| Listed below are the five most important | | | | Moving containers are a new service which |
| things you can do to protect yourself from | | | | provides a storage container delivered to |
| the growing threat of becoming victim to a | | | | your home. You are allowed to pack at your |
| moving company scam. The moving industry was | | | | own pace while the box stays near your home |
| deregulated in the early 90's and has been a | | | | safe and secured. Once you are finished |
| shambles ever since. Scam movers have taken | | | | packing your moving pod can be delivered to |
| over the industry and the honest movers | | | | your new home in the same city or another |
| canhardly compete. Still over 15% of | | | | state. If you're not interested in loading or |
| Americans move each year for a total of over | | | | driving a truck maybe you would prefer to |
| 40 million people. That's a lot of moving and | | | | hire a truck and driver with you pack and |
| packing for these bad movers to rip people | | | | load they drive moving services. Packing |
| off. By following a few simple steps you can | | | | supplies and services add quite a bit to your |
| have the advantage over your movers and | | | | move cost. Save money by packing your own |
| protect yourself, your family and everything | | | | stuff and ensure it was safe before you |
| you own. | | | | packed it. Beware, scam movers like to blame |
| | | | you for damages to items already packed. |
| 1. The most important thing you can do to | | | | |
| protect yourself when hiring a moving company | | | | 4. Loading and unloading are the most |
| is to hire only licensed movers as regulated | | | | dangerous times for you and your things. |
| by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety | | | | Packing your own things is the safest way but |
| Administration (FMCSA). By dealing with | | | | if you use a moving service to pack your |
| licensed moving companies you are entitled to | | | | things is sure they use quality packing |
| certain Rights and responsibilities When | | | | materials and supplies. Some moving companies |
| Moving as outlined in this Federal Brochure ( | | | | have special rolls of tape that are shorter |
| You should be given a copy of this document | | | | and cheaper than regular rolls. They use |
| by your moving company before you. Be certain | | | | cheap moving boxes which may not support your |
| you are dealing with an actual moving company | | | | stuff and they may under pack boxes in an |
| and not moving brokers. Moving brokers are | | | | attempt to use more boxes and space on the |
| licensed and regulated by the FMCSA but are | | | | truck. Moving blankets, hand trucks and wheel |
| not required to have trucks. Most brokers are | | | | dollys are all tools of the trade for a |
| nothing more than a sales force booking deals | | | | professional mover but foreign objects to |
| for companies with trucks. As soon as they | | | | scam movers. Don't let them bust up your |
| have your money they are no longer interested | | | | furniture and have them pack and load your |
| in you or your stuff. You can read more about | | | | things properly. Most movers will not be |
| the horrors of the moving broker scam at | | | | qualified to do things like setup your |
| | | | electrical equipment or some appliances. Take |
| 2. The best place to find a moving company is | | | | care of these things yourself in order to |
| through your local resources like the | | | | make certain your home is safe from any |
| newspaper, yellow pages or by word of mouth. | | | | potential harm. |
| Ask local friends what movers they have used. | | | | |
| Once you find a moving company you should ask | | | | 5. After your mover has unpacked and |
| for referrals. Don't trust the junk you read | | | | delivered your goods you should check for any |
| on someone's website. Ask for a phone number | | | | obvious damages immediately. By law you have |
| to the last 3 clients. If they won't produce | | | | 90 days to file a claim with your mover but |
| a phone number than ask that they call you | | | | it's always best to do so right away. Offer |
| instead. If they are unwilling to do so then | | | | photo of video evidence of the contents of |
| you can expect their service wasn't so | | | | your home before and after the move as |
| spectacular. Make certain you get a written | | | | evidence of any damages or items missing. |
| binding estimate based on 400n tariff weight | | | | Missing or stolen items should be reported to |
| and not cubic footage. Paying for the actual | | | | the police right away. No matter what the |
| weight of your household goods can save you | | | | movers say you have the right to complain |
| money. Why let a crooked moving company pack | | | | about your items not arriving as they were |
| your stuff in boxes when they are charging | | | | supposed to. File any complaints with your |
| you by the cubic foot? They love the full | | | | movers right away and follow through, if they |
| service pack and move jobs because they | | | | resist then take it up with the FMCSA. |
| charge more. Be armed with knowledge like | | | | Obviously this is not a complete list of |
| that available to you at and know your | | | | things you should do before you hire a moving |
| rights. | | | | company. Good sense and judgment should be |
| | | | used whenever you hire any company to perform |
| 3. The safest way to move your stuff is to | | | | a service for you. When they are packing up |
| move yourself. Self service moving has become | | | | everything you own and stuffing it in a truck |
| quite the rage in recent years and companies | | | | for a cross country trek you take extra |
| that offer various self move services are | | | | precautions. Please review the list of |
| fast becoming industry leaders. Moving trucks | | | | resources below for more information on |
| and drivers are as popular as ever with over | | | | moving and relocation services. |
| 1 million moving trucks rented per year. | | | | |