March 17, 2010
Cross Country Moving : Tricks Of The Trade Movers Do Not Want You To Know
Many people looking for a moving company are frequently misled into believing that a good reputation is enough for a successful relocation. Being an unregulated business, the moving business is a common place to get cheated.
In just the last year alone, there were 9,405 complaints against moving companies according to the BBB. Unfortunately, the agency that handles the safety and regulation for moving companies has limited resources so it's up to you to avoid the more common scams that even reputable moving companies can be guilty of.
Low Balling Quotes
The most popular moving industry scam is giving you a low free moving estimates and then changing you extra fees at your destination - once in a while this ends up being four times the amount of the estimate you were given! If you decide not to pay for the additional fees, the relocation company will take your things and store them in a warehouse, hence forcing you to pay the extra charges. Simply signing a "binding and not to exceed quote" is not enough to ensure you are safe from scams, so you should read every word of your contract very carefully!
Negotiating Your Move To A Third Party
Some cheap moving companies will try to cheat you by overcharging you and subcontracting the work to another mover at half the price that you paid. Such subcontractors are not subject to the contract that you've signed and they are not bound to the schedule that you agreed to. What makes things even worse is that their employees usually have no real experience in moving fragile items, so breakage is not infrequent.
Minimal Insurance Policies
Breakage is a third common scam that consumers complain about when they move their households. Most people don't know that most companies' mover's liability coverage allows them to pay you only around $60 per pound for a damaged item. That means that your beautiful new plasma television that you bought for a few thousand dollars could be broken and you would receive only about $30 in compensation!
The best way to beat low insurance coverage is to get a rider on your homeowner's policy to cover any damage that might occur during your move. You should also take pictures of your goods and make sure you and the movers sign a statement of the condition of your items before you sign the receipt!
Price Based On Cubic Feet
The fourth potential scam a long distance moving company can pull is in the measurement of weight versus cubic feet moved. You are allowed to watch weigh-ins and verify the number, but a mover can make your load take up as much space as they want it to in order to jack up the charges. So, try to calculate the weight by dividing your load with number of items. If you get over 35-45 lbs per piece, be wary of the motives of your mover!
Extra Charges For Parking
The fifth common scam is extra charges incurred by claiming the movers could not park their truck in front of your residence, resulting in "long carries" from half a block or so away. These can add up to several thousand dollars! Be sure that you make all the necessary arrangements to avoid this scam.
How To Avoid Scams
You can avoid these scams by reading moving company reviews on the internet or consumer publications, getting several quotes, having an attorney approve the contract, and documenting the condition and weight of your load. It may be a good idea to ask friends who've moved recently which companies they used and how well the movers performed.
Filed under Whale Watching Tours by jenny