Avoiding the Most Common Moving Scams

If you have already decided on moving to a new home and have figured it would take a moving company to help, you must be careful in your choice. There are some bad companies out there that are not working for your best interest.

Fraud in the removal business has become increasingly common. A number of dishonest movers are looking to take advantage of the expanding market and offer unreliable and false services only to get to your money. Avoiding the moving scam artists should be your top priority. It is good to know what to watch out for, as that will protect your money and your belongings, and eventually get you relocated to your new home. Whenever you research a man with a van service, be on the lookout for the following dishonest practices:

• Too low of a price - if the price quote for a house relocation is too unrealistically low, don’t be quick to dance around in joy. You will not be saving money if you book such cheap services. More likely you will be losing your money to scammers. It is common to send such companies a deposit and never hear back from them as they vanish with your money. Even if they do show up for the job, you may be introduced to hidden fees and taxes, which will quickly raise the initially quoted price and blow it out of proportions. Compare the quotes of several moving companies to ensure they are realistic and then do a thorough research on the company you want to hire.
•  Pay attention to the fine print - be meticulous when it comes to signing a contract with a moving company you have chosen. You must be completely aware of every clause and every point of it. Be especially careful of the fine print, as moving scammers can easily trick you into signing a contract under which you must pay extra. Be in the clear when it comes to all expenses.
• The large initial deposit scam - a common fraud with scammers is to ask for a large deposit before the moving service is actually carried out. It is common practice for movers to ask for 20% of the moving cost, which is an ok amount. Stay within reasonable limits and be skeptical about companies that demand too much money as deposit.
•  Extra cost on additional services - if you receive a great quote at first, don’t be quick to take action. It is highly likely that this initially quoted price does not include any additional services, which can hurt your budget a lot in the future. Check out the price list you are given and choose only what you need.
•  False references - one of the best ways to find a reliable removal company is to check out references and client feedback. There are some firms out there that like to flood with fake testimonials and references, in an attempt to trick you into thinking that they are reliable. In order to go around this, you can show more persistence and search additional trustworthy websites for feedback or even contact people who have used certain company to move.

There are a lot of traps the unaware may fall into. Be careful in your choice of a moving company, as a bad decision could be costly.