Florida has recently become a hotbed of moving company scams, with increasing numbers of unsuspecting individuals becoming victims. As more people move to Florida and demand for moving services has skyrocketed, providing opportunities for unscrupulous companies to exploit this situation and take advantage of vulnerable residents. Understanding why moving company scams have proliferated here and how you can stay protected during your move are paramount in safeguarding both belongings and peace-of-mind during relocation.
Why Are Florida Moving Company Scams on the Rise?
A growing incidence of Florida moving company scams may be attributable to several factors. A primary one being Florida’s popularity as an ideal retirement and young professional destination; as people flock there in droves resulting in an explosion of moving industry companies operating without integrity or legality.
Unfortunately, many fraudulent movers take advantage of those unfamiliar with the moving process by offering lowball estimates that appear too good to be true. Once they secure business from these individuals, however, these scammers often increase prices or hold on to belongings hostage until delivery day comes around or just simply don’t deliver altogether – creating an environment in which scams thrive.
One factor driving Florida moving company scams is their ease of establishment. Because the moving industry is relatively unregulated, scammers can set up operations quickly with minimal oversight from authorities – quickly creating websites, posting fake reviews online and drawing in unwitting customers vulnerable to being exploited by these fraudulent businesses.
Avoid Florida Moving Company Scams
Staying away from moving company scams requires vigilant and preventative efforts, with resources provided by USMPO that will assist in safely navigating the moving process without falling prey to fraudsters.
1. Choose From USMPO’s List of Verified Movers
One effective way to protect your move is selecting one from USMPO’s trusted list of moving companies, where verified movers have undergone rigorous vetting processes that ensure high standards of service and reliability are upheld by them. By doing this, significantly lowering the risk of fraudulent practices associated with moving services can be reduced significantly.
USMPO only includes companies in its list of verified movers that have demonstrated commitment to ethical practices and customer satisfaction, guaranteeing you of professional handling for a smooth moving experience with minimal stress and disruptions.
| COMPANY NAME | RATING & REVIEWS | DOT # |
|---|---|---|
| Allied | View Company Profile | 76235 |
| All My Sons Moving and Storage | View Company Profile | 904955 |
| International Van Lines | View Company Profile | 2293832 |
| JK Moving Services | View Company Profile | 1065394 |
| Suddath Relocation Systems | View Company Profile | 425402 |
| Wheaton | View Company Profile | 70719 |
| Bekins Moving Solutions | View Company Profile | 2256609 |
| Solomon and Sons | View Company Profile | 488466 |
| Atlas Vanlines | View Company Profile | 125550 |
| Mayflower | View Company Profile | 125563 |
| United Vanlines | View Company Profile | 77949 |
| Coleman American Moving Services | View Company Profile | 148986 |
| Safeway Moving Inc | View Company Profile | 3756000 |
| BLVD Moving | View Company Profile | 2892909 |
| MiniMoves® | View Company Profile | 526036 |
2. Conduct a Virtual Inventory
USMPO provides another crucial service that helps safeguard you during a move: its virtual in-home survey service allows users to conduct an inventory of their belongings prior to packing and transportation; creating an accurate record that may come in handy should there be disputes or damage claims later.
-
Use this app to easily document your
belongings in the moving industry format
-
Share your inventory with your choice
of movers to get personalized quotes.
-
Get the best price & make sure you
get a big enough truck!
Virtual in-home surveys can be easily and conveniently conducted online, providing users with ease of use and peace of mind that everything being moved will be properly understood by both themselves and moving companies alike. A virtual inventory also gives owners peace of mind knowing their possessions have an accurate account.
3. Register Your Move with USMPO
One of the best ways to avoid Florida moving company scams is registering with the U.S. Moving Protection Organization’s registration initiative, created to hold movers accountable to their quotes, monitor carrier performance and enhance consumer protection in the moving industry.
Conclusion
As Florida’s demand for moving services grows, so too has its risk of fraudulent practices by unscrupulous moving company scams. By staying informed and taking proactive measures against scammers, however, you can ensure a successful move and safeguard yourself against scams. Luckily, The U.S. Moving Protection Organization offers many resources including verified movers lists, virtual in-home surveys and move registration initiatives designed to safeguard consumers against falling prey to fraudulent practices during relocation.
Utilizing these tools and remaining vigilant during the moving process will enable you to enjoy it with greater peace of mind, knowing your belongings and peace of mind are safe from Florida moving company scams. Don’t allow scams discourage your move – equip yourself with knowledge and resources so that your transition goes as smoothly as possible into your new home!
