Save yourself from relocation rip-offs

Getting scammed by movers is the last thing you need during the already stressful time of relocating. But mover scams are so common nowadays that it’s worth the extra time and trouble to try have a relatively safe move.

Here are some of the most common scams:

•You hire Moving Company A and on moving day a truck pulls up out front that says Moving Company B on the side. Your move has been subcontracted out.

•Every single item on the inventory is marked as scratched or damaged in some way, even if it’s brand-new.

•The mover insists on a large deposit.

•An online or phone bid will get you a low estimate. But when your belongings get to the other end, the company will ask for more money.

•You’re told that a cubic footage estimate will get you a lower moving bill. If you agree to the estimate, the company will find a way to “prove” that your belongings came in at a higher cubic footage.

•Holding your belongings hostage until you pay an increased amount. This can be thousands of dollars. If you don’t pay, your belongings go into storage, and the storage fees mount up.

Here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of having a carefree move:

•Insist on an in-person estimate, and don’t rely on Internet or phone quotes.

•Get the company’s motor carrier and DOT numbers, and verify them with the Department of Transportation. Call the Better Business Bureau.

•If you’re traveling by car, pack some of your cherished items and take them with you.

•Mail your important documents to yourself at the other end.

•Get referrals from friends who’ve recently moved. Call real estate agents in your area and large companies who transfer employees.

•Insist on a binding estimate. That won’t guarantee you’re covered, but it might help.

•Put your name and address on every box.

•Before you hire a moving company, go to www.movingscam.com and see if your potential mover has had complaints. You’ll be surprised at how long the list is — and how little the authorities are doing about all the scams.

•Read about your rights on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration site at www.protectyourmove.gov.