Protecting Your Move

Protect Your Move

Protect Your Move

  1. The Reality of Moving
  2. Be Smarter Than the Crooks
  3. Don't Become A Victim
  4. Solution and Help You Choose a Mover
  5. Steps to Protect Your Move Gov
  6. Full Value Protection
  7. Slipping Through the Cracks: Protect Gov

1. The Reality of Moving

I'm sure you're reading this because you want to be one of the quarter million people that move this year successfully and drama free. Unfortunately, the moving industry sometimes has a black eye from these rogue operators. Their only goal is to rip people off. 


2. Be Smarter Than the Crooks

In the moving industry, you have good carriers, and unfortunately some bad carriers. Most movers take great pride in what they do. Some are veteran military participants, while others are just entrepreneurs that want to provide great service and run a top notch business. To be a great moving company, you need to have a lot of equipment or a lot of experience and networks so you can send the shipment across the country. A moving company that has been established for over a three year period is normally in it to be a good business and has withstood a couple of moving seasons. On the other hand, if the company is a new business, they have not put in the time and don't generally have the experience. Of course, there are always exceptions. I know, you're asking yourself why this information is relevant to you. Well, here's why. A rogue company is there just to be criminal. They want to defraud and trick the customer or create illegal charges to simply rip the customer off. Rogue movers are not only ripping off customers, they are also ripping off the carriers and material suppliers they may use, and any other shmuck that falls into their trap. 

Moving Authority helps you stay away from moving companies who do not operate within the standards set forth by the USDOT and FMCSA. In order to protect your move, Moving Authority displays a caution banner on pages of moving companies that do not have proper licensing


3. Don't Become a Victim

Along with Movingauthority.com and the FMCSA protect my move, and any other major group to making the moving industry better and safer, you must do your homework first. Use our badge system, which indicates how many years they've been in business. If a company does not have a badge, question them about it. Look at it this way: why would a moving company have a problem with joining the Moving Authority network. We want all good and honest movers to succeed, and why wouldn't a company want to be a part of that? 


4. Solution and Help You Choose a Mover

Research the moving company you intend to use on our site by using the search tool in movers near me. 

Nearly all moving companies that have a USDOT number have been contacted personally by one of our staff. Moving companies know about Moving Authority, and should have no problem referencing you to their profile page. 

It is important to look for companies that have stood the test of time, because when it comes to long distance moving companies many of them don't last very long. The moving industry is known for its flip companies which mean's companies that open up, do a bunch of moves, with sub-par quality and then close down when problems start overwhelming them only for them to open up again under a different name. Movers complaints are the number one way for consumers to be well informed of the poor performance of a company. The moving information given to you by the company is not always enough to allow you to make well-informed decisions when choosing the services of a company. The possibility of fraud is always high in the moving industry. Make sure the carrier or companies you go with are registered with the FMCSA prior to transport/ Below is more information on how our site and unique badges work.

3 Years In Business Award
3 Years Badge

The 3-year award signifies that a moving company has successfully operated for over a 3 year period. Why is this such a significant achievement? The reason is that there are many businesses that flip their company every 1 to 2 years. Flip Companies do bad business by overcharging consumers and scamming them through unethical business practices. They get away with this by opening up again under a different name. If a company is still in business for 3 years, you know they have been in business for a long enough time and that their objective is to take care of you and your household moves. They care about their reputation and display this badge proudly and send you a strong signal that you and your move will matter to them.
6 Years In Business Award
6 Years Badge

The 6-year moving award signifies that the moving company has extensive experience in the moving field. If you're doing a Corporate relocation we strongly advise to choose a moving a company that has 6 years or more of experience. Moving companies that have been working for 6 years have the experience you need for your move. These moving companies can handle unusual corporate items, like a 3D Printer Moving for example.
Means Business
I Rank SlantedI Rank Diamond
I Rank Check

When you see these badges across the web on various moving company websites it means that they are a proud affiliate partner of Moving Authority. We aim to be a helping hand in the moving industry and our goal is to make friends with as many people as we can. If you would like to get a free personalized affiliate button please contact us and we will code one up for you.

5. Steps to Protect Your Move gov

Obviously, it is our intention for you to connect with good moving companies and going through the right steps is key to protecting your move. It is a requirement for movers to explain your rights and responsibilities which are also posted below as a PDF.

If you are a moving company, you must have this embedded in all emails sent to the consumers or you must physically give them this brochure before the move starts.

Millions of moves occur across the United States each year. If you're one of these people, it's a big step you're going to be taking in your life.

It can be a highly stressful situation due to the fact that it ranks as one of the top 4 most stressful things a person can do. But obviously, there are steps you can take to ensure you choose a good company, like the fact that you're on MovingAuthority.com is definitely a good start.

One thing that sets moving companies apart, as we stated earlier, is how long they have been in business. Moving companies must have an active DOT (Department of Transportation) license as well. This license can be verified via the FMCSA protect your move website. The aim of the game when choosing a mover is to avoid dishonest mover or as they are commonly known in the industry, rogue movers. 

Even if you hire a reputable full service moving company, sometimes things can still go wrong. As with everything in life, it's not always perfect. 

If something does happen, the difference between a professional moving company and a rogue moving company is that the pros will give you a claim form to fill out so that you can be handled properly and be compensated for your losses or damages.

Understanding your protection when moving is probably the biggest issue when it comes to claims. If you choose the basic option and are going across state lines the required standard protection is 60 cents per article per pound. This is the level of your liability if your article is lost or damaged. The movers could offer you to repair the item or give you a settlement at this standard required rate.

6. Full Value Protection

This is when your mover is liable for the replacement value of a lost or a damaged household good in your total shipment.

Movers should make a cash settlement or repair for the cost of the current market value of the item or piece of furniture.

If you are moving items that have been by the industry as of "extraordinary value" there is a special form that you will need to fill out with your mover called an extraordinary value form. This from is needed when the item is over 100 dollars per pound. Do not let the movers handle your jewelry or passports or any medication, this is your responsibility to keep to yourself and transport on your own.
 
Protecting Your Move

7. Slipping Through the Cracks: Protect Move Gov

If you are dealing with a moving company that is not present on our system, you should immediately contact our offices and provide the information of this carrier. If the truck is present, look on the side of the vehicle for the USDOT number. Write it down. IF they have presented you with a contract, take a picture of it with your phone. Never sign a contract that does not have an official company letterhead. It will be much less frustrating if you choose a company that shows up with the correct documentation and contracts. Do not jeopardize your household goods in any form or fashion by giving in to charm, good looks, or promises. 

It is the law that any bill of lading provided by any licensed carrier holding a USDOT number must provide a contract with company name, address, and USDOT number clearly on the bill of lading. 

If you need to cancel your move because a carrier has not provided this to you and you need assistance protect my move gov.
Contact us immediately and we will find you a carrier that has the correct information. (702) 333-2430

A hijacking of customers goods by illegal moving companies is a very common crime in the United States. 
Call HELP LINE with USDOT is (800) 832-5660 or (800) 877-8339
Or go direct to there website here.