Five Ways to Spot a Moving Scam

All My Sons Moving & Storage has been in the business of helping companies and families make a seamless relocation for over 30 years. As experts in residential and commercial moving, we want to empower movers with tips and tricks that will help them navigate the moving process and avoid common pitfalls like moving scams.

Roughly 35 million Americans relocate every year, and they spend about $19 billion on moving services when they do. Unfortunately, hundreds of scam companies and brokers want a piece of that $19 billion, which leads to frustrated movers out thousands of dollars all across the country every year.

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in their Moving Industry Overview, more than 10% of business profiles in the moving industry have an F rating. This is four times the percentage for all companies.

Scam moving companies will lure customers in with easy-to-obtain and affordable-sounding quotes, and then upcharge and hold possessions hostage until you pay a significant amount more. Some fraudulent companies will take a large deposit and then no-show the day of your move, or worse load your belongings into a truck and then drive off never to be heard from again.

You can protect yourself from moving scams by watching for common red flags when you’re choosing your moving company. Here are five ways to spot a rogue moving company out to scam you.

A reputable moving company should have their own physical address where they keep their fleet and their storage facilities if they have them. A company that does not have a physical address will be difficult to track down and contact, and may even be operating illegally. 

If you are unable to locate a business address for your moving company or if the address is a P.O. box or a home residence, then that’s a major red flag and you should steer clear of that company.

Search for your prospective moving company on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website and check their rating. You can also see complaints filed against the company and how the company responds to those complaints. 

Several factors go into a BBB rating including:

• The business’s complaint history. A company with a poor rating on BBB likely has a disproportionate number of unresolved complaints against it.

• Transparency in business practices. The BBB may determine a business is not providing complete information about products, services, ownership, or their business address, and dock their rating.

• Licensing and government actions. If the business fails to have required licensing for their industry or if the government has taken action against a business then this also impacts the BBB rating.

If you suspect a business is out to scam you then you can search for your prospective moving company in the BBB scam tracker and see if other consumers have reported the business before.

Going across state lines? Interstate movers who transport household goods must register for a USDOT number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can search for your prospective moving company in their database and find information like their fleet size, address of their headquarters, and how many complaints have been filed against them in the last few years.

The best way for a rogue moving company to lure you in is with an attractive offer. If your biggest concern when you’re looking for movers is the lowest possible cost, then a low quote could make you jump for joy. But a quote that sounds too affordable to be true probably is. 

The scam company may vanish once the deposit is paid, or load all your possessions onto their truck and demand much more money in order to get them back. Even though you were given a low quote, you could wind up spending so much more on your move than you initially planned.

Remember, your time, energy, and peace are valuable too. You should always aim to get at least three quotes from reputable moving companies, and you should consider more than just the price tag when you make your final decision.

Many moving companies will ask for a deposit in order to lock in your reservation. Paying a deposit upfront is a show of good faith that you intend to move on a certain date. The moving company ensures they have sufficient resources for your move and they are partially protected in the case of any last-minute cancellations.

But you should be immediately suspicious of any company that asks for a massive deposit in cash. According to Move Advisor, reputable moving companies typically charge about 10-15% of the final move cost for a deposit if they charge a deposit at all. They should also be able to take multiple forms of payment.

A transaction paid in cash is the hardest to track and you have no protections if something goes terribly wrong.

Watching out for these red flags, you can keep your money and your possessions safe from rogue moving companies. If you suspect a scam from a moving company or broker, be sure to report it on the BBB scam tracker or file a complaint with FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database.

While you’re looking at moving companies, why not get a quote from All My Sons Moving & Storage? Our full-service moving company has an A rating with the BBB and is authorized by FMCSA to transport household goods across state lines. We can manage all the professional packing, loading, and heavy lifting for your move. Whether you’re going local or long-distance for your next home, apartment, or office, All My Sons would be delighted to help make your move comfortable and stress-free. Call 1-866-726-1579 or click the quote form below to get started on your move.