Things you need to know that a moving company won’t tell you

June 25, 2009 – 12:18 pm – No Comment

There are many shady moving companies out there (this is probably one reason when I moved, my family never hired someone). You really have to watch who you hire to move your things and that you’re protected in any contract you sign.

Here are nine things that a moving company won’t tell you:

1) They might end up with your things…on purpose.

From SmartMoney:

Just ask Spyro Malaspinas, a victim of a botched move. He says that Nation Van Lines, which he hired to move his belongings from Austin, Tex., to Chicago in January 2003, hiked his bill from an estimate of $1,050 to nearly $4,300. The movers, according to Malaspinas, said his goods measured 500 cubic feet more than anticipated. When Malaspinas threatened to call the police, the drivers made off with his possessions, which he estimates were worth $47,000. Despite an FBI investigation and the March arrest of Nation owner Eli Peretz by the FBI for alleged crimes with another moving company, Malaspinas wasn’t thrilled with the final results: He only got back around $25,000-and never saw his belongings again. The experience was “paralyzing,” he says. “It’s not like somebody stealing your wallet; they have stolen everything you’ve got.” (Peretz’s lawyer did not return our calls; Nation Van Lines has since gone out of business.)

2) The FBI has some interest in many moving companies. Due to shady business practices like the one mentioned above, the FBI has looked into many different moving companies. Companies have been known to participate in fraud, money laundering, and extortion just to name a few things.

3) Due to the fact that some moving companies’ shady practices are seen as civil matters, local police will likely never touch an issue you may have with the company…making the company nearly untouchable. The FBI is interested in getting scammers to stop, not necessarily getting your stuff back.

4) Someone other than those you hired may be delivering your things. In the summer months, when moving companies do the majority of their business, they may end up contracting out work to other companies that are shady or who you weren’t expecting.

5) Many movers are extremely inexperienced. Moving companies have been known to get day laborers to deliver and ship your things. They also contract independent truck drivers.

6) Get an in-house estimate or you’re likely going to get messed over. Don’t get an online estimate when it comes to moving your things. You may end up with all your things on the truck and unable to pay the “real” price (what they want to charge you).

7) You will likely be charged extra fees.

8) Moving during peak times could mean you move without furniture or any of the rest of your stuff. Like when airlines have busy seasons, moving companies tend to overbook past capacity, so when it comes time to move, whatever date you had planned on may not be realized.

9) Get extra insurance. See the picture at the head of the article, that’s what can happen when a moving company doesn’t pay attention to clearance levels on bridges and all your stuff gets ruined.

Not all companies are bad, you just have to be an informed consumer and do the research before you hire a company. Ripoffreport.com and BBB.org are just two websites where you can find information out about a company before you hire them.