Thursday, February 28, 2008
Before getting into the moving industry, I personally found out the hard way that not all moving companies are created equal. I moved 7 times in a 5 year period for the Marines, each time I had to use a different mover and each time my stuff was destroyed. I was inexperienced and unknowledgable when it came to movers. Ultimately, because I was paying, I always had to find the cheapest price. Let's be honest $900.00 a month does not go very far. LOL! Each time I moved and my stuff was damaged, filing a claim was like trying to get a discount on my taxes. Even after a claim was filed, I was lucky if I got anything back. I was fearful of my stuff each time I moved, and investigating movers was not as easy as it is today. I never knew whether or not if the mover I was using was legal or reputable. With the knowledge I now have, I am pretty sure that I was probably using rogue movers 50% of the time and I was lucky that I got any of my stuff back damaged or not.
Rogue movers typically only care about one thing and that's money. Most of them will give you an extremely low estimate over the phone or internet without ever seeing your goods. Once your goods are loaded on the truck they will demand an exorbitant amount of funds before ever unloading your goods. This is typically referred to as "holding your goods hostage". Though it is an industry standard to collect funds prior to the delivery of your goods, the difference is the amount the mover wants.
On this page I have provided a number of links and tools for you to use to help you decide on a mover. Also, both the American Moving & Storage Association and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provide a lot of essential information on your rights and expectations as a consumer. The following is my list of "red flags" to look out for when trying to decide on a mover:
1. When calling the moving company they anwer their phone "Movers" instead of saying the company's name. For example, they should answer the phone like this "Good Morning, All My Sons. How may I help you?".
2. The mover provides you an estimate for costs that sounds to good to be true. Typically, if it sounds to good to be true, it is. Make sure they either offer or agree to come out and provide a written estimate. The last thing you should do is except a price without it being written on paper.
3. The written estimate does not provide you with a explanation of charges. If you get a written estimate and it is based on cubic feet & not on weight or it just has a price written on it with no break down, do not use this company. Typically, estimates like this are non-binding and the mover will actually charge you what ever they want and this can sometimes cost you thousands.
4. The moving company requires a large deposit or cash. It is not uncommon for moving companies to collect a deposit on your move but it depends on the amount. A normal amount is 10%. Be extremely careful if a they want 50% or more. Furthermore, most moving companies these day will take multiple forms of payment. I would be very leery if a mover only accepts cash.
5. The estimator does not provide you with federally required documentation. Per Federal regulations all moving companies must provide you with a brochure labeled Interstate Moving "Your Rights & Responsiblities" a Ready To Move Pamphlet, a copy of their arbitration program, a high value inventory form and a complaint and inquiry handling form along with their written estimate. If you are moving within North Carolina it is required that the estimator provide you a pamphlet labeled "Moving In North Carolina Your Rights and Responsibilities" along with their written estimate.
6. Unethical practices by estimators. Should you have an estimator come out and provide you an estimate and he starts drilling you on the other estimates you have received, be cautious. Should you divulge the information and he then goes on a negative rampage about his competition. Be leery. It is extremely unethical for an estimator to "talk trash" about his competition. His only job should be to sell you the services of his moving company. The American Moving & Storage Association requires Certified Movers and Certified Moving Consultants to take an oath to refrain from such actions and also requires them to agree to a specific code of conduct. If they are not certified I would not use them.
7. The moving company tells you that all your stuff is covered by insurance. No moving company sells or offers insurance. All liabilities are covered by valuation protection which are mandated by Federal and State laws. (see my blog on mover's liabilities.)
8. The moving company's website does not provide you a physical address, license information or any contact information. A legitimate moving company will have all these things on their website. If they do not it is most likely because they do not want to be contacted or found. Should you find there physical location and the building is an extremely poor condition or if you find out that their physical address is only a p.o. box, do not use that moving company.
9. The moving company is impossible to contact. I had a customer that had used a raleigh moving company and put her stuff in their climate controlled storage. She tried for months to get a hold of the raleigh mover and was unsuccessful, so she called me. I helped her investigate the matter, and we found that the owner of the raleigh moving company just decided to call it quits and shut the doors. No notice was ever given to the people who's goods he had. It turned into a huge ordeal where the FBI, Police and State regulators had to come out and ultimately return people's goods to them, once they figured out what belongings were their's. It took her 9 months to get her stuff. Though this is uncommon, if you can not contact the mover you need to be very careful of using them.
10. Do a thorough investigation. There are many tools out there for you to use. I have a number of links on the side that go to various websites like the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). Make sure they are licensed by the State and have all the valid Federal licenses needed. I also highly recommend that you only use a "Certified Mover".
I hope these tips help you in figuring out if your moving company is legitimate and reputable. Remember should you have any questions feel free to post them here on my blog or contact me directly at (919) 875-1700, either way I would love to help you at any time.
