Watch Out for Moving Scams
Moving can be a stressful event in a person’s life. The nine Better Business Bureaus (BBB) across Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), are working together to educate consumers on how best to plan and execute their next move, while also avoiding scams and making health and safety a top priority.
“Summertime is often the busiest season for moving,” said Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, President and CEO, BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay. “Plan ahead, do your research and hire a mover with a strong track record.”
“There are unscrupulous operators that are ready to take advantage of consumers who are under stress. As a result, it is important to do your due diligence before hiring a mover and find a company with a solid reputation,” said Nancy Irvine, President of the Canadian Association of Movers.
BBB and CAM share the following tips for those planning to relocate:
- Avoid moving scams. Check out the moving company’s BBB business profile as well as their current standing with CAM. BBB and CAM provide trustworthy and relevant information about moving companies and contractors. The mover’s BBB Business Profile will include their company rating, complaint history, verified customer reviews, and other important information.
- Be wary of fly-by-night movers. Movers show up in an unmarked rental truck rather than a clearly marked company-owned fleet truck and take off with your possessions. Only when you have arrived at your new residence do you discover that your things didn’t make the journey with you. Most professional movers wear uniforms, undergo background checks, and will provide an order number for tracking purposes.
- Moving from one country to another? Understand the rules. Verify that all of the necessary paperwork, passports, and documentation is in order before closing up the last box.
- Watch out for conniving contractors. These shady movers tend to strike in three ways:
- They try to gain the trust of clients and persuade them into believing that there is no need for a written contract. However, if something goes wrong during the move, the contractor denies all responsibility, leaving you on the hook for costs and damages.
- The contractor demands more money, claiming the higher price was verbally agreed to before moving.
- The movers hold your property hostage. The move seems to be going smoothly until you arrive at your new home and the movers demand more money before releasing your things from storage.
For more information, visit BBB.org.
