Choosing a reliable moving company to assist your move can represent the difference between a successful move and a less successful one. There are different ways to determine whether a moving company is reliable. However, even though the guidelines are usually pretty straightforward, it is sometimes difficult to make the right decision on who to hire. Do your research and you will probably be fine. However, in the case that you are stuck with a mover that is not living up to your expectations, what do you do? In order to help you with dealing with fraudulent moving companies, we have decided to provide you with the tips that you can use to your benefit. Therefore, bear with us and find out what are the means that you can use when you are dealing with fraudulent moving companies.
What can you do when dealing with fraudulent moving companies?
The most important thing that you can do when suspecting that you are dealing with fraudulent moving companies is to actually find this out before you hire them. There are certain requirements that every reliable mover is going to meet. However, there are also small and hidden signs that you can spot with the fraudulent movers. Therefore, the most important thing that you can do to help yourself is to open your eyes wide and look for red flags. Make an informed decision on what piano movers Boston, or in any other city, you are going to hire and you will probably be fine.
Here are the most common moving scams:
- Price increase after the move has already begun
- The bait and switch
- Invented charges
Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at what each of these represents. And if you would like to learn how to avoid the 10 biggest moving mistakes, you can get our book here: https://www.amazon.com/Huge-Mistakes-Avoid-When-Moving-ebook/dp/B07QD2BKFX/ref=sr_1_1?
Price increase after the move has begun
This is a classic moving scam that goes way back. Unreliable movers would provide you with a cost estimate that may seem fair to you. However, once the move has begun and your items have been loaded on the moving truck, they would suddenly let you know that the price is going to be higher than what had been estimated. In the case that you would decide not to pay the new price, the untrustworthy moving company may decide to hold your belongings as if they were hostages. They would deny giving them back to you before you would pay the new price. What can you do in this case?
The remedy
Well, the first thing that you must insist on when striking a deal is to receive the estimate in writing. If the moving company declines to do that, there is just one path that you should follow – out the door.
Now, in the case that you are being scammed this way, the second option on your plate is to file a moving complaint. Obviously, before you go that far, try talking sense into your rouge movers. Also, get in touch with your lawyer. Inspect the contract in detail together. Then, with the knowledge that you have obtained face the movers. Ultimately, if nothing helps, you should go ahead with filing a moving complaint.
The bait and switch method when dealing with fraudulent moving companies
This scamming method is based on the size of your load and meddling with it. A fraudulent moving company may inform you of one price when they conduct the free estimate. However, once you are in the middle of the move, they may tell you that the load was larger than what they had expected. Therefore, they would try and have you pay a higher price than the one that they had quoted you. Obviously, your items would once again be trapped with the unreliable movers.
The same can sometimes happen in the case that you are looking to rent self storage Boston. Still, when it comes to renting storage, this is not a frequent occurrence thanks to the fact that the price of storage usually does not depend on the size of your load.
What to do in this case?
No matter whether it was an honest mistake that the movers made or they are trying to scam you, you should make sure not to pay a dime more than what was agreed on according to the moving estimate. Simply, those who make mistakes should suffer the consequences and not vice versa.
Invented charges
This is the last type of moving scams that we are going to talk about today. Invented charges happen when movers send you the bill after moving interstate for example. That bill can contain the charges that the mover had never mentioned before. Once again, they will expect you to pay higher moving costs than what you had been told.
Is there a way out?
Yes, there is! In this case, you should check the details of your moving contract. It should contain every charge on the list. If the charge is not in the contract, you should not pay for it.
Sometimes, fraudulent movers may try and add additional clauses into the moving contract after you sign it. There is one very good precaution measure that you can take for this not to happen. Sign only contracts that have been entirely filled in. You will be safe knowing that the mover can add nothing else to it.
Be careful and play it smart!
Dealing with fraudulent moving companies can be tiring and time-consuming. Moving scams may be scarce, but are still present on the market. In order not to become a victim of one of them, you should choose to hire reliable movers. Follow the guidelines we mentioned above and you will probably make good moving decisions.
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