The Best Moving Companies Don't Do These Things

If you’re planning a move, it’s likely you’ll want to hire movers to assist you. But in a world where so many moving companies exist, how do you separate the best from the worst? Not only are there companies out there offering subpar services, but there are those out to defraud you as well.

According to the Canadian Association of Movers, “A wrong choice in the selection of a moving company to move a lifetime’s worth of household possessions can be disastrous. Scam operators will take advantage of consumers by offering cut-rate prices, making unrealistic promises, inflating the price on moving day and holding the household possessions for ransom. These con artists take no responsibility for the level of service delivered. If a mover’s offer looks and sounds too good to be true, it is. Buyer Beware!”

So how do you tell the difference between the worst and best moving companies? Here’s a list of things that the best moving companies would never do.

• Refuse to give an in-person estimate. When you’re researching movers to hire, you’ll likely begin with the Internet. There are companies out there offering online or phone estimates, in a supposed attempt to “make your life easier.” But a credible moving company will also offer in-person estimates, since that’s the only true way to determine exactly what they’ll be moving.
• Ask for a large deposit or full payment up front. This is a sure sign you may be dealing with a fraudulent company. The best moving companies will ask for a small deposit up front, to ensure you are serious about your move – but they will not require the full amount before they do any work.
• Ask you to sign a blank document. Always read everything before you sign it – and if a page is blank, don’t sign it at all. Your mover MAY legally ask you to sign an incomplete page, but these pages should only be missing information that cannot be determined before loading, such as shipment weight.
• Not give you a copy of documents you sign. If your mover does not provide you with a copy, insist on making one yourself or taking a picture of the document with your phone or a camera. This ensures the document is not altered at a later date.

The key to making sure you’re working with one of the best moving companies is to protect yourself from fraud – which is possible – and know exactly which services you want before hiring anyone. Allied Van Lines has over 90 years of experience and is a well-known, reputable company that is fully licensed and registered. Contact us for a free quote today.