Popular moving scams to avoid when moving long distance

Congratulations on your upcoming move! You are here so it means that you decided to move long distance. Moving is an exciting time, but it definitely comes together with a lot of stress. Especially when you are preparing for a move. You may feel anxious if you can be ready in time, is the decision good, and can you afford the move? The last thing you need is to get scammed to make that moving extra stressful. Unfortunately, moving scams are quite common and people are blissfully unaware of the scamming until it’s too late. When you realize that you’ve been scammed you may feel angry, sad, and upset with the scammers, but also with yourself! Don’t worry – Best Long Distance Movers are here to help you move safely. Here are some of the popular moving scams to avoid when moving long distance and how to avoid them.

Moving scams to avoid when moving long distance

(Very) low quote

Everybody loves a bargain, huh? Moving, especially moving long distance, is a pricey work. We know that you want to save money, but the scammers are after exactly that. You stumble upon someone’s site, (especially if that is the first site you checked) and they give you a low moving quote so you are thrilled, of course! You are proud and relieved that you will save money so you instantly agree and maybe even sign some papers to finalize it. Nope- scam alert! Like we said, moving long distance is expensive and you should be suspicious of any super-low offers. You can read here more about what you need to know about moving quotes so you’ll know what to expect.

Asking for the money upfront

Asking to pay for the move before the move is actually happening is a red flag, too. Obviously, you may agree to pay something in advance for example to save the date or to insure your belongings. However, any expenses should be mentioned and agreed with in advance, so if your movers suddenly ask you to pay before anything was done- watch out.

Not asking enough questions

You find a number, call, and spend a few minutes talking to the “movers”. They sound professional and the quote is reasonable, so you agree to let them handle your long distance move. Is the professional=they sound like they know everything without you telling them? Problem. Legit movers need a lot of information to give you a realistic offer: for example are you moving a lot of breakables? Check out how do long distance movers calculate moving costs, so you’ll know what to expect.

Not offering an on-site inspection

Logic is similar to the previous scam but still useful to mention. If a moving company refuses to come to your house and THEN give you an offer, watch out for the moving scam.

The fixed quote is one of the biggest moving scams to avoid when moving long distance

The company is insisting that your moving quote is fixed? That’s simply not true. Your moving costs should depend, for example, on the day of the move, even on the season which you chose for your move! If you encounter this, know it’s a common moving scam to avoid, especially for long distance moves.

Asking for additional fees to deliver everything

One of the popular moving scams to avoid is when the movers refuse to deliver everything without you paying more. Many don’t want to lose their precious belongings, so they cave in and pay extra.

Insurance scam

When moving, especially long distance, you tend to pack and move everything at once. That includes some breakables, artwork, and generally the items that you love and need. Your moving company should offer you two types of insurance, but if they say that their company offers insurance without additional payments– watch out. Learn more about transit insurance for moving interstate.

Unclear contract

This one should go without saying, but it’s too important to ignore. Never, ever sign an unclear or blank contract! You should ask for more information and time to check it out and maybe consult someone with more experience. If the company pressures you to sign a bogus contract, you are probably getting scammed.

How to avoid moving scams when moving long distance?

Nobody wants to get scammed, and you are no different. You saw some of the most popular scams and here is a short list of things to do so you’ll avoid moving scams.

• Ask around for recommendations- if you know someone who moved recently, even a friend of a friend, that’s great! Try and find as many moving companies as you can and narrow it down to find the one that is perfect (and safe) for you.
• Call first- if they answer and for example, don’t state the company’s name, or generally sound unprofessional it’s a sign of a scam.
• Ask for a copy of the business license- this way you can check if the company is registered with the Department Of Transportation (DOT) and which type of service they provide.
• Research the moving company’s history- some companies continue their scams and avoid complaints by constantly changing names. Try and find all names, licenses, addresses, and insurance information.
• Know in advance what are the moving scams to avoid when moving long distance- good thing you found us then!

Here were some of the popular moving scams to avoid when moving long distance. Unfortunately, scams do happen and if they happen to you your first step should be to file a complaint to FMCSA and Better Business Bureau.