Connecticut Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that they are taking unnecessary risks by hiring unlicensed movers.
May, National Moving Month, is the beginning of the busiest time of the year for Americans on the move. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, more than 37 million Americans move to different dwellings every year.
Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says it is worth spending time researching movers to protect personal possessions.
“When you move, you are putting your most treasured possessions in the hands of strangers. You want to ensure they care as much about protecting them as you do.”
BBB received more than 8,400 complaints against moving companies from across the nation in 2009. Most concerned damaged or lost goods or final prices in excess of original estimates. In the worst case scenario, a moving company will essentially hold the customer’s belongings hostage and require as much as thousands of dollars to unload them from the truck.
According the president and CEO of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), Linda Bauer Darr, “Virtually anyone with a truck and Web site can claim to be a mover, and they can’t be trusted to adhere to standards for honesty and ethical conduct.”
BBB and AMSA offer the following checklist for selecting a trustworthy moving company:
Research the Company Thoroughly
BBB recommends looking for a moving company that is an AMSA-certified ProMover. While state regulations vary, all interstate movers must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and are assigned a motor carrier number that you can verify at www.protectyourmove.gov/
Start with Trust at bbb.org
Last year consumers turned to BBB more than one million times in their search for trustworthy movers. BBB maintains Reliability Reports on more than 17,000 movers across North America. You also may look for a trustworthy moving company in BBB’s Accredited Business Directory at bbb.org/. BBB accreditation is one of seven criteria used by AMSA when it authorizes its interstate mover members to display the ProMover logo.
Get at Least Three In-Home Estimates
No legitimate mover will offer a firm estimate over the telephone. Keep in mind that a low estimate may be an unrealistic, low ball offer that may end up costing you much more in the end.
More tips and information on how to choose a mover and plan your move are available at the AMSA’s consumer Web site, www.moving.org/
