As within any industry, the home goods business has its share of rogue companies that have been known to take advantage of the general public. From denial of claims, loss of belongings, and holding of consumer items for “salvage,” reports of abuse by movers occur all too often.
Most of these consumer abuses occur by moving companies that operate under their own authority and are typically not associated with a major trucking line. These rogue carriers often operate under their own generic “van line” name.
Forty million people move each year and the vast majority are completed with customer satisfaction by both van lines and independent moving companies. These engines also tend to the negative impact that fraudulent companies that take advantage of the consumer impose on them and the industry.
The main cause for the consumer who gets caught up in one of these moving scams often lies in choosing the mover with the cheapest price. The economy is certainly understandable, but choosing the cheapest price is often a recipe for disaster. Thorough research and understanding of how the moving industry operates are key factors in choosing the best moving company for your relocation.
With May through October being the busiest time for moving companies, peak moving season is soon approaching and there are steps consumers can take to increase their chances of getting a worry-free move:
- Never hire a mover
- Make sure the moving company has been in business for at least 7-10 years
- Visit their office to make sure they are who they say they are.
- Never accept an “estimate” over the phone
- Make sure your trucks display the proper markings as required by federal law.
- Check them out with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Verify your ICC number with FMCSA records
These are just a few steps consumers can take to validate a moving company’s reputation and track record, especially when it comes to storing their household items.
Most moving companies offer storage facilities in case you need to store your items until your residence is ready for the moving process. Moving companies have been documented storing consumer belongings for “ransom” and the FMCSA is now enforcing laws against such moves through the Map-21 Act.
Although these types of incidents do occur, most of the time they are done by independent movers that are not associated with a major line of trucks. If you must store your belongings, it is recommended that you only deal with a well-known major line of vans; not with an independent moving company or a company that operates under its own “van lines” name.
Although many independents can be trusted, the key factor here is that you, the consumer, have peace of mind. The greatest peace of mind you can have is to place your storage in a storage facility that you have full control over, such as a mini storage facility.
By using a self-storage facility, you and only you will have the key and access rights to your belongings. If you are worried about a possible “ransom” scam by moving companies, this would alleviate any fears of such an incident occurring.
Through research and a thorough understanding of the household goods moving process, consumers can avoid becoming the next victim of moving fraud.