Are you planning on relocating and need reliable help but don’t know who you can trust? With moving scams increasing in both frequency and severity, you must know how to protect yourself.
As the best movers in Montreal, Discount Moving can help you identify the most common scams and protect you from rogue movers. Once we earn your trust, we go out of our way to exceed your expectations and keep you satisfied.
Most Common Scams While Moving
Do you know all the techniques a mover can use to scam you?
Not Showing Up
You’re probably familiar with this tactic in other industries: a service provider asks you to pay a deposit and never shows up. During this scam, the moving company provides a very reasonable quote you can’t resist. Then, they ask you for a significant deposit to guarantee your spot.
You should never pay an upfront deposit for moving fees without signing a clear and binding contract. You should also never pay a deposit more than 25% of the total amount the company charges you.
Bait-and-Switch
A bait-and-switch occurs when the movers increase the price they quote you after they’ve loaded your goods. If they gave you a non-binding estimate, you’ll feel compelled to agree to avoid a drawn-out issue. They can try to justify this in several ways, but they’ll have less recourse if you sign a binding estimate rather than a non-binding one.
Holding Loads Hostage
One form of the bait-and-switch moving scam occurs when they hold your belongings hostage and refuse to unload your possessions until you pay them a higher price. A hostage load can feel overwhelming and might cause you to make an impulsive decision. Preventing the situation remains the best way to protect yourself.
Phantom Weight
In the phantom weight scam, the moving company holds your possessions as ransom because they claim the load weighs more than it does. This most often occurs when you use an interstate moving company, which charges based on the total weight of your shipment.
You have the right to watch the company weighing your possessions. Arrange to watch the process and document the weight of your load so you can protect yourself from this scam.
Hidden Fees
You’ve likely experienced the hidden fee scam in other industries, so you won’t feel surprised to know the problem occurs in the moving business too. When they hand you your final bill, you’ll see nickel-and-dime charges for things such as:
- Extra packing materials
- Insurance you didn’t agree to
- Mandatory gratuity
- Long carry fees
- Stair or elevator payments
- Bulk-item charges
Protecting Yourself From Relocation Scams
To prevent overcharging and other common scams, follow these essential pieces of moving advice.
Know the Red Flags
Whether you have a finely tuned instinct or can’t tell when someone wants to take advantage of you, you can benefit from knowing all the moving company red flags. If a company shows any of the following signs, work with someone else:
- If the company gives an estimate without obtaining a general idea about how much property you have, they’ll have ample opportunity to increase the price later.
- The company won’t give you a binding estimate until after they load your belongings. This doesn’t apply to companies that never give binding estimates.
- A moving company should accept payment types other than cash. They should never ask you for an upfront deposit without a clear contract, as that remains one of the most common moving scams.
- The company lists a residence or P.O. box as its official business address.
- When you call, does the staff member mention the company by name? If they don’t, it can signal a significant lack of professionalism.
- Don’t work with a company that has multiple complaints with the Better Business Bureau or other regulatory administrations.
- The company should provide proof of insurance, including workers’ compensation coverage.
- If the company doesn’t give you a bill of lading, they may try to scam you. It serves as a binding contract dictating the terms of your move, including the final destination and amount of cargo.
Obtain a Binding Quote
When you obtain a binding quote, you’ll know the company won’t try to impose hidden fees or claim your load weighs more than they expected. You should rarely pay more than the price you received in a binding quote provided.
One exception includes when you ask for or consent to additional services during the move. For example, if you want the movers to assemble your furniture but don’t schedule the service, you can expect it to increase the price. However, you should agree upon the additional expense in writing before either party commits to the extra work.
Can you still work with a mover that doesn’t provide a binding quote? Many reputable moving companies don’t feel comfortable providing binding agreements. If you research and closely examine the company’s reputation, you can often determine whether you can safely work with them.
Examine the Contract
A reputable moving company should always provide you with a contract. Before signing, you should meticulously examine it and confirm you understand the following elements:
- Payment terms: The contract should require you to pay either an hourly fee, a predetermined amount, or a weight-based payment. It should also outline the methods you can use to pay, such as cash or credit card.
- Hidden fees: Examine the contract for any potential hidden fees the company may charge once they’ve completed the service. You should never pay any fees they didn’t include in this binding document.
- Cancellation policy: Before you sign the contract, ensure you know the cancellation policy. This includes how much notice they need, the fees they’ll charge, and any conditions that apply.
- Itemized costs: To avoid moving scams that slip hidden fees past you, always ask for an itemized list of costs. Ask questions about any item that uses ambiguous language.
- Contact information: If a company doesn’t include their name, address, and contact information on the quote, it serves as a big red flag. It means you’ll have trouble contacting them if you have a complaint.
- Service details: Your contract should include all the services the company will provide. Clarify any unclear language or terms before you sign the document.
Schedule a Pre-Move Inspection
During a pre-move inspection, the moving company visits your home or business and takes inventory of all your belongings. This helps them provide a more detailed estimate, and they’ll have no recourse to say you required more work than they anticipated. You can work with a moving company that doesn’t provide this service, provided they have a stellar reputation.
Do Your Research
When you research a moving company’s reputation, you can gain valuable insight into whether they may try and scam you. Closely inspect the following aspects of a company’s public image:
- Ask your friends and family for references if they’ve moved recently.
- Read online views from third-party websites like Yelp or Google.
- Confirm the company maintains registration with the federal authorities and ask for their Department of Transportation number.
- Check the federal websites and Better Business Bureau page for outstanding complaints against the company.
Benefits of Using Reliable Professional Movers
When you work with a reputable mover, you not only avoid moving scams but you gain several incredible benefits that can reduce the amount of stress you feel during your move.
Efficiency
When you hire professional movers, you optimize your time and resources and increase how efficiently you move. You have a lot of logistics to figure out, and you likely don’t know the best packing methods to maximize every square inch of space in the moving truck. When you rely on reputable movers, you can focus on getting everything ready for your transition without worrying about packing, loading, and other moving tasks.
Safety
If you don’t regularly lift or move heavy objects, you have an increased risk of hurting yourself during the moving process. You also may damage your property if you don’t pack it properly or bump into something while loading the truck. When you work with professional movers, you protect yourself from injury and your belongings from harm.
Insurance
Reputable moving companies carry full insurance to protect both their employees and your property. In the rare event they damage something, they’ll replace it at no cost to you. That won’t happen if you move yourself.
Cost Savings
With a professional moving company, you can absorb the cost of equipment into the overall expense. You’ll also save money when you consider how much you value your time.
Hire Trustworthy Services With Discount Moving Today
Now that you know how to avoid moving scams, you can effectively research Discount Moving. You’ll see we’re a highly regarded company that can provide the best service during your move.
We’ll never lose your stuff and remain dedicated to exceeding your expectations with courteous, efficient, and accurate moving services. We’re Montreal’s first choice for stress-free moves.
You can obtain a free quote online or by calling 514-933-3555. Reach out today.
