Moving Scams! All you Need to Know!
You’ve had a disappointing move. You shelled out money to a company that barely spoke, had a rickety van and a shady looking website. Then, the unthinkable happens. The bill is much higher than it should be, some of your things are broken or missing. But how could this have happened? Simple, you, like many others, have discovered moving scams.
What is a Moving Scam?
A moving scam is when a moving company will try to dupe the client out of either their belongings or of the final bill.
While both are distinctly different, they both result in the client’s trust being taken advantage of and loss of property.
Move by Weight Scam – One of the ways that moving scams will be able to dupe money out of the client is billing by net weight. People will receive a bill based on what the estimated weight of their belongings will be.
Only to discover that the weight was wildly misjudged. This causes a huge spike in what the end bill would be. While still being justified based on the terms of the agreement that the owner signed.
Hostage Loads – One of the ways that moving scammers will be able to secure their capital from the client or homeowner is by invoking UCC 7-307/308. It stipulates that a moving company may levy the personal property of the owner until payment is received.
This means that they can keep and sell your belongings to make up the payments that are owed.
While all of these are awful, it’s also hard to tell when a general theft has been performed or intentional destruction of property.
Sometimes Movers can be trying to make an extra amount on the side and will skim products off the top.
How to Avoid Moving Scams?
Read the Contract – The first thing you need to do, especially when your personal belongings are involved, is to get a contract, read it, and have it signed.
When you are hiring someone for a service, you want to make sure you are both playing in the same legal ballpark.
By playing into their hand, you are allowing the UCC 7-307/308 to be the governing legal document in the transaction, but the contract overrides all.
Know your Movers – Get to know your movers. Often a company will advertise their movers so that you can get to know them.
Actively engaging and participating in the move will put you close to your movers. Put yourself in the know about the wellbeing of your belongings. Also, it will let you have a good read on the kind of people you are letting around your personal effects.
Get a Trusted Moving Company – The best and easiest way is to find a trusted moving company.
- Find one that is part of a union.
- Has a great score on Yelp, Google+, or something similar.
- Has to experience as a company.
- Need to have an active social presence or good word-of-mouth.
Top Notch Movers
Top Notch Movers has been in business for several years now. We are BBB accredited, are part of the ‘Move for Hunger’ campaign. We are members of both AMSA and FMWA. Have several reviews on Angie’s List, Yelp, and Google+.
We have helped countless families move in South Florida and have frequent repeat customers.
The fact is that if you need movers in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere else in South Florida, we are the people who will help you. If you or a loved, one would like to know more about our services or our company, make sure to give us a call at (954) 256-8111!
