Hiring someone to transport your furniture, personal belongings, and valuable possessions requires trust. Unfortunately, dishonest operators can take advantage of customers who are under pressure to move quickly or who select a mover based only on an unusually low price. Some scams begin with misleading estimates, while others involve large deposits, unexpected charges, questionable brokers, or demands for additional payment after belongings have already been loaded. As a professional moving company, we believe customers should know exactly who they are hiring before moving day. When researching Chicago movers, consumers should verify the company, review its business information, understand the estimate, and ask questions before signing an agreement. For anyone planning a move in Chicago, IL, taking a little extra time to research a mover can help prevent expensive problems later.
Verify That You Are Hiring a Real Moving Company
A professional website and convincing advertisement are not enough to establish that a mover is legitimate. Before scheduling service, confirm the company’s business name, physical location, telephone number, licensing information, and insurance. For local Illinois moves, consumers should verify the licensing information applicable to movers operating within the state. Interstate moves are regulated differently. Companies transporting household goods across state lines must meet federal registration requirements. A legitimate company should be willing to identify itself clearly and answer reasonable questions about its operation. Be cautious if a business avoids providing its physical location, gives inconsistent company names, or makes it difficult to determine who will actually transport your belongings. At 2 Guys and a Van, for example, we identify our Chicago location and Illinois Commerce Commission license information publicly. Transparency gives customers information they can verify before making a decision.
Understand Whether You Are Hiring a Mover or a Broker
A few things of note to the consumer: the distinction between a moving company and a moving broker has come to the forefront. Typically, a moving company is the same as the moving operation that will actually move your possessions. A broker, on the other hand, is an intermediary that can book your move with another moving company. Brokers and movers for interstate moves are subject to the same federal requirements. However, responsibilities of both parties are different. Before you accept a bid for your move, you should find out whether you are dealing with a moving company directly or with a moving broker who is going to assign your move to another moving company. Having clarity on who will show up on moving day helps you verify who the moving company is and who is responsible for your goods and can help avoid confusion should anything go wrong.
Be Suspicious of an Estimate That Seems Unusually Low
Price is important, but the lowest quote is not necessarily the best value. An unusually low quote for a move may be designed to secure a booking before additional charges are revealed. A useful estimate depends on sufficient and accurate information to enable the mover to quote for the correct amount of furniture and boxes to be moved and other relevant circumstances, such as use of stairs, elevators, and the accessibility of the properties to be moved from and to. For an accurate estimate, when inquiring about a local move, request that the estimator list all the furniture, the number of boxes, the number of floors, if there are any additional stops, and any unusual items such as safes, heavy objects, long walking distances, etc. For local moves, 2 Guys and a Van charges hourly service rates as defined by the Illinois Commerce Commission in their published tariff. The estimate given will be based on the information given to us and will reflect an approximation of time and cost to complete the move. The final bill will reflect actual hours worked.
Get the Important Details in Writing
It is not always easy to prove verbal promises when things have gone wrong. So make sure you record all the details of the move before work starts. Check the estimate and the terms and conditions of your moving contract before you sign for it. Ensure that the agreed date and delivery and collection addresses, as well as the services to be provided by the remover, are clearly set out and that a correct price is to be charged, together with any additional charges. Don’t sign any documents with blank spaces where prices, dates, services, or other important details should be inserted. Keep a copy of your estimate, of your agreement with the mover, and all receipts issued to you, plus keep a record of all correspondence by email, letter, etc. relating to your move. Written records are particularly important if a dispute is to be resolved at a later date.
Be Careful With Large Upfront Payment Demands
This payment request before move day needs to be scrutinized in more detail. As a customer, you should clearly know what you are being asked to pay, why you are being asked to pay this, and what your rights are regarding cancellation and a refund should you decide to cancel. Pressure: a move to charge a large sum before you have ensured you have received adequate information to make an informed decision and to prevent you from checking the company’s credentials. This would include situations where a mover tells you that a special price will disappear within minutes or where a mover wants you to pay a large amount of money prior to seeing clear documentation in relation to the move.
Research Reviews Beyond the Star Rating
Although online reviews are very useful, the overall rating of a business should not be relied upon to make a decision. Look for the most recent reviews and try to see if there is a pattern in customers’ descriptions of their experiences. As with any of the factors we discuss above, repeated complaints regarding hidden charges, failed appointments, damaged goods, poor communication, and late delivery of customers’ possessions are something to be wary of. The number of reviews, the date of the review, and whether the customer’s experience was typical or not are also worth noting. Search for the name of the company along with terms such as “complaint” or “scam” in order to find out information that may not come up in a normal search for a business. Reviews are best read within the wider research about a company’s trustworthiness rather than to rely on them as the sole test of a moving company’s credibility.
Watch for Last-Minute Changes on Moving Day
Don’t find out the major differences between what you were told would happen and what really happens at moving time. If upon arrival of the moving company you find out that the company name, the moving crew, the truck, and the payment terms and conditions have changed, ask for an explanation prior to loading of your goods. A change to the inventory may affect the cost to move the items. For example, the customer may have agreed to move all of the furniture but later decides to move additional items, or the customer fails to advise the mover of several flights of stairs that must be descended to load the items. This is different from the terms and conditions of the mover changing without good reason. Clear communication before you start loading your belongings will protect both you and the mover.
Protect Yourself When Booking Online
In recent years, many customers started their search for moving companies online. For this reason, digital verification has become more important. Online offers by moving companies can be similar in appearance, although they are published by different companies. When comparing the business name on a company’s website with the name of the moving company that provided you with an estimate for your move, check the contact information on the website and see if a physical business address is listed, as well as licensing information. If you are planning an interstate move, verify a company’s federal registration via the appropriate government database, rather than relying on a number displayed on a website. Be cautious when providing sensitive information such as personal details and financial information via unknown websites, via text messages, or via email links. Check the contact details for the moving company via other, independent sources of information and ring them yourself to discuss your requirements.
Know the Rules for Interstate Moves
Federal consumer protection laws apply when household goods are moved from state to state. For example, all interstate movers must register with federal agencies, and consumers can look up a mover on this website to find out if a mover is properly registered, as well as to learn about the mover’s federal license authority, insurance, etc., and view any complaints against a mover. When planning an interstate move, it is also important to know the differences between a binding estimate and a non-binding estimate. Federal regulations govern the content of estimates and the amount that can be charged at delivery. It is also important to realize that federal rules are separate from rules required for intrastate moves (i.e., moves entirely within the state of Illinois). Customers should verify a company’s credentials for their particular move.
What Should You Do If You Suspect a Moving Scam?
Do not ignore your “gut feeling” prior to the loading of your goods. Ask for further information, review your contract, and check the credentials of your moving company. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud, it is wise to keep a copy of the estimate, receipts, contracts, before and after photos, emails, text messages, etc. Also, be aware that complaints about interstate moves may fall under federal jurisdiction while complaints about intrastate moves will be addressed by the state in which the move took place. Keeping documentation related to your move and its terms will aid you in trying to describe how things went wrong and what originally was promised to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if a Chicago moving company is legitimate?
Begin by verifying the full business name of the moving company, their physical address, telephone number, and their licenses and insurance. Local moves within Illinois will require the moving company to hold the relevant state credentials, while interstate moves will require federal registration. Check out reviews and learn about past complaints of a potential moving company.
What are the biggest warning signs of a moving scam?
Be wary of unusually low estimates and large upfront payments, blank contracts and lack of company information, urgent requests for you to move quickly, and confusion between you hiring a mover or a broker. Also be very wary of additional unexpected large charges after all your goods have been loaded.
Should I choose the Chicago movers with the lowest estimate?
It depends on what the other estimate included and if they had the correct information. If an estimate is significantly lower than other quotes, then it is worth a closer look. Also, check the licensing, insurance, reputation, communication, and experience of the company.
What is the difference between a moving company and a moving broker?
A moving company is the entity that performs the move; a broker is someone who has arranged for another moving company to perform the move for them. If you are moving through a broker, ask which moving company will be moving you, and verify the credentials of that moving company before they start moving you.
Choose Your Moving Company With Confidence
Avoiding moving scams begins before the first box is loaded. Verify credentials, understand who will perform the move, review the estimate carefully, read your paperwork, and ask questions whenever something is unclear. A legitimate moving company should be willing to explain its services and pricing without relying on pressure or confusing terms. If you are comparing Chicago movers for a local relocation in Chicago, IL, we invite you to consider 2 Guys and a Van. We are a family-owned, licensed, and insured Illinois moving company providing residential moving, apartment and condominium moving, office and commercial moving, labor-only assistance, and in-house furniture moving. Contact us to discuss your move, request an estimate, and learn how our team can help you plan your relocation with clear communication from the start.
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