How to Identify a Rogue Moving Company

Whether it’s job-related or due to family circumstances, you’ve made the decision to move to San Antonio, which means you’re going to need some help. While shopping around for reliable, Texas movers, you may feel little overwhelmed. There are so many movers to choose from, yet, it can be difficult figuring out how to check if a moving company is legitimate. Additionally, with an average of 40 million Americans relocating annually (or 14% of the population), ^[1] rogue moving companies are more likely to take advantage of those looking to move into their new home. The San Antonio movers of All My Sons Moving & Storage can help with that by showing you how to identify a rogue moving company.

Look for D.O.T. Number

The first thing you need to know about how to identify a rogue moving company is to spot their D.O.T. number. The Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) is a government agency that creates unique, registered license numbers for commercial vehicles to inspect and monitor a moving company’s safety audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations, and inspections. ^[2] Rogue moving companies tend to avoid applying for a D.O.T. number to cut down on costs, so if you’re looking at a moving company without one, run the other way!

No Onsite Inspection Offered

Another tip to identify a rogue moving company is to note whether or not they offer to inspect your household goods. If they don’t agree to an inspection but are quick to give you an estimate online or over the phone, hang up. Such quotes tend to be so low that it seems too good to be true, and in most cases, it is.

No Documentation

While discussing the process with a potential mover and nothing is documented and signed, our San Antonio residential movers strongly recommend against this moving company. Certified moving companies will document and sign the agreement as well as handing you a physical copy or emailing it to you. Rogue moving companies that don’t put anything in writing can take your deposit and belongings and vanish into thin air without a trace.

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few other red flags suggested by our Texas movers to keep in mind when finding a reliable mover:

A moving company that requires a large deposit upfront is usually a scam.
If the physical office is in poor condition or doesn’t exist at all, you’re dealing with a rogue moving company.
A rogue moving company will have an automated system answering calls with a generic greeting instead of a human.

Ask for Recommendations

If you’re still unsure about how to identify a rogue moving company, you can always ask friends and family for referrals. They’ll point you in the right direction toward reputable moving companies they’ve used in the past, or they’ll tell you which ones to avoid based on personal experience.

If you need help with an upcoming move to San Antonio, give our professional movers a call at 830-626-2100 for your free, no-obligation quote today!

Sources:

[1] North American Van Lines – Where are Americans Moving?

[2] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – Do I Need a USDOT Number?