May is National Moving Month and in this busy housing market, there's likely to be many people looking to hire a mover. But, Better Business Bureau's Veronica Craker says there are some scams to look out for.
"Some of the common complaints we see are missing or damaged items, late deliveries, or in some cases goods being held hostage for additional payment. There are some cases where consumers were scammed by a moving company. This is usually when the company hikes the price during the move or required a big deposit, but didn't show up to do the work," Craker said.
However, Craker says it's not just scammers to look out for.
"In the past year, BBB Northwest + Pacific received an estimated 400 complaints on more than 1,500 moving related companies. During that time our website received about 110,000 inquiries from consumers looking for a trustworthy moving company," Craker added.
So, what should you do to make sure you're hiring the best company for the job?
- Look up business profiles for moving companies on www.bbb.org. Many BBB accredited moving companies are a part of the American Moving and Storage Association, or AMSA. AMSA ProMovers identifies companies that have pledged to uphold high standards of trust and to resolve complaints quickly. Be sure to also check licensing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and confirm insurance coverage.
- Get multiple estimates so you can compare prices. Remember a really low or high offer does not guarantee the best service. Get everything in writing so there are no surprises.
- To protect your valuables, consider purchasing full-value protection insurance, should any thing be lost or damaged. We also suggest you keep any cash, jewelry or important papers off the truck and with you.
For more resources to help you find a trustworthy mover, visit www.bbb.org.
