subject: How To Find A Reputable Moving Company [print this page] How To Find A Reputable Moving Company How To Find A Reputable Moving Company
So you're having to move and you need help on finding the right moving company. If you go on the Internet, and do a search, you'll probably find thousands of sites advertising their services and products. The truth is, while there are many reputable moving companies on the Internet, most of the people that are being scammed found their moving companies on the Internet.
Your best bet is to put down the keyboard, and pick up your telephone book. Check with your local real estate agents and find at least five moving companies that have physical offices located in your city or town. You'll want to find moving companies that have been in business no less than ten years. Whatever you do, absolutely stay away from moving brokers. They are bad news.
This is because the current consumer protection laws only apply to the motor carriers and not brokers. Next, you'll want to set up an appointment with these five companies to come to your home and do an in-home estimate. If the company refuses to come to your home to do an estimate, simply hang up the phone and find another one.
You'll want to also ask if the company is going to be doing the move themselves or if they will be outsourcing or using sub-contractors. If they aren't going to do the move themselves, then stay away from them. Again, the laws only apply to the moving company and not the sub-contractors.
Once you've got a decent moving company, go to their physical business address and check out the storage facility as well as their trucks. You'll want to make sure that their trucks are permanently marked with the company logo and name.
Next, as each moving company comes to your home and gives you an in-home estimate, leave the paper work out where the next moving company can quickly and easily see it. Be sure to ask plenty of questions, such as the difference in price. Why is this company cheaper than the other one? What services are being provided with the higher prices that are not being provided with the lesser prices? Is there insurance being offered with one quote? Always stay away from a mover who quotes you a price that is based on cubic feet.
Another tip is to never ever sign any blank paperwork. Always know what you're signing. Read the fine print and take your time. Any reputable moving company will give you as much time as you need to fully read, study and understand any documents that require your signature. They will not pressure you either. If you are being pressured, it's time to move on to someone else.
By law, every moving company is required to give you a booklet called "Your Rights & Responsibilities When You Move". If the company does not provide you with this, then you need to send them packing instead.
While you have the moving company rep in your home you'll want to gather as much information and data as possible including:
1. Complete company name and any DBA (doing business as) names.
2. How many years have they been in business? (Confirm that with the tax assessor's office of your area)
3. Full company address, phone numbers, email and fax.
4. MC and DOT license numbers
5. Company's websites
6. References. (Yes, you're going to be spending a lot of time, energy and money on this project, and you want to be sure that things go right. Call the references and make sure that things are legit).
Once you have your 5 estimates, it's time to take it online. Visit your Secretary of State online and ask for articles of incorporation. You'll do this so that you can verify just exactly how long the moving companies have been in business, as well as the owner's name and contact information.
Then, you'll want to take the MC and DOT license numbers to SaferSys.org to check and make sure that the moving company not only has the license authority to perform the move, but also is insured. This is very important, because if anything happens, you'll want to be able to recuperate your loss.
SaferSys is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's web site. This lets you do a search on motor carrier license information. You'll click on the company's snap shot in the middle of the page. In the next page, you'll see a search option. Put the DOT license number in and click "search". If the DOT number is correct and viable, then you'll see a screen with a lot of data and information. If you do not get this screen, then you haven't been given a real DOT number and it is once again time to move on. You could double check with your company again, to be sure you have the correct number.
Once you're in you should match all the information the reps gave you with what's inside. Is the company name, address and phone number correct?
Also, on the top right you'll want to notice a field that says "out of service". This field must read "no" or "none". Next, check the field called "drivers" and "power units". Think about this, if the company told you they do 300 moves a month, but there's only 4 trucks, then something isn't adding up.
Now, in order to check their insurance you'll go to the bottom where it says "FMCSA Licenseing & Insurance" Click on that link and y ou'll get a screen that gives you two options about the insurance information. Click "screen" and you'll see the company's name and address again. Below that you'll see a column labeled "Authority Type". There, you'll see three different listsings, contract, common and broker. On the right hand column you'll see if their authority is active. Your moving company should have at the very least "common" listed as active. If there is anything about "pending" or "revocation pending", it's time to move on to someone else. Something is definitely very wrong.
The last table there will list the insurance that is required and the insurance that the moving company has. Moving companies are required to have both Cargo insurance that is filed with the FMCSA and BIPD (with $750,000 minimum). If the BIPD says $0 or if it says "No" for the Cargo Insurance, run! Trouble is looming!
Hopefully, this article will help you find a reputable moving company.
