What To Look Out For To Avoid A Dishonest Mover

avoid dishonest moverThe thrill of buying or selling a home can quickly come to an end when you have a bad moving experience or, worse yet, get ripped off by a dishonest moving company.  How do you avoid a dishonest mover?  The U.S. Department of Transportation has published 8 “red flags” to be on the lookout for to avoid getting ripped off:

RED FLAGSto be on the lookout for:

1. No inspection

  • The mover doesn’t offer or agree to an on-site inspection of your household goods and gives an estimate over the phone or Internet—sight-unseen. These estimates often sound too good-to-be-true. They usually are.

2. Payment first

  • The moving company demands cash or a large deposit before the move.

3. Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move

4. No local address, license or insurance

  • The company’s Web site has no local address and no information about licensing or insurance.

5. Mover claims

  • The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance.

6. No company name

  • When you call the mover, the telephone is answered with a generic “Movers” or “Moving company,” rather than the company’s name.

7. Office conditions

  • Offices and warehouse are in poor condition or nonexistent.

8. Generic Rental truck

  • On moving day, a rental truck arrives rather than a company-owned and marked fleet truck.

(source: US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Program)

Feel like you have been ripped off and looking for help?  Contact the US Department of Transportation and file your complaint by clicking here.

 

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