Move without getting scammed
JK Moving Services hates to see anyone get scammed. It could be a terrible situation—one that costs you unnecessary time, stress, and money. But it also reflects poorly on the rest of the moving industry. Even if you choose another company over JK, we want you to hire an honest mover.
Before you commit to a company, be an informed consumer
Not all residential moving companies are reputable, or committed to treating your move with the care and respect it deserves. Here are a few important ways to avoid moving scams, based on our experience with hundreds of thousands of moves worldwide.
- Make sure your mover is an AMSA-certified ProMover. If you’re looking for a long-distance mover, the company should be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and have a U.S. DOT number.
- Judge the company’s professional appearance: their trucks, their representatives (are they uniformed?), and their warehouse (ask for a tour). Ensure they have an actual street address and check their standing with the Better Business Bureau.
- Beware of unusually low pricing; it’s often a red flag for hidden fees and potential moving scams.
- Ask about the company’s claims policy, process, and ratio (the number of claims versus the number of moves conducted). Expect detailed answers.
- Ask for customer references that you can check. A reputable residential moving company should be able to provide them on the spot.
Understand estimating
If a mover doesn’t treat an estimate with the attention to detail it deserves, or refuses to come to your house to conduct an estimate for a local move, be concerned. Evaluating the number of items to be moved and their approximate weight is a complex process.
You should also be aware of the conditions and risks of different types of estimates:
- A binding estimate obligates you to pay the price quoted, even if your final shipping weight or number of items decreases OR is less than estimated between the time of the estimate and the move.
- A non-binding estimate bills you for the final weight of your shipped goods; the estimate merely serves as a preliminary approximation.
- A not-to-exceed estimate (sometimes referred to as a guaranteed price or price protection) lets you pay the estimated price or the actual cost, whichever is lower.
Binding and not-to-exceed estimates must be provided by the carrier in writing. Learn more about estimates here.
One last note: All movers reserve the right to charge for necessary services, like putting items in storage if no one is there to accept delivery, even if they’re not included in the estimate and you don’t ask for them.