6 Common Moving Scams and How to Avoid Them
In today’s day and age, it seems like no part of our society is untouched by fraud. Even something as straightforward as the process of moving has been infiltrated by all manner of thieves and scammers—to the extent that it’s become impossible to take anything at face value.
Unfortunately, moving scams are far more prevalent than most of us realize, and these days, choosing a moving company – without extensive background research – is the equivalent of rolling the dice. In 2022, for example, well over 5,900 moving-related complaints were filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), virtually all of them aimed at moving companies with a shady reputation or entities that weren’t companies at all, but rather fly-by-night creations of fraudsters and scammers. (Some, in fact, are nothing more than a couple of guys with a laptop and a virtual phone number).
From sky-high fees to damaged or stolen personal property, the risks presented by dishonest movers are real and often very frightening. Scammers thrive in this industry because customers tend to be distracted by stress and worry – and all the work of moving – and these nefarious actors entice these vulnerable, often exhausted clients with both absurdly low quotes and promises of superior services. For many – especially customers on a tight budget – these charlatans become impossible to resist.
Read Here: Housing Crises in the US
Moving scams can include everything from rock bottom estimates, concealed fees, and requests for huge deposits to “hostage” shipments (see below), fraudulent companies (with fraudulent employees), and intentionally ambiguous or deceptive contracts. Fortunately, armed with a little information and a willingness to ask questions and do a little research on the sly, it’s possible to avoid being taken advantage of.
Below, we help you navigate, and protect yourself from, ever-more-sophisticated moving scams. By the time you finish this article, you’ll know what to look for. And you’ll have the tools you need to outwit even the canniest and most determined crook.
A couple of things to bear in mind: not everything unexpected is a scam—even if it seems that way on the surface.
The most reputable moving companies in the world suffer delays due to unpredictable circumstances, whether in the form of extreme weather, logistical breakdowns or obstructions, or personnel issues (including illness). No moving company avoids all of these for very long, especially if they’re involved in long-distance moves or moves that cross international boundaries.
It’s also important to remember that a lot of moving-related issues result from people simply getting their wires crossed. Estimates and quotes can be off, and small adjustments have to be made, but that doesn’t mean the mover intended to defraud the customer. Legitimate mistakes are common in the moving game, and most moving companies are doing the best they can at any given moment. You can spot the difference between genuine mistakes and deliberate attempts to defraud by looking closely at a company’s track record, its willingness to communicate with its customers and share information, and its attitude toward (and interest in) adhering to the rules.
So here we go: six major moving scams, and how to avoid them…
The 6 Most Common Scams
1. The Intentionally Fuzzy or Non-Existent Contract
An extremely fuzzy written contract, or one that is wholly oral in nature and built on a series of presumed understandings, is a major red flag. Unscrupulous movers intent on defrauding their customers love arrangements like these because they give them ample opportunity to insert fees for additional services or “penalty fees” in ways that allow them to maintain “plausible deniability.”
In other words, when they try to overcharge you, and you complain, they can always say, “It was my understanding that the customer understood that we charged extra for X or Y,” and in these situations, it’s almost impossible for you to prove otherwise. In short, the lack of clarity and transparency is entirely intentional, so that you don’t have a firm grasp of your rights and you’re unable to demonstrate to others – like the police, potentially – what you agreed to and what the mover promised to do.
Read Here: How to cope with the stress of moving
Quite often, practices like overcharging and holding personal possessions “hostage” until additional fees are collected are possible only because the customer has failed to insist on a clear and unambiguous written contract.
Even if you’re dealing with a well-known, highly-reputable moving company, always insist that all terms and conditions be put into writing. The top moving companies should do this anyway, as a matter of course, but if you ever find yourself in a situation where the written agreement doesn’t seem to be getting the attention you think it deserves, insist that it be finalized. Victims of fraud in the moving industry almost always lack a clear written contract outlining their rights and responsibilities and the basic terms of the move.
2. The Rock Bottom Estimate
This one, sadly, is a bit of a classic. Unscrupulous moving companies offer wildly low estimates and quotes – and then, once the move is underway – they suddenly demand significantly higher sums, offering various excuses before they ultimately place the blame on the customer for the price discrepancy.
Dependable moving companies provide solid, reliable estimates and quotes that take into account elements like shipping weight and volume, the distance that has to be covered, and any extra services that may need to be performed. The best moving companies are entirely transparent. They’ll not only tell you how much the move will cost, but they’ll leave you with a solid grasp of why it’s that amount. Scammers, of course, won’t do any of this; they’ll dazzle you with cut-rate numbers and hope you bite. Don’t fall for it.
Read Here: Tips to move to a new city
It’s always a good idea to get a handful of quotes prior to booking a move. It’ll give you a solid feel for what your move is likely to cost. Look for the best deals, but again, be wary of anything absurdly low. Also – even though we all click “Approve” without even thinking about it when we receive terms and conditions updates for our apps, streaming services, and credit cards, take some time to thoroughly investigate the details of your moving contract. You’ll thank yourself later. Ask pointed questions about the estimate or quote – including what’s included and what’s not – and don’t hesitate to ask for a written estimate. Get into specifics.
Scammers generally won’t take the time to go into that kind of detail, so if there’s any hesitation on the mover’s part after you make the request, take note of that and let it inform your decision about whether to move forward or not. Scammers, for all their guile, are lazy; real movers are interested in building long-term relationships and networking. They want to keep you happy.
3. The Hidden (or Minimized) Fees
Hidden fees are exactly what they sound like extra charges that go undisclosed until the customer sees the final, fraudulent bill. In almost all cases, these charges result in a final bill that’s far, far bigger than the one the customer was expecting. Unscrupulous moving companies and outright scammers usually adopt a lot of fancy language to explain these charges, and – if and when the customer eventually complains – they also tend to offer meaningless apologies. They count on the fact that the customer is relieved that the move has been completed without incident and that all their personal possessions are (ideally) intact and in the right place.
Read Here: Moving yourself vs hiring a mover
Human beings have a tendency to be more forgiving of small disagreements when worst-case scenarios have been avoided, and scammers take advantage of this to insert little charges and fees that are completely made up, but which the customer – focused on taking possession of a new home – assumes must be justified. Often they’ll mention these fees in passing but strongly imply they won’t apply to you, and that if they did apply they’d be minimal. In this way, once they tack them on, they can claim that you were told about them, even though they intentionally left you with the impression that they’d only apply in extreme or unusual circumstances. It’s a bit of cognitive sleight-of-hand.
To avoid being victimized by scammers specializing in these kinds of fees, dig deeply into the moving estimate, quote, and contract prior to adding your signature. Never hesitate to ask questions about people—or contract details—that seem a little bit off to you. Reputable moving companies, whose businesses are obviously negatively impacted by the scammers – are only too happy to go through their fee list with you and the specific details of your contract. They see this as part of their long-running effort to persuade the public that most movers – by far – are honest and reliable. And again, to make sure that there’s no miscommunication, make sure to get everything possible in writing.
4. The “Hostage” Shipment
This tactic is especially nefarious. The shady moving company gets all your stuff into the truck or van, then claims that the weight is far, far greater than they’d estimated, and that they’ll have to tack on an additional fee to make it all work out. This can happen anywhere along the line: right after loading, halfway through the move, or upon arrival at the place you’re moving to. Some bad actors rely on “weight bumping” to help them make their case; they manipulate the weight in the vehicle to give the impression that the household goods they’re carrying are much heavier than they expected. Military personnel, who move frequently, are often victimized by these types of scams.
Read Here: 8 packing tips you will remember for life
Complain as you might, the implicit (or explicit) threat is that they’re not going to do anything until you agree to pay the extra amount. They’re not going to move your stuff and they’re not going to unload your stuff. You’re effectively stuck, with all your worldly possessions being held hostage by a group of criminals.
Finding yourself in this situation can be incredibly frustrating and distressing. It’s a form of extortion, and though you obviously want to avoid paying extortionists, you also know that they have the upper hand. The most important thing, at that moment, is to regain possession of your personal items.
In extreme instances, the moving company will actually threaten to sell your personal possessions or dump them in a landfill if you don’t pay up.
They often try to claim that YOU are the one abusing THEM or that you’ve somehow betrayed their trust. It’s all designed to persuade you to give in and pay them.
There are different ways to approach a situation like this. Some customers prefer to pay and then seek restitution later in court; some try to negotiate a smaller payment; some contact relevant agencies for help, including the BBB and the FMCSA; some hold out and refuse to pay and actually call the local police. It obviously depends on how much money is involved, the nature of the threats or coercion, and—for some—the value of the stuff being moved. I’m aware of one case in which the customer told the moving company that the amount they were trying to get from him was higher than the value of the items he was moving and that he simply wouldn’t pay. The company began to complain angrily, but the customer was adamant, and the parties eventually came to an agreement. Each circumstance is, obviously, unique.
Use your good judgment and avoid putting yourself at risk.
5. The Non-Existent Moving Company
This type of scam is, unfortunately, on the rise, thanks in large part to the ubiquity of the Internet and the ease with which criminals can create the appearance of a real business in mere minutes. As anyone who’s ever tried to create a professional-looking website for themselves or their business knows, it’s not that hard. You pay someone a few hundred bucks, and you get something that looks incredibly slick, professional, and persuasive. Scammers take advantage of this and use the same tools and services to create an entirely phony website, along with a fake business name and logo, fraudulent customer reviews, and stock photos that can be found online for free. Nothing could be easier.
Read Here: Tips to pick the best moving company
This is why it’s so important that customers take the time they need to thoroughly investigate a moving company’s background. Call the company. Call the BBB and similar organizations. Find out how long the company has been in business and what issues it’s had in the past. See what you can find out about the people who own the business. Type their names into Google and see what comes up.
It’s an unfortunate truth that a phony moving company will happily take your money – sometimes a modest deposit, sometimes up to half the estimate – and then vanish. Some of the more aggressive and particularly heartless fraudsters operating in this space will take payment, load up their truck or van (typically rented or stolen), and then drive away, never to be seen again.
This is exactly why extensive background research is a must. There’s no substitute for it.
6. The Absurdly High Upfront Deposit
It’s not unusual for a moving company to request a deposit upfront, but the amount involved is almost always modest and it’s invariably included in your moving contract. But when a requested deposit is excessive – for example when it’s more than 50 percent of the pre-move quote – and the amount seems a bit random, like the mover sort of decided right then and there what it should be, that could signal a problem. Also, be wary if a moving company demands cash and rejects all other forms of payment. Very few reputable movers will ask you for 50 percent (or more) of the final bill prior to the move.
If you’re presented with that kind of request, be skeptical, and do as much research as possible to clarify whether the amount is consistent with common practice for the company or whether some sort of criminal activity is going on. Companies change their terms and conditions frequently, so don’t dismiss the request out of hand. Instead, use it as an additional excuse to carry out a full investigation of the company’s background.
Read Here: How to choose the best long-distance movers
A good example of standard industry practice in relation to deposits is International Van Lines (IVL), which requires a 25 percent deposit to reserve a moving date. The balance is then split into two separate payments: 50 percent on moving day, and the remainder upon delivery. An IVL deposit can be made using a credit card, check, or ACH. The initial deposit is refundable in the event of cancellation, but only for domestic moves – not international moves.
These are fairly standard terms and conditions. If a company you’ve never heard of is asking you for a 50 percent deposit prior to the move date, think seriously about switching to a more established company like IVL, even if the first company is offering you a seemingly fantastic deal.
Other Things to Remember
Watch out for movers who seem to be using rented or unmarked vehicles and whose “business” seems to lack a USDOT number (which is required if movers are crossing state lines). If you can’t identify the company’s address, it’s wise to avoid that company. Be wary of anyone who isn’t able to answer questions in a straightforward way or resists providing a written estimate or contract. Also watch out for customer reviews that are unusually short, banal, and repetitive and which feature consistent grammatical errors.
Avoid any company that does not offer liability coverage for potential damage to your personal possessions.
Given the power and ubiquity of social media these days, make ample use of platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Quora to search the company’s name and its personnel. If customers have had trouble with the company in the past, it’s more than likely than not that they’ve posted something online about their negative experience.
If, despite your very best efforts, you’ve fallen victim to a moving scam, don’t hesitate to report your experience in order to help others. Contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the BBB, and your state agency dedicated to receiving moving-related complaints. You can find yours here.
International Van Lines (IVL):
The World’s Premier Long-Distance Moving Company
Is IVL a Reputable Moving Company?
International Van Lines (IVL) is the world’s premier local, long-distance, and international moving company. The IVL advantage? Simple. We’ve got the infrastructure, the personnel, and the experience. No other interstate moving service can do what we do. Allied Van Lines? United Van Lines? JK Moving Services? Colonial Van Lines? North American Van Lines? None come close to matching what IVL delivers to its customers every day of the year, all over the world.
Whether you’re moving to the other side of the street or the other side of the planet, we deliver a smooth, predictable, and stress-free moving experience. Believe us when we say: you’ll never regret choosing IVL.
We guarantee that your personal possessions will arrive on time, on budget, and in pristine condition.
Based in Coral Springs, Florida, but now serving over 180 different countries worldwide, IVL’s reputation for excellence continues to grow. Over the past 25 years we’ve mastered every aspect of full-service door-to-door relocation.
IVL relies on the following transport methods: air freight, ocean freight, and our enormous and ever-growing fleet of high-end moving vehicles. We also provide extensive storage services (see below), so if you need a storage facility after you arrive at your destination, we’ve got you covered.
Click Here for Your Free Long-Distance Moving Quote Today!
Josh Morales, IVL founder and CEO
To get your free local, long-distance, or international moving quote online, and for easy access to all the moving info you’ll ever need, head on over to our website at www.internationalvanlines.com.
If you’d like to speak with an IVL rep directly, call us any time at (877) 647-1336. We’re always happy to assist existing and prospective IVL customers with their international or interstate moving needs.
Our Local, Long-Distance, and International Moving Services
As a full-service mover, IVL offers comprehensive services that are door-to-door and encompass every aspect of the moving process. Here’s a brief overview of what we offer:
- Full service packing and unpacking services. (We can also direct you to reliable suppliers of packing materials if you need them).
- Furniture assembly and disassembly.
- Specialized services for high-value and/or fragile items, including art, antiques, collector automobiles, family heirlooms and important documents.
- Transport via ocean freight and/or air freight, as well as via our fleet of high-end moving trucks and vans.
- Junk removal.
- Vehicle transport, domestic or international.
- Varied storage services (short-term and long-term storage as well as standard and climate-controlled).
- Full customs clearance management.
- Insurance coverage providing basic moving protection; full value protection available for purchase.
- Full corporate and military relocation services. Live chat and customer service 24/7.
- Easy, real-time shipment tracking, regardless of whether your move is local, interstate or international.
How Much Does IVL Charge?
IVL team members at company HQ in Coral Springs, FL
To get a firm grasp of what IVL charges, we recommend you do one, or both, of the following:
Use Our Online Moving Cost Calculator
CLICK TO CALCULATE
Take a few minutes to check out our online moving cost calculator – AI-driven and reflective of up-to-date fuel costs and other expenses – to get a solid feel for what your move is likely to cost. This is a service that few interstate moving companies are able to offer. When requesting a moving quote from IVL, be sure to provide your move details in full – especially your destination zip code – to ensure the most accurate quote possible.
Contact IVL Directly
Sometimes it’s difficult to explain the unique circumstances of a move using an app alone. In such cases, feel free to contact IVL directly for an estimate or a much more detailed quote based on your unique circumstances.
Keep this in mind as well: moving costs – and fuel costs in particular – can shift rapidly. These shifts can influence pricing, and in some instances, the final bill you receive may differ slightly from your initial estimate or quote.
In all circumstances, however – from charges and fees to logistics and tracking – IVL is fully transparent with you, the customer. It’s your opinion that matters to us in the end – no one else’s.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know?
Partnerships
To promote the speed and efficiency of your move, IVL, like many movers, may partner with one or more local moving companies at certain points of the moving process – the final stages in particular.
Fees and Charges
There is also a 25 percent deposit required to reserve a moving date. The balance is then split into two separate payments: 50 percent on moving day, and the remainder upon delivery. The deposit can be made using credit card, check or ACH.
Cancellation Policy
The initial deposit is refundable in the event of cancellation.
However, given the complex and time-consuming logistical arrangements that international moves require, deposits and fees collected for such moves are not refundable in the event of cancellation.
Is IVL Fully Licensed?
Yes. Per federal law and federal regulations, IVL is licensed by DOT, FMC and AMSA (the latter having been recently absorbed by ATA).
Click Here For Your Free Long-Distance Moving Quote or Contact IVL Directly at (877) 647-1336
