Moving Scams
The situation with moving scams
Dealing with damaged goods or insurance issues with your mover is one thing – it happens with even the best of movers – but getting scammed by a rogue mover is another story. Since there are lots of issues that revolve around moving scams and rogue movers (and lots of misinformation out there) this resource page aims to give you a clear idea of the situation so you can stay protected from moving scams when you move.
The scam
A moving scam is where a moving company (or somebody posing as a moving company) purposefully deceives you in order to steal your belongings. It's that simple.
Here are just some of the scenarios that can happen:
- Your goods are packed in to the truck and held hostage until you pay a hefty fee, usually many times the original estimate.
- Your goods are packed in to the truck and stolen.
- You are tricked in to paying many times more than your original estimate by deceptive pricing or false agreements.
- Movers take much longer to deliver your items than expected, leaving you for weeks without your belongings and incurring extra costs.
- Broken, damaged, or missing items (if they are delivered) that are not covered by insurance.
- Contracts that make it difficult for you to get reimbursed or take action against the company.
- Company that is not responsive or unable to be reached regarding the status of your belongings or complaint issues.
How scammers get your business
There are a few ways scammers get your business, and they usually start on the Internet. Scam movers can set up a website or work with other websites (such as internet brokerages or lead generation websites) that ask for your personal information and the details of your move in exchange for a “free quote”. Once you fill this out and send, you will get calls and emails from moving companies bidding for your business.
As a note - there is nothing illegal about internet brokerages or lead-generation websites. However, the danger lies in internet brokerages that use deceptive practices to get your business and refer you to a scam mover, or lead-generation websites that sell your information to multiple movers, some of which may be very low quality or scam movers. Anytime you input your personal information to a website for a “free moving quote” you could be placing yourself within the reach of a scam mover.
Once scam movers have your contact information, they will call or email you with an estimate for your move. Some may give you an over-the-phone estimate based on what you tell them you have in your home (over-the-phone estimates are not accurate, and it is always best to have an in-home estimate done by a representative from the moving company). Some may even go so far as doing an in-home estimate.
Either way, the estimate will be very low in order to entice you. Once they have successfully acquired your business and come to pack and load your things, you are at their mercy.
How to protect yourself from moving scams
While scams are usually associated with rogue movers (unlicensed and uninsured), some scammers may be licensed, insured, and work under a legitimate name. Either way, the best way to protect yourself from moving scams is to do your homework on a moving company before hiring them.
Here are a few things to do:
- Obtain multiple in-house quotes from moving companies, and compare the prices. Be weary of any quote that is very low.
- Check for proper licensing and insurance
- DOT number for interstate movers
- State motor carrier number for intrastate movers - Check BBB reports
- Number of complaints filed
- Number of years in business
- Number of employees (if listed) - Ask for references from past customers along with their contact information. Contact the references and ask about the moving company.
How One Simple Move protects you from moving scams
- Moving companies listed in your One Simple Move account are licensed, insured, and hand-picked for quality.
- One Simple Move is not an internet brokerage or lead-generation website. We do not sell your personal information to moving companies because we don't believe it is a safe or efficient way for you to find a moving company online.
- One Simple Move lets you contact moving companies directly, through your account, without giving up your personal information. Your account acts as a buffer so you have the time to research and ask questions about a mover before any company can call or email you with quotes.
- One Simple Move does not charge “lead fees” to moving companies for your personal information. This steers you clear of a high-pressure sales call with a moving company that paid for your contact information. We only charge a moving company after a move has been booked and serviced.
- We provide lots of information on consumer protection when moving, through our website and blog.