subject: The Risk of Using Online Moving Brokers [print this page] The Risk of Using Online Moving Brokers
The Internet has proven to be a valuable source of information and help to consumers providing everything they need from consumer reports on popular products to savings on their grocery bills. It comes as no surprise that people would look on the Internet when looking for a moving company.
After all, with the wider selection you'll find on the Web, you're going to save money, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case with online moving brokers. Online moving brokers have often cost consumers far more time, money and aggravation than they have ever thought possible.
Moving fraud is becoming a major problem in the world today, with consumers losing thousands of dollars each year. The only cure for moving fraud is being aware of the problem and learning how to avoid being the victim of a moving scam.
Consumers too often see a sophisticated Web site and are fooled into believing the company is legitimate. When online moving brokers offer to move your possessions at the lowest possible price, the pot becomes even sweeter. We all want to save money every way we can, and when we think we're getting a great deal, we want to grab it as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, you may be at risk of losing your money, possessions or both when you trust them to online moving brokers. Moving fraud is a problem many consumers have experienced and more are popping up every day. The online cure for moving fraud is being selective with who you hire to move your most prized possessions.
Moving brokers act as middlemen when consumers are looking for a mover. They help consumers find a mover in one of two ways. They either go through a moving carrier they're already affiliated with or post details about the consumer's move on the Internet. When the latter is done, moving companies will make bids on the job and the broker will usually take the lowest bid.
The broker will then take a deposit from the consumer based on the estimate. This is what typically takes place, but this is not always the case. Many of the consumers paying the deposit become victims of moving or broker scams.
There are different types of moving or broker scams. The most common is when a broker takes a deposit from the consumer and promises to have a mover at the consumer's home on the day and time requested. However, when the day arrives, a mover never arrives because the broker took the deposit without even finding a mover. When consumers try to contact the broker, the calls are not answered.
Another type of broker or moving fraud takes place when a consumer receives a very low estimate for having household goods moved. However, after everything is loaded on the moving van or truck, he or she is given a bill for a much higher amount than the estimate. When the consumer refuses to pay the amount, the mover holds the household goods as hostage until the money is paid.
The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a department that regulates interstate movers, has been proposing and changing rules in an effort to provide consumers with moving protection against moving and broker scams.
The FMCSA feels that the only cure for moving fraud is avoiding brokers altogether and being aware of your rights as a consumer regarding moving laws. There is another alternative; however, and that alternative is Moving Guardian.
Moving Guardian is a company committed to keeping you informed about everything you need to know involving moving. Consumers are most at risk of becoming victims of moving scams when they're uneducated as to how the moving industry works and how to get the best deal when negotiating prices. Consumers need to know what to look for in a moving company and what things should be avoided.
Many consumers that have been victims of online moving brokers stated later that certain things should have came up as "red flags" but didn't because of their eagerness in getting such a low price. Moving is probably one of the most important and stressful things we experience in life, besides marriage, death and divorce.
By nature, we want this experience to be as stress free, uncomplicated and inexpensive as possible. With everything else we have going on in our lives, we don't need the added headache of moving. In swoop the online moving brokers proclaiming to be the moving authority and offering to take away that headache for a very low fee. As smart and informed as consumers feel they are, many of them jump on these offers and end up losing hundreds to thousands of dollars for it.
Moving Guardian is dedicated to educating consumers on ways to protect themselves from moving scams and recommending the best and most reliable moving companies. Moving Guardian truly is the only cure for moving fraud.
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