Know These Common Moving Scams and How to Avoid Them

Moving house is already stressful enough, but some homeowners don't pay enough attention to one of the most crucial factors: the moving company. Moving scams run rampant throughout the industry, and scammers have developed elaborate plans to part owners with their hard-earned cash. Use our guide to learn how to avoid moving scams when choosing a moving company.

Lack of legitimacy and lots of name changes

If the moving company has changed names in the past few months, there's probably a good reason behind it. However, if the prospective movers had several name changes in the past few years, chances are they are not running a legitimate business.

Always ask the company for their current license and check every detail before signing the contract. If something in the papers doesn't add up, don't proceed.

Some moving companies are brokers that don't have any vans or vehicles. They contact other moving companies and conduct the business through them. While some brokers are reputable, more often than not, they'll pick the lowest offer that won't take care of your family's furniture and valuables.

Lowballing and phone call offers

A reputable moving company knows its worth and doesn't make offers based on one phone call. They usually send out a representative to assess the moving items' weight and volume and only then make a bid in line with the industry standards.

If the offer looks too good to be true, chances are it is. You will either get an unsatisfactory service, no service at all, or get charged much more due to "unforeseen circumstances." While the actual price can differ slightly from the estimate, scammers will bloat the bill with unneeded security payments and costs that don't make any sense. These scammers will often target the elderly.

Weight vs. volume bids

All legitimate moving companies will estimate the bid based on the items' weight. If a company solely uses volume to make an offer, steer clear from their business. These bids calculated on volume can only vary wildly and won't represent actual moving costs. Most companies will use both weight and volume to calculate costs and only make an offer after collecting all the necessary information.

If a company uses volume estimates, go through their information and reviews to check their legitimacy and proceed with caution. Only use trusted moving companies to handle precious shipments.

Watch out for anything unusual

Before signing the contract, read the fine print. Unreasonably high deposits are not the norm in the moving industry, and extending the moving deadlines is nearly unheard of in normal circumstances.

Movers need precise details and a lot of information to conduct their business on time and make the necessary schedules and trips. If the company is uncooperative or doesn't respond to your questions and concerns, it's pretty easy to tell where their priorities lie, and you'd do well to move on to a different firm. 

We recommend that you always choose a reputable moving and delivery company.

Miranda Delivery Service offers moving services across Arizona, interior design moving and storage, furniture delivery and assembly, and commercial storage. Call 480-389-5928 today!