Moving is stressful enough on its own without having to worry about getting scammed. But unfortunately, the market is teeming with fraudulent movers. Unlike the moving companies you can find on the Verified Movers website, many types of movers are far from professional. What more, these sorts of movers can make moving a living hell for you. Luckily, it’s not that hard to recognize fraudulent movers, even in the sea of movers, if you know what you’re looking for. However, first, you have to learn all the signs of fraudulent movers. These can be either very obvious and easy to spot, or more subtle and unusual. That said, most fraudulent movers display all sorts of warning signs, and you just have to learn to recognize them.
There are plenty of red flags
When looking for movers you have to make sure you’re doing your research. Plenty of companies out there are a safe bet, but if you’ve never moved before, it can be hard to differentiate between professional and non-professional movers. That said, there are plenty of red flags you can spot before hiring certain movers. And just the same, there are plenty of telltale signs that show that movers are reliable experts. That’s why, when it comes to moving, you should trust your senses. Oftentimes, we can identify correctly what’s going on by just observing. It’s the same with movers. You’ll be able to tell a lot about them by just studying them. Trust yourself, but also make sure to educate yourself!
Trusting a suspicious moving business blindly is not a good idea!
One of the main ways to recognize fraudulent movers is by fishy prices
Most movers within the same area usually have similar prices. There are, of course, some differences. But if movers have odd prices, that are way too high or way too low, you should immediately know that something is fishy. If the movers are too cheap that may be baiting you, or they are notoriously bad and don’t get any business. Whichever the case, you may want to avoid these movers. On the other end of the spectrum are moving companies that overcharge their clients. You should also avoid these businesses since they’re obviously ripping off their customers.
Doubt your movers if they don’t offer written estimates
Written estimates are the industry standard. Most professional movers offer these estimates in the form of binding contracts. Fraudulent movers pull all sorts of moving scams, but not offering an estimate in order to make you pay more at the end is one of the most common ones. That’s why you should always make sure that the movers you’re hiring offer written estimates. That way you’ll know exactly where you stand and how much you’ll have to pay. And if something should go wrong, you’ll have the proof.
Beware of the reviews when trying to distinguish fraudulent movers from ethical movers
Reviews are a great way to learn about companies. What more, they can help you recognize scam movers much easier. Genuine reviews can be very helpful. However, fraudulent movers often hire people to write fake reviews. But luckily, these fake reviews are nothing like genuine reviews people leave for Alliance Van Lines. Fake reviews are usually easy to spot since they are:
- Overly positive to the point of sounding disingenuous
- Way to vague
- Sound as if they’re trying to sell you something
- Overly short or overly long
Keep your eyes out for fake reviews and you’ll spot fraudulent movers a lot easier!
Keep in mind that not all reviews are genuine!
They want you to pay a lot… In advance…
Deposits are nothing new in the moving industry. However, most interstate Florida movers residents praise for being great, usually ask for a normal deposit that won’t break your bank. If the movers you’re thinking of hiring ask for a lot even before a move, that’s a red flag. That can mean that they know you won’t be satisfied with their service and might not want to pay for the rest. So if the potential movers are asking a lot from you from the get-go, consider looking for other movers.
A dead giveaway for fraudulent movers is a sketchy address
Most professional moving businesses have a genuine, real-life address where you can find them. It may be their headquarters or a local unit, but there is going to be an address for sure. They’ll also usually have a landline you’ll be able to reach them on. So if the movers you’re considering only have an internet address, you might want to research them a bit more. Not having a physical address is very suspicious. It’s not impossible that a good business won’t have a true address, but it’s very unlikely.
Signing a moving contract before you get an estimate is never a good idea
No true moving business will ever push you to sign something before you’ve gotten an estimate and have agreed to a price. Only then will you get a contract to sign. That, however, is not the case with scammers. If movers push you to sign a contract without all that, you should suspect them being fraudulent movers. And even if they are not trying to scam you, you should never sign a contract without knowing all the details first.
Being asked to sign a moving contract before knowing what you’ll have to pay is extremely suspicious!
Recognizing fraudulent movers is not that difficult
Whether you’re looking for local or long-distance movers in Florida you may get scammed if you’re not careful. Luckily, if you educate yourself and pay attention, you’ll be able to recognize fraudulent movers without any issues. Research thoroughly, open your eyes, and trust yourself. That way you’ll be less likely to fall victim to moving frauds and scams.