How to Identify Rogue Movers
Rogue movers are more and more common nowadays with most people searching for services online. Checking if movers are legitimate is a must for a successful relocation. You should be confident that your moving company is trustworthy and will professionally complete the task without surprising expenses. Asking for a recommendation is always a good way to start. Your close friends or relatives may be able to recommend services they were satisfied with. Doing research is necessary if you want to find legitimate movers in NYC. Search for reviews, mover’s FMCSA, and a USDOT number. There’s a surprising amount of unlicensed movers in the NYC area, but there are ways to recognize them and avoid being a part of moving fraud. Keep on reading to learn how to identify rogue movers.
How do rogue movers operate?
Rogue movers use many different tactics to trick people, but there are some repeating patterns listed below. While there are other methods, these are the most common ones.
Phone call estimate
Movers will always need a visual in order to give an estimate. Nowadays online estimates are common, especially when you are moving during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is a big difference between online assessment and simply giving an estimate over the phone. Rogue movers will give you a quote over the phone without seeing your property and the size of your household.
Extremely low quote
Before you choose the lowest price and call it a day, take a moment to compare that price with several others on the market. That’s not to say you should run away from cheap movers NYC, but you should be extra careful if a certain quote is extremely lower than all the others in your area.
Unexpected bill
A common tactic of rogue movers is giving you a surprisingly high bill after the move is done. They will usually quote a lower price and add extra charges once the move is completed, and they can hold your belongings until you pay the fee. That’s why you should choose a trustworthy company with a transparent pricing system like Rabbit Movers.
Rogue movers identifiers
The following tips should serve you as a guideline when looking to identify rogue movers. Bear in mind though, not all the tactics are listed below, and there can be other indicators of fraudulent movers, but these are the most common ones and will usually help you identify a scam.
Estimate over the phone
As mentioned before, every reputable moving company will offer an onsite inspection for giving you a quote. This is absolutely necessary because the price depends on the size of your household. With a recent pandemic outbreak, most movers now offer online moving estimates that you can do via video chat, you can simply do a walkthrough of your home online and they’ll ask you about all details related to your home that may affect the cost. But they still need to see your belongings to determine the price. So if you call a moving company and they instantly quote the price without seeing your home, carry on searching. Find services elsewhere if they’re giving you a quote without scheduling a visit (physical or virtual) to your home.
Cash in advance
Movers should have several payment options, and a trustworthy company will never demand a large amount of cash before your move. Asking for cash in advance may be a sign of committing tax fraud or another illegal way of operating, so they’ll want to avoid leaving a paper trail. Never agree to give cash to movers before your move is complete. You can avoid this by hiring a credible moving company like Rabbit Movers, knowing that they have a transparent pricing system and they’ll inform you about all the costs before signing the contract. This takes us to the next thing that will tell you if you’re dealing with rogue movers.
No contract
The agreement between movers and yourself should be a legal document signed by both parties involved. Right paperwork is necessary for a successful relocation when you’re hiring a moving company. The contract may be binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed, and it’s up to you to choose one that works best for your situation. If you’re not provided with a written contract, that’s a huge red flag, and it’s better if you find another moving company. You should get a booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” which will tell you all you need to know and protect yourself during the moving process. Your movers should also provide you with a written quote, Order for Service, Bill of Landing, and other important documents.
No physical address
A simple tip that can make all the difference – visit the company’s website. Search for their address because every reputable company will have their address listed on the official webpage. There should be a phone number, email address, and physical address of the business. If there’s no place you can visit them that implies that something is not right.
Moving truck with a different label
Trustworthy companies have their crew and their equipment, including moving trucks for transporting your belongings. If a moving truck has a label that doesn’t match your company’s name − that can be a sign that something is off. In case this happens, do some extra research. There may be a legit reason for this (perhaps they’re just going through a rebranding and still haven’t changed all the labels), but do keep cautious and check why they’re using the truck with different labels.
Trustworthy movers NYC
Now that you know several ways to identify rogue movers, you can avoid fraudulent companies and save time and money. Having peace of mind makes all the difference when you’re relocating, and hiring a legitimate company is a top priority for a successful move. Contact Rabbit Movers if you’re looking for movers with experience and transparent prices. We’ll assist with any type of move and we’re happy to answer all questions you have about our business.