Introduction:
“The financial toll of moving scams is projected to reach $1.59 million in 2023, 42% above last year’s total.” (hireahelper). This is a statistic found on Hire a Helper, and it’s astounding how many people are out to scam those simply trying to move. We at Family Movers focus on family values and help protect you and your property during your move. A big cause of people being scammed, is the temptation of low prices from unlicensed movers. That’s why hiring legitimate, licensed moving companies guarantees safety, accountability, and peace of mind.
What Is a Licensed Moving Company:
When hiring a moving company, an important factor to be aware of is if they are licensed. It’s key when owning and operating a moving company to have the proper licensing and registration. A company moving you outside of the state or country is required to be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. This is mandatory for movers and if they don’t have this, they are operating illegally. If moving within your state, be sure to check with the state consumer protection offices. This will help you be more wary of scams and imposters within your state. It’s also wise to search more and study about the company you are considering, to really make sure they are legitimate. If you are careful and study out different companies through the DOT, state consumer protection offices, and other safety organizations, you are more likely to have a safe and comfortable transition with your move. (Federal Trade Commission)
The Risks of Hiring Unlicensed Movers:
There are many different risks associated with hiring unlicensed movers. Major dangers include no insurance protection, no accountability, poor service quality, and legal and safety issues. When you’re moving, it’s key for the moving company to have insurance. If any of your property breaks, it’s unlikely they’ll be repaired or refunded when the company doesn’t have any insurance, which leads to our next point. They’ll have no accountability. Once they move you in, it’s likely that they’ll disappear after being paid or won’t admit to any issues within the move, like broken belongings. You can’t trust those without the proper moving licensing.
Not only is it probable that they are without insurance and accountability, it’s quite possible that they will have poor service quality. They won’t be as experienced and trained as those with proper licensing and you could have your property damaged or lost. Also, another major factor to be aware of is the legal and safety issues. Since many of these companies are dishonest, it’s possible that you could have your property or personal data stolen. These are real dangers and problems experienced by real people all over the US. That’s why we at Family Movers protect our customers and their property with proper licensing and insurance. We guarantee that your move in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be easier and safer with us.
Benefits of Choosing a Licensed and Insured Moving Company:
There are many benefits when choosing a licensed and insured company. This can look like peace of mind, knowing your belongings are protected by the law. It can also look like professional standards when moving. Licensed movers are required to follow proper regulations when moving, to satisfy the laws and regulations of their licence and to ensure safety and customer service. They also have clear pricing. Legitimate companies have experience and knowledge to provide you with clear pricing for any estimates and contracts they give you. Also, licensed and insured companies have, as talked about before, accountability. They will have official channels for complaints and claims in which you can solve any problem that may arise within your move. Benefits like these don’t come from anyone else, but licensed movers, like us! So when you’re looking for a licensed and insured company in your Las Vegas, Nevada area, look for us, Family Movers Express.
How To Verify a Moving Company’s Legitimacy:
There are a couple ways in which you can verify a moving company. A good place to start is to check the company’s license number or DOT/MC number. This can help ensure that they are real, experienced, and insured (DOT website). Another great way to check their legitimacy is to search different online databases (e.g. FMCSA, Better Business Bureau, and other state licensing sites). This can help you see them on other websites, proving their legality and showing their knowledge and experience. Reading verified reviews can also help you see what other customers have thought about them and if they have quality performance. Some great places to look for verified reviews are Google, Yelp, and other social media platforms. Also, if anything, you can ask the company for their proper documentation, like insurance certificates, contracts, and written quotes. This is a simple way to make sure that they are legal and legit, like us at Family Movers Express.
Protect Your Move:
When choosing a moving company, it’s important to choose one with the proper licensing and insurance. If you’re not as cautious as you should be, it could cause you a great loss of property, money, and possibly even personal data. It’s vital when hiring a moving company that you do the proper research that’s needed, so you don’t have to worry about lost, damaged, or stolen property. So, whether you are moving within Las Vegas, Nevada, or outside, you can trust and depend on Family Movers Express. A company with the experience and knowledge to help you on all of your moving needs.
Sources:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/avoid-scams-when-you-hire-moving-company
https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/know_your_mover_scam/know_your_mover_study
https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/learn/moving-company-scams
