity in itself, and if you still have to worry about whether your furniture and other valuables will arrive safely, or if they will arrive at all, you can bet a move is something you won’t want to repeat ever again.
Even though the majority of the more than 1.5 million moves a year happen without any problems, an important number does suffer in the hands of a cheating moving company. More than 3,000 complaints are received by the U.S. Department of Transportation in regards to abuses performed by phony movers.
Imagine this scenario: a person surfs the web and hires a moving company that offers a low estimate. As soon as the trucks are loaded, that estimate duplicates, triplicates or even quadruplicates, and the owners are told that either they pay or their goods will be auctioned. This has happened in the past and is only one of the scams out there. In other cases, the person’s belongings will never show up or show up damaged, and the company refuses to pay. Some movers are not even real ones, and they steal from the weak who fall for it, old and ignorant people.
So, how can you prevent falling for a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars besides the anguish and despair of losing your valuable possessions?
Here are 14 tips provided by the professionals and the leaders in the moving business:
1. Plan your move in advance.
2. Check the companies against your local Better Business Bureau.
3. Ask for at least three estimates, for example, from three Seattle moving companies.
4. Tell each company about the destination and time for the move.
5. Ask everything about the services offered, rates and extra charges that apply.
6. Ask about their liability and claims protection for your belongings.
7. Have everything in writing.
8. Inquire how pickup and delivery will work.
9. Ask them to explain the estimates in detail and give you copy.
10. Non-binding estimates are not final; the real charges may be about 10% higher.
11. Clearly specify the pickup and delivery dates in the service order.
12. Read thoroughly the Bill of Lading; it is your contract. Make sure you clarify any questions you may have.
13. Be there every time the cargo is weighed, you can ask for it to be weighed more than once.
14. Submit to arbitration any unresolved loss or damage claims.
Now you are very well-informed so, good luck with your move!
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