Unfortunately, being hustled is not a rare thing nowadays. In order to be resourceful and gain a lot of money the easy way, some people choose to scam others. However, one can prevent that if one pays attention and prepare for such scenarios. Sadly, that’s what people need to do if they want to save money and energy. That’s why Centennial Moving Canada will give you all the tips and tricks on how to spot moving scams in Canada and how to avoid them. Make sure to stick around and grab that pen and paper to write this down.
Are moving scams in Canada a thing?
To be honest, people scam others since the beginning of time. Therefore, frauds are present in every business, including moving. That’s why you need to get all the right information from reliable sources, as a customer. Not only will you save money but you will also save energy as no one wants to be hoaxed like that. The good thing is that Canadian moving services are reliable and if you need to relocate anytime soon, we got you covered. On the other hand, you need to know that moving scams in Canada exist. Moreover, they are quite frequent, so it would be good to know more about them.
You need to be very cautious when searching for the right moving company.
There have been several cases of moving scams in Canada in the past few years. The good thing is that the police arrested multiple people related to these scams. Furthermore, multiple fraudulent companies were exposed and their representatives were later charged by the court. Here is how these moving scams worked in Canada:
They offer a free moving estimate but on a moving day force the customer to sign a new contract
The company offers one price but changes moving costs mid-way through the relocation
Scammers threaten to dispose of their customers’ belongings if they don’t pay the altered amount
How to spot moving scams in Canada?
We know that moving is stressful on its own. There are many things to look out for and a lot of things to prepare for. That’s why you need to learn how to spot moving scams in Canada to avoid any inconveniences. One way to avoid moving scams is to always hire movers that are consistent. For instance, long distance moving in Canada are movers who won’t break the bank. Not only that but they won’t change any information mid-way through your move.
There are many ways to determine whether a company is fraudulent or not. You need to know these things even before you start your moving process. The very first thing you need to check is whether the moving company you’re interested in is licensed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). That’s a federal agency that tracks and regulates the trucking industry. And, as you already know, every reputable moving company has moving trucks. If those are not licensed by FMCSA, this is a red flag.
How to spot moving scams in Canada? It’s easy if you know where and how to look for them.
Another thing you need to consider is how they treat you from the start. This does not refer to politeness. Although if they don’t treat their customers with respect, it’s a red flag already. However, we are talking about the prices and their consistency. If they propose one price and then change it at any point, they are probably scammers. Moreover, if they pressure you to pay them upfront before providing an in-home moving estimate, discard them.
Moving stress-free is easy if you know the right hacks
The above-mentioned tips are only some things to pay attention to. There are many more things you need to know in order to be able to spot moving scams in Canada. As we said, moving is a stressful process on its own. You don’t need anyone else to complicate it further. Also, we advise you to keep in mind the third-party reviewers. If there is no information about the company from the third party, it should already be a red flag. Most importantly, pay attention to reviews on their website. Although it’s hard to spot bots, you will not have an issue seeing whether the customers are satisfied or not.
Keep in mind that reputable movers will always ask you lots of questions. When conducting an estimate, the moving company’s representatives will not only ask you some questions but they will also recommend you things. For instance, they will ask you whether you will donate or sell certain items. Or even propose a certain service such as car shipping in Canada to make the process easier. Moreover, they will never ask you to pay anything beforehand. That’s because they are aware of the fact that you won’t have any control over the moving process.
Avoid moving scams by hiring the reliable movers
The only solid advice that comes from the entire story on how to spot moving scams in Canada is to hire reliable movers. Hiring reliable movers is quite easy if you keep in mind the above hacks. That’s why you should never dive headfirst into the moving process. Even if you’re in a hurry, be sure to do some research before hiring the first company that pops on your screen. As you know, the devil is in the details, and that can eventually save you some trouble. You don’t need to spend months searching for the moving company if you know these hacks. It’s enough to simply write these things down and find a company based on these tips.
The right movers will never let you spend more money than you should on your move.
Focus on the right things when moving into your new home
Now that you know how to spot moving scams in Canada, it’s time to focus on your moving process. We made sure to provide all tips and tricks you might need when searching for a moving company. In case you need any additional information, make sure to contact Centennial Moving. After you moved, you can even write a helpful review of your mover. That will help other people find a trustworthy company that will meet their needs.