Ways to avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC

New York City is a big place and there are many movers available. When a person is preparing for a move, it’s not easy to pick a company. If you choose without enough care, you will end up losing money. If you choose a good company but don’t schedule them on time, you will never get the reservation. So, it takes a lot of effort. One thing that is really common in the world of relocation is fraudulent companies. If you stumble upon them, without any knowledge, they will take your money and scam you. So, the best way to avoid that is to inform yourself well. Let us help you avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC with a few tips from this guide.

There are three phases. First off, you need to inform yourself about what makes a fraudulent mover and how to detect them. The second phase is your search for a good mover while recognizing scammers, and the third is making the decision.

Start by asking friends and family

Before you actually enter the internet, you should talk to people around you. You probably have family members and neighbors who went through the process of relocation. Maybe some of your friends had to move so they also dealt with moving companies. What about colleagues from the workplace? One of the best ways to avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC is to ask the people you know. Their experience with some of the long distance movers NYC has to offer can be precious. If you can get a company based on a personal recommendation you will be much safer. That way, you can avoid all the time-consuming searches on the internet in order to find the right company. Ask your friends and family and you might just get what you are searching for.

A picture of New York during Autumn.
New York is a big place and you need to pay a lot of attention when trying to avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC.

However, if that doesn’t do the job, you will have to enter the realm of the internet.

Avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC with the help of AMSA

Begin by checking with the American Moving and Storage Association. This organization has an updated list of certified local and long-distance movers. It contains data from all across the country. It really makes the job much easier since it’s all in one place. There are a few other databases of this kind as well and you can use them to confirm whatever you find on AMSA. Once you’ve confirmed the companies reliability using this tip, you can move on.

Pay attention to these common and obvious scamming techniques

Hidden moving fees

Make sure you are signing a completed contract before you give permission to the movers to transport your stuff. Rogue movers, as they are known, will often ask you to pay some unexpected fees for packing, additional fees for climbing stairs, heavy moving, or a tax on extra weight at the last moment. It makes no sense but they can make it seem legit and like you are obliged to pay it.

They might try to ask for a deposit for moving services

Write down or remember all the fees you will have to pay because of your move before you sign a contract. Reliable local movers NYC will not ask you to pay in advance just to hold the relocation date. In general, a card is requested a bit closer to the load date.

A lot of people are looking at a laptop.
One of the safest ways to choose a reliable moving company is to ask your friends and family for a recommendation.

Some suspicious moving quotes

The Low-Ball Bid
If you see a too-good-to-be-true offer, it’s probably not a legitimate mover and you should run and avoid those probably fraudulent movers in NYC. If a mover makes a bid that is just suspiciously low, there must be a detail missing there. So, make sure that you go over the full final cost before you opt for a low-cost moving agreement. If the company takes your stuff and then starts mentioning unexpected costs, it’s a red flag. Good and reliable movers don’t usually do that. The worst-case scenario is when the scamming company decides to keep your stuff until you pay up. That way they double, or even triple the amount of money they take from you.

One-Price-Fits-All
If your mover only talks about the “start and stop” cost, that’s something you should worry about. Reliable movers from Best Movers NYC always include many other components of a final price of relocation. Avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC who offer one price for any kind of move. That’s one big red flag! If your mover is reliable and serious, they will include not only zip codes and the number of rooms, but also the weight of all your stuff and how much space is required on a truck to move your possessions. Be careful not to fall for suspicious moving quotes. They love to leave out an important detail and thus make the cost look much lower.

A man is calculating something.
If the moving company makes an offer without conducting a detailed estimate beforehand, it is a sign they are scammers.

Here are the main steps

With a little bit of research, you can avoid untrustworthy movers in NYC and have a nice relocation without complications.

  1. Consult close family and friends – if you ask people close to you, you will not risk being scammed. They can honestly recommend you some reliable companies.
  2. As already mentioned, check with AMSA
  3. Research every company thoroughly – Do your due diligence well, call their customer service, and read some reviews of the company. It might also help you find some of the best moving rates in NYC.
  4. Document every part of the move – Note any problem you encounter. Make sure your complaint is filed within days because otherwise, your right to complain will expire after 30 days. A good mover will be more than happy to help you out with whatever you need.
  5. Make sure to remember rights and responsibilities – By the Federal law, an informational packet titled, “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” must be provided by the mover. They usually provide you with that during the planning of the move. These days movers usually just direct you to their website where you can find anything you need to know about the legal part of the process.

If you follow all these steps correctly, you are guaranteed to avoid fraudulent moving companies in NYC and have a great move with reliable movers who will fulfill your expectations.

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