The Ugly Side of The Moving Industry

Last updated on January 16, 2020

Moving is amongst the topmost stressful things people experience in a lifetime. It’s good to have an education on how stuff works and how to avoid becoming a victim of a moving scam. According to the American Moving & Storage Association, there are approximately 30 million Americans that move each year, and complaints are in the thousands. In this article, we will provide information on the ugly side of the moving industry and how to avoid becoming a victim.

The Most Common Complaint

The Department of Transportation receives thousands of complaints each year. The most common is called “the hostage load.” A hostage load is when a mover offers you an attractive price, reels you in and ups the price once the truck is loaded. The scam is easily avoidable by doing some basic research and understanding how things work.

Before you start calling movers, check the DOT, SAFER website. Here you will find information about the company size, years in business, and complaint history. It’s also essential to cross-reference license information. Once you’ve narrowed down your top picks, you can then begin calling. When getting a quote, you should always ask for an on-site or virtual survey, which will ensure the accuracy of your inventory. If the rep says that you don’t need one then run, don’t walk away. Scam companies will fool you by offering you a verbal quote based on a phone call. It leaves an open space for them to say you have more, so you must pay more.

Broker vs. Mover, Know the Difference

If you’re moving out of state, then you may come across moving brokers. Moving brokers are what it sounds like. They’ll take your information and shop the cheapest movers for a profit. Although it’s not illegal, it’s not necessary since you probably have movers in your town. Also, moving brokers don’t take on liability for any damage or catastrophic issues that can arise.

It’s best to look for a carrier. A carrier, also known as a mover, will handle all aspects of your move from start to finish. They will take full responsibility for any issues or insurance claims. You can check the DOT SAFER website if a company is acting as a broker or a carrier.

How to conduct research

When searching for a mover, you should start by checking online reviews. However, it would help if you cross-referenced their reviews with the years in business and company size. A big player in the game will inevitably have more bad reviews then a mom and pop mover. Also, if a company is a month old, you will not be able to gage real data based on performance. If you’re moving out of state or overseas, find someone that has been in the industry for a while.

Another significant step is to look at their website. If it shows stock images of trucks, then delete them off your list. There is no reason that a mover that has trucks would post stock images on their website. Lastly, go with your gut. If you speak with a moving company that sounds pushy or uses pressure tactics, continue your search. Moving is already stressful and being pressured only makes things worse.

The Bottom Line

Hiring a mover can be a bit tricky but doing some basic research can go a long way. Spend some time and weed out the good and the bad movers. A moving company should be here to help you not look at you as prey. Check the BBB and other online tools that can help you navigate. Here at International Van Lines, we maintain one of the best reputations in the moving industry. We’re a lisencedcarrier and would be happy to answer any questions for you.