Acclaimed Moving and Storage is a premiere luxury moving company that proudly offers full-service local, long distance, and international moving. Acclaimed covers your every moving need and specializes in handling high value art, furniture, pianos, electronics, and will cater to every need and challenge our customer faces.
Beyond our expert care in moving we are also experts in offering support for our customers in making the right decisions for a move. The moving industry unfortunately has its share of scam artists that make it difficult for customers to know who to trust. Acclaimed holds an ‘A’ rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as glowing online reviews and a loyal customer base, and we’ve this experience as well as our staff’s prestigious insight to compile this guide on how to avoid fraudulent movers when you are trying to find a mover.
Avoiding Rogue Movers
Some of the most effective methods to spotting a rogue moving company can be done simply by looking at their website. Here are a few things to look for:
- If the company doesn’t even have a website.
- Look for pictures of their trucks, clearly labeled with the company logo.
- Look out for referrals to online reviews and ratings with the Better Business Bureau.
- Also look for an office address and phone number.
If a company’s website doesn’t have any of these things then it should be considered high-risk. Rogue movers operate on a fly-by-night practice and sometimes can go so far as to put up a makeshift website, leaving out revealing details.
These websites can also be for brokers who will put your listing up for local moving companies to bid on– some of lesser standards then others. This is one of several ways to find a mover. Should you submit for an online quote on these sites and start receiving calls from different moving companies, this is an opportunity to explore the different companies calling.
How to Find a Mover
From here you can go into their online reviews to get a better picture of their business practices. However, there are rogue movers that write false reviews to better their score or even lower the score of their competitors. Here are a few points to look for:
- Overly positive reviews
- Reviews with repetitive or generic language
- Overt repetition of the company name
- Clusters of positive reviews within minutes of each other
- “Marketing talk” vs. “Happy customer talk”
Basically if the language of the reviews seems forced and the names they lead to seem false then there is a good chance the company has fabricated the reviews. There are companies that even pay for false reviews. This is a red flag that should also be avoided. With that in mind online reviews can be an excellent way to find a mover, especially on a local/independent level.
Find Interstate Movers
After you’ve explored their website and online reviews, you can also get in contact with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA is a government run administration with the goal of preventing commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. The FMCSA assigns interstate moving companies their own USDOT number which customers can enter at http://www.protectyourmove.gov to view a profile of the company that includes a history of accidents and inspections. However, smaller moving companies operating exclusively on an intrastate level are not required to register with the FMCSA and consequently may not have a USDOT number.
Find a Mover, Pick a Mover
If a company’s online standings check out, then you could get in contact with them for a quote. Some moving companies like Acclaimed Moving and Storage have relocation consultants available to visit your property and better tailor a quote specific to your needs. Be sure to offer as much information about your move as possible to your consultant so they can factor in the amount of time, equipment, and moving help needed for the job.
As you compare quotes, consider not only the price but the quality of the service you will be receiving. The best way to find a mover that will provide the professionalism and quality you need is not necessarily to go by the lowest price– in fact most experts will warn to avoid prices that seem too good to be true. Lowball quotes are a pitfall of rogue moving companies. With the right knowledge and foresight customers are empowered to protect themselves from rogue movers and find the right help.
There are many ways to find a mover. Broker websites, online reviews, and friends’ recommendations are all excellent ways to find a starting point in your comparisons. But finding the right mover takes a bit of research, communication, and knowing exactly what you want from your moving company. Acclaimed Moving and Storage takes every measure to offer full-service moving at a local, interstate, and even international level. Our customer service representatives are the authority on planning and providing luxury moving services for both households and businesses. For a free price quote, an in-house visit from a relocation consultant, or even for free expert advise call Acclaimed Moving and Storage today.
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