Avoid fake moving companies
Now that you have decided to relocate after some serious thinking, the last thing you will need is to fall into a fake moving company. Due to the heavy demand exist in the industry, hundreds of thousands of moving companies emerge in the market and unfortunately, some of them are bogus! Falling into the hands of such bogus moving company is a huge risk; the potential for your belongings to get damaged are high!
Although these fake moving companies operate under various modes, they all come with this common aspect; they offer absurdly cheap quotations! Their main intention is to grab the job somehow, but they will have loads of hidden fees at the end of the day. They will initially ask for a very small deposit and wait until you give several reminders as the moving date approaches. Once the belongings are loaded to their trucks and probably moved halfway though, they will suddenly ask you to pay more money. This particular raise may be as high as 100% in most of the occasions. Relocation itself can create a stress in you – unpleasant situations caused by fake movers can make the situation worse for you. Therefore, it is always important to identify and avoid these fake vendors.
Here is a list of steps you should take whenever you find yourself trapped in a moving scam
- Be sure to have everything documented. This should include everything took place between you and the respective moving company. Note down all the disappointments you came across and the way you suffered while dealing with them. You should mention the amount both the parties agreed initially, the amount you deposited and the amount they demanded you to pay at the end of the task.
- Immediately after identifying that you are being trapped in a moving scam or when your belongings are kept under a hostage situation until you pay the demanded amount of money, you must start to record telephone conversations, have information about the people you talked with, dates and times of the calls, emails or faxes exchanged (if any) and any other proof. These proofs will become highly instrumental when filing a case against the fraudster. This will be a vital stage in recovering your belongings via a legal process and take necessary actions against the bogus moving company.
Unfortunately, there are some customers who would pay the outrageous sums and avoid further actions just because they can afford it. Never fall into such group as it is an encouragement for such fraudsters. Contact your attorney immediately and ensure to file a case against those companies without fail. It is your right and never let those fraudsters catch another victim.
The best way to stay away from such trouble is to make sure that you rely on an established moving company. You can look into their profile, read customer testimonials, observe their professionalism and refer their documentation before selecting a moving company. You should always rely on written estimates; not the verbal agreements.