Protect yourself from moving scams
Moving is tough enough without contending with an unexpectedly high bill at the end --- or worse yet, having movers that hold your stuff hostage on a truck, demanding a ransom.
Here's some tips to help you avoid scams from the Maryland Movers Conference and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, via the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland.
According to these sources, if you've paid 110 percent of the non-binding estimate or all of the binding estimate and the movers refuse to take your items off the truck, they're violating federal regulations for the protection of household goods shippers.
What should you do?
Call the police, the BBB sez.
Here's some more advice for finding a reputable mover from www.protectyourmove.gov, where you can also search for complaints against movers.
- Get a written estimate from several movers.
The estimate should be based on an actual inspection of your household goods. - Make sure the mover has insurance and is licensed by the proper authority.
For moves from one State to another, a U.S. DOT number is issued by FMCSA. You can double-check a mover's license on www.protectyourmove.gov. For moves within a State, requirements vary. Check with the Maryland attorney general. - Remember your priorities when choosing a mover.
If you hire a mover based solely on the cheapest price, you may be sacrificing other things that are actually more important, such as getting your possessions moved and delivered on time. And remember, movers are required by law to deliver your goods for no more than ten percent above the price of a non-binding estimate. This is known as the 110 percent rule. - Do your homework.
Read "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move," a booklet from the Federal government that your mover is required to give you if you are moving from one State to another. This booklet also has information you'll need if your goods are lost or damaged during the move. Finally, check the mover's complaint history with local consumer advocacy organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau.
(photo: Andre F. Chung/Baltimore Sun)
