This article is the sixth in a series of reports on tricks scam moving companies use to void binding agreements, and thereby overcharge the consumer.
In typical moving scam, the cheating company will give a low moving cost estimate, usually over the Internet. Once the goods are loaded up, the dirt hits the fan, and the unwitting victim finds out that the price is now double or even triple, the original agreed on estimate.
Since 1988,when the moving industry was deregulated –giving rise to price competition – rouge moving companies have developed scam techniques to raise moving prices, and bilk unsuspecting customers of their money. The most common scam pattern is to lull the victim into the agreement with an extraordinarily low estimate, often made as a “binding agreement,” only to announce a higher price, often two or more times higher, once the victim’s items are loaded on the moving truck. Moving company con artists will use a whole range of tactics to get the householder to annul the binding agreement and agree to pay the higher price.
One clever technique, used by a company in a local move in California, was to put off signing the moving contract, until moving day. Over the phone, a victim had been promised a flat fee ceiling estimate for his move. On moving day, the driver presented the papers, which now redefined how the price would be calculated. The couple would be charged an hourly rate, with a 5% fuel charge. When the homeowner expressed an objection, he was told: ” that it would be around the $1900 price but this is how they write the contract out, so I trusted him, he then pointed to where I needed to place my initials (by the X’s) and he gave me a booklet that I signed on the back, he than tore off that page and than pointed to the area of Consumer Protections and/or Waivers and had me put my initials by the X and sign, and this is where they take advantage of customers, because I had no idea that I just signed away my rights and you question as to why it was on the contract in the first place,” The victim was scammed by a three part scheme: 1) contract signing held off until the day of the move; 2) redefining of the price structure, with explanation that the final figure would still some out to the original estimate; 3) place to sign was juxtaposed to a reference to the consumer protection regulations. The victim was lulled into trusting the moving company, and the final prices was raised shortly after he signed away his rights.
An excellent way to protect your self from clever moving scammers is to employ the services of a packing company. Packing Service Inc. is a name you can trust in the packing service industry. They are a company dedicated to exposing moving scams. They will provide you with an in person guaranteed flat free estimate for their packing and loading services. No estimate revisions and no add-ons on moving day. They only hire workers with a minimum of one year experience in the moving industry. Their experienced help will protect your belongings throughout the packing and loading process. And Packing Service In. will recommend a container company to transport your belongings in sealed containers that only you and your designated packers will have access to.
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