Rogue movers typically work like this: Without ever visiting your home or seeing the goods you want moved, they give a low estimate over the telephone or Internet. Once your goods are on their truck, they demand more money before they will deliver or unload them. They hold your goods hostage and force you to pay more, sometimes much more than you thought you had agreed to, if you want your possessions back.

Your best defense is to recognize a rogue mover before they have your goods. Here are the red flags to look out for:

• The mover doesn't offer or agree to an on-site inspection of your household goods and gives an estimate over the telephone or Internet, sight-unseen. These estimates often sound too-good-to-be-true. They usually are!


• The moving company demands a large deposit before the move.


• The mover doesn't provide you with a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a booklet that movers are required by law to supply to their customers.


• The company's Web site has no local address and no information about their registration or insurance.


• The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance.


• When you call the mover, the telephone is answered with a generic Movers or Moving Company, rather than the company's name.


• The warehouse is in poor condition or the customer's belongings are not separated and stored in containers. Or, the mover may refuses to allow you to inspect the warehouse.


• On moving day a rental truck arrives rather than a company owned or marked fleet truck.

For further information concerning moving or to perform background searches on movers that you are considering hiring for your move, go to:

Allied Van Lines
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Better Business Bureau
Protect Your Move
Moving Scam

Important Phone Numbers

PA Public Utility Commission: 412.565.3553
Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania: 412.456.2700