Moving Company Fraud

Moving companies can be very beneficial when you leave your current home and head off for another. They will load your belongings into a large truck, transport them across state lines to any destination and unload your property into the new home. However, some moving companies engage in an act of fraud that entraps many of their customers.

Moving scam

People who call moving companies to ask for a quote are sometimes very surprised by the low price that is given to them. It's often a rate that is good enough that the individual becomes eager to sign a contract and reserve the services of the company for the day of the move. The problem is that most people are forced to give an estimate about the number of boxes they will be transporting and the exact size of the load that needs to be hauled.

When the day arrives, the moving company will help to pack up all personal belongings and use packaging materials to keep these items safe throughout the journey. After everything is packed and everyone is ready to go, an employee of the moving company will pull the home owner aside and tell them that the amount of property being moved is more than what was originally quoted. They may also claim that because of this, more packaging materials were needed to protect these items.

The end result of this conversation is to say that the price of the move is going to be more than what the customer had been quoted. It will commonly be double or even triple the amount, and very often it will be a price that the customer would never have agreed to in the first place. At that point, however, the mover will not have other options and will be forced to pay the extra amount. Those who refuse to pay will frequently not receive their personal belongings back from the moving company.

FBI investigations

Cases like this are surprisingly common in the moving industry. It is a serious enough issue that the FBI works together with the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate this crime. They will use agents who will request a quote for moving services, and then compare that quote to the final price that is charged. These investigations have led to several criminal charges being brought against movers including extortion, conspiracy and mail fraud.

Moving to a new home can be a difficult and expensive process. It can be made much worse by a corrupt moving company that attempts to overcharge their customers after all of their belongings are loaded on to a truck. Victims of this crime should contact local law enforcement agencies or branches of the FBI to file a report.

Orlando, Florida 20 North Orange Avenue Suite 1600 Orlando, Florida 32801 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Tampa, Florida One Tampa City Center 201 N. Franklin Street, 7th Floor Tampa, Florida 33602 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Jacksonville, Florida 76 S. Laura Street Suite 1100 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Fort Myers, Florida 12800 University Drive Suite 600 Fort Myers, Florida 33907 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Davie, Florida 7450 Griffin Road Suite 230 Davie, Florida 33314 Telephone: (800) 896-2709
St. Petersburg, Florida 695 Central Avenue, Suite 150J St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Atlanta, Georgia 191 Peachtree Street NE Suite 4200 Atlanta, GA 30303 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Jackson, Mississippi 188 East Capitol St Jackson, Mississippi 39201 Telephone: (800) 896-2709

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