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  Geebo 8:00 am on July 11, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: hostage loads, moving ( 6 ), moving company scam, Scams ( 1,224 )   

  Don’t let your belongings be held hostage 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Moving happens all year round, but during the warmer months it really picks up. No pun intended. But as more people move around the country, more moving scams will find victims. Real estate scams are one thing, but we’re discussing the act of moving itself, specifically the moving companies. While there are many trustworthy moving companies and van lines, there are a number of shady moving companies out there as well.

  The shady moving companies will give you a quote without even coming out to your home to measure your stuff. Once all your belongings are packed on their truck, the movers will increase their fee. At this point, the movers are essentially extorting you for more money. If you don’t have the money to pay these shady movers, they’ll drive off with your stuff and hold it hostage until you pay them. Previously, we’ve seen shady movers dump the customer’s belongings in warehouses in a state the customer was neither from nor moving to. It’s become such a problem in Arizona, the state Attorney General’s Office has referred to the lost merchandise as ‘hostage loads’.

  The Grand Canyon State even has a law that prohibits in-state movers from holding possessions hostage once the quoted price has been paid.

  If you’re looking to move in the near future, check with your state legislation to find out what rights you have when it comes to moving companies.

  To better protect yourself from a scam like this, avoid any moving company that identifies themselves over the phone just as ‘moving company’. If a moving company gives you a quote over the phone without coming out to your house, they’re not to be trusted. Get multiple quotes from different moving companies before paying any money, but still ask the company if there are any hidden fees. Lastly, move the most valuable items like jewelry, money, electronics, medical equipment, and personal records yourself.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 15, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: movers ( 8 ), moving ( 6 ), moving company scam, real estate ( 117 ), Scams ( 1,224 )   

  Moving company scam holds belongings hostage 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Congratulations. You happen to be one of the lucky few who just bought or rented a new home. You avoided all the scams, and you’ve gotten all the money and paperwork in order. The hard part is over. Now you just have to move your belongings into your new home. That should be easy, right? You just need to call a few moving companies, get a few quotes, take the cheapest one, and you’re home free. But what happens when the movers ask for more money than they quoted? They’ve already got your stuff loaded on their truck. If you don’t pay then and there, they drive off with your belongings. Can they do that? The answer to that questions is no, but it happens anyway.

  A man in Natchez, Mississippi, recently found this out when he wanted some of his belongings moved to a storage facility. He was given a quote of $900, but when the movers showed up and loaded his stuff, they then asked for $2600. The movers allegedly added travel time to their per hour charges. The Natchez man did not have that kind of money, so the movers drove off with his possessions. They told him he can get them back when he pays the full amount. The matter was initially a matter for a civil court, since the man signed a contract that included extra cost for the travel time. However, after the matter was referred to the state Attorney General’s office, the moving company’s owner and another employee have since been arrested and charged with embezzlement. At the time of their arrest, police allegedly found the property of other victims as well in the moving company’s possession.

  Picking the right mover is almost as important as picking the home itself. If you find a reasonably priced moving company, do an online search for reviews and complaints. You can also check the mover’s license number with the Department of Transportation to see their complaint history. If they’re not registered with the DOT, the movers could be a fly-by-night operation or worse.

  If a company gives you an estimate without physically inspecting your belongings, they might be trying to scam you. You should always get at least three estimates from three different movers and get the estimates in writing. You should also never pay in full up front. Lastly, if anything feels out of the ordinary with your movers, don’t be afraid to go with another company.