You deserve the very best service when you move to a new home. The first step in finding reliable and legitimate Chicago movers is weeding out the companies that aren’t as reputable, which involves knowing how to avoid moving scams.
Here are some tips for hiring licensed, insured, and credible movers in Chicago, brought to you by the friendly professionals at Move-tastic!.
Common Moving Scams in Chicago
In order to avoid moving scams, you’ll need to get to know some of the warning signs of illegitimate companies. Regardless of whether you’re relocating within the Chicagoland Area or planning a long-distance move, be on the lookout for these red flags:
- Lowball estimates. You should always get at least three moving estimates to compare rates and services. If one company’s pricing is shockingly lower than the others, there’s a reasonable chance they’re just trying to win your business and will surprise you with hidden fees or additional charges at the end of your move.
- Fraudulent licensing. Legitimate moving companies are registered with the Illinois Department of Transportation (ILDOT) and, if they perform interstate moves, with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Before you book your move, make sure their license numbers are real.
- Verbal-only estimates and terms. All documentation about your move must be in writing: the rates, travel time, materials, the movers’ terms, the coverage or insurance you choose, etc. If a moving company only provides verbal information, they probably aren’t legitimate. And if there’s nothing in writing, they could hold your belongings hostage on their truck until you pay additional fees for them to release your goods.
- Cash-only payments. Just about all Chicago movers accept cash payments, but you should also have the option to pay by credit card. Demanding cash payment—especially large upfront fees—is a huge red flag that you’re being scammed.
It’s frustrating (and maybe a little disheartening) that you have to put in some work to avoid moving scams. The good news, though, is that there’s advice you can follow to find legitimate Chicago movers who will take great care of you and your possessions throughout the entire moving process.
Tips to Avoid Moving Scams
So, how do you avoid moving scams? Well, it requires a little bit of legwork and research. Allow yourself some time to get to know the local regulations and learn about each company you’re considering for your move. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a couple of options, you might want to request their credentials to make sure they’re a legitimate company with a lot of happy clients.
Review the Illinois Moving Regulations
One of the best ways to avoid moving scams is to get a firmer grasp on the regulations they need to follow. A great place to start is the Illinois Commerce Commission (ILCC) website. Here, you can learn about the laws, read their tips on hiring Chicago movers, and even search for a licensed moving company.
If the moving companies you’re considering for your relocation are listed on the ILCC’s site, you can rest assured they’re legit.
Make Sure You’re Looking at Legit Moving Companies
There are multiple ways to make sure the movers you’re requesting estimates from are legitimate businesses. In addition to looking them up on the ILCC’s website, here are a few things you should do:
- Confirm that they have a brick-and-mortar location. Legit Chicago movers need a dedicated facility for their administrative team as well as their moving supplies, storage clients, and moving trucks.
- Check their online presence. Up-to-date websites with a current copyright date and recently published blogs—plus social media accounts with frequent posts—are signs that a moving company cares about their reputation. Their attention to their online presence lends legitimacy to their business.
- Read their online reviews. Take a moment to read through each mover’s online reviews. No or poor reviews are red flags, but a company with thousands of positive reviews from happy clients is usually a green flag.
Additionally, your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors can be a treasure trove of helpful information. Find out which Chicago movers they’ve used for their relocations and what steps they’ve taken to avoid moving scams in the past.
Request Your Moving Company’s Credentials and Coverage Options
Before you formally book your move, don’t be afraid to ask your moving company for their credentials. They should eagerly give you their Department of Transportation number to show that they’re legitimate. If you’re concerned about a moving scam, you can check the information they provide against what’s listed on the ILCC.
Legitimate Chicago movers also carefully document their moving coverage options. What’s more, they want you to understand the coverage and insurance that will work best for you. As long as your moving company has documentation and resources about the coverage they provide, you’re likely in good hands.
What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed
Everyone tries to avoid moving scams, but let’s be honest: some scammers are pretty savvy. If you’ve been victimized by an illegitimate moving company, don’t be embarrassed. Take a deep breath, know that you’re not alone, and then take action.
Here are a few things you can do if you’ve been scammed:
- Gather all of your documentation. Remember: verbal-only estimates are a red flag. Put together all of your emails, text messages, payment receipts, and even voicemails or phone call dates and times. Paperwork and documentation are your best friends.
- Contact your bank or credit card company. If you paid for your move with a check, debit card, or credit card, contact your financial institution to see if they can stop payment. Unfortunately, this probably isn’t possible if you paid for the move in cash.
- If necessary, contact the police. Some scammers posing as movers will refuse to unload your belongings from their trucks until you pay extra fees. If your items are stolen or held hostage, you might need to call your local police department.
- File formal complaints. You can file online complaints against the illegitimate movers with the ILCC and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
- Leave true and accurate online reviews. If the scamming company has an online presence, leave reviews on their Google My Business and Yelp pages, along with their social media. In addition to helping other people avoid moving scams, you’re creating a public record that local and/or federal regulators might see.
Put simply, document every detail of the scam and the offenders—and don’t be quiet about your experience. The more facts you can provide, the more likely it is that the scammers will be prevented from doing further harm.
It’s Easy to Avoid Moving Scams When You Work with Chicago’s Favorite Movers!
We’ve been moving Chicagoland residents since 2008, and we see every single relocation as a chance to prove that we’re the best movers in Chicago. After all, our customers entrust us with their prized possessions every single day, and that’s not something we take lightly.
Chat with us today to learn how Chicago’s favorite moving company can give you the service and peace of mind you deserve!