In a perfect world all moving companies would be trustworthy and you wouldn’t have to worry about your move being even harder because you get scammed. But unfortunately moving scams happen to innocent people every day. It’s very important that you know what to look for so that you can spot a scam and avoid having your move ruined, your belongings stolen, and your money disappear. You can avoid falling victim to a moving scam by paying attention and doing these things:Never Pay Upfront
If a moving company that you’re considering hiring asks you for a huge deposit or for full payment of the move upfront don’t hire that company. Professional movers won’t ask you to pay until the move is complete. Even if they say it’s their standard policy to collect payment front don’t believe them and don’t use that company. No moving company that is operating legitimately will ask you to pay the cost of the move up front.Get Several Free Custom Estimates
If a moving company wants to charge you for an estimate don’t use that company. A reputable moving company will always give you a customized estimate for free. The estimate must be customized to your particular situation too. If the moving company tries to give you a flat rate estimate over the phone without even seeing your home or your belongings don’t use that company. Collecting quotes from several different companies should give you an idea of what the fair cost of the move should be. Never take the first estimate that you get for a move.Call At Unscheduled Times
If you want see what kind of customer service the moving company will provide during your move call the office at an unscheduled time during the day. If no one answers, or if they answer without saying the name of the company and offering friendly help then don’t use that company because it could be a scam operation.Check Reviews And Online Feedback
Online reviews and testimonials can be a big help when choosing a moving company. Look on social media as well to see if people have been happy with the company’s service. If you can’t find any reviews or only see negative reviews then don’t use that moving company. Pay attention to what other customers say about the business because they will usually mention important information in their reviews.Get Everything In Writing
A reputable moving company will put everything in writing. Starting with the estimate anything they tell you, any price they quote you, and anything that you agree on will be in writing including things like the date and time of the move, the address that you’re moving from and the address that you’re moving to, the cost of the move, any additional services like packing, even the cost of moving supplies should all be in a detailed contract. If you get an estimate and the estimate isn’t in writing don’t bother contracting with the company because you shouldn’t work with them. 