Avoid Moving Scams: What to Look For & How to Hire Reliable Chicago Movers

As many people continue to work from home, international relocations are on the rise. In your search for reliable Chicago movers to help you move abroad, you may find websites and receive quotes from fraudulent moving companies. It’s more important than ever to do your research and hire a moving company with an excellent reputation, especially for an international relocation.

There are many simple ways to avoid moving scams and make sure you’re employing honest and reliable movers, so don’t get too stressed out. Read below for some red flags to watch out for to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for and to ensure the safety of your items.

 

Moving Company Red Flags to Watch Out For

1. Requiring a large deposit upfront without guarantees:

• In most cases, reputable moving companies will not require a deposit when booking your move. At most, during peak times or during high volume parts of the season, some movers will require a small deposit just to hold your spot. However, if a company requires a large deposit or is asking for cash upfront prior to your move, it’s a big red flag.

2. Offering a Quote Without Any Information:

• If the company you’re considering offers you a quote without conducting an in-person, in-home estimate, or thorough virtual-estimate, it’s a signifier that something may be up. Reputable companies will want to make sure you meet a representative and speak with them at length, to ensure that you get an accurate quote for your move.

3. Suspiciously Low Quotes:

• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you get a suspiciously low quote, especially if the company hasn’t scoped out your move in person, they may be looking to overcharge you later on with hidden fees, or it may be a scam to steal your things all together.

4. Not Being Licensed:

• If the mover you’re considering doesn’t show up in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website, or if the company is unclear about their official name, it’s a red flag.

5. Bad Customer Reviews:

• This one may seem obvious, but many companies will try to cover up a plethora of bad reviews. If you see a lot of legitimate customer reviews who all note similar unsavory behavior, best steer clear. If a company has no reviews at all, it’s also best to avoid them.

6. Unclear Communication:

• If it’s hard to get a hold of your moving company or if they are avoiding answering your questions, it’s a huge red flag. Having regular, open communication with your movers is a must, and if you don’t have that, it could be a scam.

 

At the end of the day, the easiest way to avoid a scam is to use a reputable Chicago moving company with an established reputation. Legitimate companies will go out of their way to make sure you have an open line of communication with them, have clearly laid out paperwork, quotes, and estimates, and will make sure to make your move go as smoothly as possible.

Allied International is here to help you with your local Chicago international relocation. Contact us today to get started.