Common Consumer Complaints About Nationwide Movers
If you’re moving away from Margate, it’s important to find a good, reputable nationwide moving company. Although movers, as well as brokers, are required to be properly licensed through the US Department of Transportation and the Florida Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are still “rogue movers,” many of which are essentially scammers. This can create a challenging landscape for consumers.
In 2015 alone, the Better Business Bureau received nearly 6,600 complaints about moving companies. Here are some of the most common consumer complaints about unsatisfactory nationwide movers.
1) Belated delivery of household goods.
It’s not uncommon for seedy moving companies to take far too long to actually deliver your possessions to your new home. There have been complaints about moving companies keeping things in a warehouse for days or weeks after the initial move.
2) Lying about prices.
Another common complaint is a pricing “bait and switch,” with the price being suddenly doubled when it’s time to actually pay. In many cases, if the consumer is hesitant to pay, the moving company will hold their belongings hostage. This part is actually illegal, and if it happens to you, you should absolutely call the police.
3) Damaged goods.
Unscrupulous and unprofessional movers are known to break furniture and other items by handling it carelessly during transit. Although this does happen occasionally with even the best moving companies, and it’s advisable to get moving insurance, most damage can be prevented through proper handling and transport.
4) Failing to provide pre-move inspections, formal contracts, and state-mandate brochures.
In Florida, nationwide moving companies are supposed to offer pre-move inspections to arrive at an estimate, and to offer formal contracts. There are also two brochures that they’re required by law to provide to their customers.
How to Avoid Bad Moving Companies
Here’s how you can avoid falling prey to unscrupulous companies or moving scams.
- Get references. The best way to find a moving company is through word of mouth. Ask friends, family members, or neighbors if they have anyone they’d recommend.
- Get more than one estimate. It’s a good idea to get estimates from at least three different moving companies. In Florida, nonbinding estimates are usually free. This gives you a much better idea of how much you can expect to pay. If a moving company’s estimate is suspiciously low, it may be some sort of scam.
- Check online for consumer complaints. You can find consumer reviews of moving companies on the BBB’s website, Yelp, Angie’s List, and other third party sites. This can help give you an idea of the quality of their service.
- Know your legal rights. It also helps to be familiar with what’s required of nationwide movers in Florida.
Reputable Nationwide Movers in Cooper City
At Orange Movers, we’re a fully licensed and certified nationwide moving company serving the Miami area. We’ve helped many satisfied customers from Margate move nationwide. To find out more, call us any time, or contact us to get in touch with a helpful representative.
