How to avoid moving scam

Posted by admin on October 12, 2010 under Before Your Move, Moving Tips | Read the First Comment

As with any other industry, the moving business is also filled with its fair share of moving scammers. There are a lot of moving companies that are out there; how do you decipher the ones you could trust to do business with? Even if you are in a hurry to move, we suggest that you hang tight, at least long enough to do your homework before selecting a moving company. After all, as the old adage goes “it is truly better to be safe than sorry”.

One of the first things that you would want to do the minute you make up your mind that you are moving is to locate at least three moving companies within your area. You can source these numbers either from your telephone directory or even an Internet search. With their name and numbers in hand, you should start seeking out each company through the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Website. The BBB is a very reputable and highly recommend website that serves as a benchmark for trustworthy businesses. The list of criterion that one has to fulfill before becoming a member of the BBB is one which expects the applicant to do everything from build trust, to advertise honestly, be responsive and embody integrity to name a few. All BBB members, once accepted, would receive the company’s stamp of approval which is usually placed on the moving company’s website. Find moving reviews from past customers.

The next way in which to check out the legitimacy and efficiency of a moving company is by asking them to provide you with references. The moving company should have a list of their previous clients along with their contact numbers which they can easily pass on to you so you can follow up with questions. Note that not every moving company would provide you with legitimate references. Some of these reference contacts can very well be a family or close friend of the movers. If this is the case, how would you know which contact is real and which isn’t? Moving gurus would advice that you get both the home and office contact number of the past clients as the office number can lead you to employees who can verify their identity.

Finally, ask your prospective moving company to provide you with information about their moving history. This should include information such as the years they have been in business; the amount of customers that they have moved over a period of time and how many moving trucks is on their facility. By answering these questions you would be able to get a clear view on the company’s longevity, popularity and if they have the right amount of resources to get the job done.