Moving is one of the most common activities that takes place today. As a result, there are many people who have come up and claim to operate moving and services companies. You have to be on guard before engaging a moving company in order to avoid getting scammed. Here are some things that should raise a red flag in a moving company:
- No physical address. If the moving company only has a website, no matter how professional it is, but has no physical address it is probably a scam. Ensure that you can validate the address is theirs. Make a quick address look up on the internet and you will find out whether the address is registered to that company.
- Asks you for upfront down payments without assessing your property on site. Moving companies come up with their quotes based on the weight of the goods that you are transiting. Beware of companies that just give you a rough estimate over the telephone or through email.
- The company cannot disclose their registration number or licenses. It is easy to do a check up on the Movers Association website in your state to find out if a company has been registered. Avoid companies that refuse to disclose information regarding their registration.
- Beware of very low prices. Do not be lured by companies that offer very low prices no matter how far your destination is. Most companies base their prices on the distance they will have to take the items. If a deal is too unrealistic, it probably is, stay away!
- Ensure that the company is in good books with the Consumer Complaints Division and the Better Business Bureau. Any company that has many complaints filed against it should be avoided. This may indicate that the company offers substandard or unsatisfactory services.
The above are a few of the red flags that you should watch out for when you are choosing a moving and services company. You have to do proper research and consult widely before settling on a move company. Ask for referrals from your friends and colleagues at work, they may have used a move company before that served them right.