| Long Distance Moving Companies: Five Tricks Of The Moving Industry To Avoid |
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| Written by Jennifer Pertillis |
| Friday, 30 October 2009 07:52 |
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Many people looking for a moving company are frequently misled into believing that a good reputation is enough for a successful relocation. Taking into consideration the fact that there is little regulation for movers, you won't be able to get recompensed easily if something goes wrong. While checking with the BBB, only last year there were a staggering 9,405 complaints filed against moving companies. As the regulatory agency that oversees movers has limited resources, it can not always protect you from numerous scams that even reputable moving companies can be guilty of. Low Rate Bids The most common scam in the moving industry is giving you a low ball estimate and then hitting you up for extra charges at the destination - sometimes as much as quadruple the original amount your signed for! If you decide not to pay for the additional fees, the relocation company will take your things and store them in a warehouse, hence forcing you to pay the extra charges. Even if you've signed a "binding and not to exceed quote" you are not safe, so be sure to read every word of the contract! Negotiating Your Move To A Third Party Another common type of scam is when moving companies overcharge their clients and then subcontract the job to another mover for half the price. Keep in mind that, usually, the subcontractor is not responsible to deliver goods in time as it is specified in the contract. Furthermore, these people often hire day laborers who lack experience in transporting valuable items which usually results in broken fragiles. Low Insurance Coverage Breakage is another common scam that consumers usually complain about when moving their households. Most people don't know that many companies will pay them only $60 per each pound damaged. It implies that if your few thousand dollars plasma television gets broken, you will get approximately $30 as compensation. To protect yourself from damage during a move you should add a rider to you homeowners policy. What is more, take pictures of your possessions and be sure that your movers sign a statement of the condition of your items. Cost Based On A Per Foot Bases The fourth common way that a moving company will rip you off is the weight versus cubic feet arrangement. You are allowed to watch weigh-ins and verify the number, but a mover can make your load take up as much space as they want it to in order to jack up the charges. You should calculate the weight of each item by dividing the total weight by the number of items. If you come up with more than 35-45 pounds per piece, be suspicious of your mover's motives! Extra Parking Fees Another popular scam is extra charges incurred by claiming the movers could not park their truck in front of your residence, resulting in "long carries" from half a block or so away. You may have to pay several thousands of dollars for this! Still, you can avoid being sucked into this scam by planning everything ahead. How To Avoid Scams You will be able to stay away from these scams by studying moving company reviews online or consumer publications, getting several quotes, having an attorney approve the contract and documenting the condition and weight of your load. It may be a good idea to ask friends who've moved recently which companies they used and how well the movers performed. About the Author: Don't be taken by rogue long distance movers by making a hasty decision as to who to hire for your move. Request your free no-obligation moving companies online quote from several seasoned moving companies to compare services, best value, and save up to 35% on your move. Kindly provided by MoneyHunter.org You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include the link just before this text. |