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10 Ways to Avoid Internet Moving Scams
By American Moving and Storage Association
| Published: 12/07/2007
If you're looking for an inexpensive moving company
on the Internet, you'd better do your homework first,
or your furniture won't be the only thing that gets taken
for a ride.
"The nation's moving and storage industry is made
up of courteous, hard working, dedicated professionals," said
Linda Darr, president of the American Moving and Storage
Association (AMSA). "Unfortunately, there are some
unscrupulous characters who are sullying our industry's
good name by using the Internet to prey on people during
a very stressful time in their lives. Make no mistake,
these people are not movers, they are criminals. And
we're trying to put them out of business."
To address the problem, AMSA developed 10 tips that
will help families avoid Internet moving scams.
- Don't be fooled by slick websites. Anyone with a
few bucks and a good IT person can build a professional-looking
website. Don't be fooled by the flash.
- Locate their operating license. Every professional
interstate moving company will proudly display their
U.S. Department
of Transportation license and their Motor Carrier
number on their website. If you don't see the license
number,
move on to another website.
- Verify the license. You can verify the MC number
at www.protectyourmove.gov.
- Look for the 'brick and mortar.' Make sure the website
lists a street address and then do a quick Google
search to see if it really exists.
- Get at least three written in-home estimates. The
Internet is full of 'moving cost estimators,' but the
only estimate
that counts is one offered by a professional
mover who visits your home.
- Check references. If a company displays the Better
Business Bureau or AMSA logo, verify that they are
using these
seals legitimately by contacting AMSA or the
BBB.
- Avoid companies that require large deposits or down
payments. Professional movers generally do not
require a deposit, so avoid those that do.
- Avoid Internet brokers. People who enter their contact
information on websites that promise to find
movers often find themselves inundated with aggressive
scam artists.
- Be skeptical. Remember: if you receive an estimate
that seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Use an AMSA mover. To find an AMSA mover and to learn
more about protecting yourself during your move,
visit AMSA's consumer website www.moving.org.
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