Although choosing the option of requesting the services of professionals may seem easy and safe, there is a possibility to encounter some people who are looking to deceive you. For this reason, we want to give you some tips to avoid being scammed by moving companies.
Protect yourself from fraud
Moving to a new home can be very tiring and stressful, this is normal in any moving process. Unfortunately, there are some moving companies that use these moments to take advantage of their clients.
But taking care of yourself from being scammed is not difficult at all, as long as you have a good plan of action and know when to get out of the deal when you notice suspicious behavior, there will be no reason for things to go wrong. Read on for tips on how to protect yourself from being scammed by a moving company.
Do your research
If you no longer think it is a good idea to move on your own and you have decided to look for a moving company, it is essential that you do proper research. Of course, there are many national companies with excellent reputations, but if you are moving locally, it is normal to look for a smaller, independent company, so it is very important that you do a thorough research before paying for the service. If you can’t find anything about them on the web, move on to another company.
Pay attention to the comments
In case you get the mover on the web, be sure to check the reviews of other users. Check how long they have been providing the service and make a comparison with the reviews of their previous customers.
Be sure to read all the comments, it is common for some of the companies to leave comments praising themselves, so it is important that you take the time to read all the reviews.
Avoid becoming a victim of “hostage loading”.
There have been cases in which moving companies offer you a very attractive quote, which will make you think you can save some money, so you accept it, they come to your house to pick up your belongings and put them in the truck, and then call you to say “Oh no, apparently you have exceeded the weight limit we had agreed upon, so you have to pay an extra fee”.
Many times these companies don’t even take the time to give an explanation to their victims, they just hold the items and demand a ransom. So it is essential that you have a written contract before giving the company permission to load your belongings.
Do not make cash deposits
This turns out to be one of the most common forms of scams since moving has been around. You find a quote that fits your budget, you make the cash deposit and the movers never show up again. Or even worse, you make the deposit, the company comes to your house to load the truck with your belongings and disappears with your things.
Avoid going through such a moment by refraining from paying anything in cash up front, just as in the case of “hostage loading”, get it all in writing, get the paper signed, and get the insurance to cover it.
Inventory your belongings
Although this step will mean a little more effort, it is fair to take it into account, because if you want to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, you should make an inventory of each item that you will be transporting with the company. Also, do your best to take the necessary photos of the items that will be loaded on the moving truck.
Did you decide on the mover?
If you have already made the decision to hire a moving company, it is wise to take the time to research all of your options. At the end of the day, it won’t seem like much if you are sure that all of your belongings will arrive safely at their destination.
