Calls to the CMSA consumer information line regarding ‘Bandit Movers’ are at an all time high. Eighty percent of the consumer calls are from victims of bandit movers – movers who appear to be legitimate in advertisements or on-line but, in fact, charge below market value prices, engage in unlawful practices, bully consumers into paying outrageous prices once the move is underway, and threaten to sell the personal goods if their demands are not fulfilled.

Most of the abuses result from moves booked on-line. Consumers are subject to potential fraud if they book a move over the phone or on-line without doing their homework. The CMSA suggests the following strategies to validate the legitimacy of a mover:

• Verify the license number with the CMSA or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the state agency that regulates the moving and storage industry. Touching base with the CMSA is best because the association’s professional team knows its members – about 500 moving companies statewide. Furthermore, if the consumer has a problem with a move performed by a CMSA member, the trade association will intervene on the consumer’s behalf.
• Visit the physical location to ascertain the company’s level of professionalism.

Additionally, CMSA members are licensed, maintain professional liability insurance and workman’s compensation insurance (a must because if a member of the moving crew is injured while on your property you could be held liable if the mover does not have appropriate insurance coverage), provide training for their staff to ensure a professional move, maintain clean moving vans and equipment, and adhere to a strict professional code of conduct to uphold the industry’s standards for service, pricing and professionalism.

May we also suggest that you plan and coordinate large moves at least a month in advance to give yourself time to properly investigate movers and obtain written estimates. Also, take a few moments to visit the other menu topics in this section of the CMSA website. The information provided will help you avoid serious issues with you. relocation.

Tips to Avoid Moving Company Fraud

1. Don’t book your move on-line or over the phone without verifying that the mover has a location in your area. Drive by the location. Go in and meet the company’s personnel. Use your instincts to discern if the company’s personnel appear to be professional and trustworthy. Let your common sense guide you … but don’t stop there!
2. Verify the company’s license. All movers are required by law to demonstrate their legitimacy on all their documentation.
3. Verify the license number with the California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
4. Obtain written estimates for moves of three or more rooms. Legitimate movers are price competitive. Make sure the estimates are based on the same factors (i.e. move and pack; move only, etc.) If a company provides an unusually low bid … beware! The company could be illegal, or they may have made an error while estimating your move. If the latter is the case, the price will likely escalate on moving day.
5. Illegal movers may charge by the cubic foot. Legal movers charge by the hour (local moves), and by weight/mileage (distance moves).
6. Bandits “rip off” innocent consumers by charging exorbitant fees for extensive and unnecessary packing on items that should be pad wrapped. Furnishings should be wrapped with shrink wrap or protected with special moving blankets.
7. Bandits will intimidate consumers to tip the crew. Tipping is not customary but it is accepted when the customer has received exceptional service.

How to Avoid Headaches on Moving Day
The Do’s and Don’ts of Moving

DON’T

• Don’t confront the driver about the bill. Get your questions answered in advance with a customer service representative or a manager of the moving company. If you start the move with an adversarial tone, no one will have a good day!
• Don’t micro-manage the move. It’s a good idea to stay nearby and to monitor what is going on. However, professional movers know what they are doing. They are specially trained to handle your personal goods with care and speed.
• Don’t ship perishables (anything requiring refrigeration) or hazardous materials (propane, gasoline, aerosol cans, etc.) on any kind of move.
• Don’t be unprepared on furniture placement at destination. The mover will re-arrange furniture, but remember that you are being charged by the hour.
• Don’t forget to tell the mover about all of the possessions they will move. Remember to specify the conditions at destination (i.e. elevators, stairs, delivery conditions for van placement) which could result in extra charges.
• Don’t expect the mover to perform plumbing or handyman services. You are responsible for unhooking your household appliances including ice makers. Television sets can actually sustain internal damage if they are unplugged fewer than 24 hours before a move.

DO

• If more than three rooms must be moved, ask for a representative from the moving company come to your home, apartment or office. To provide an accurate estimate, the mover must see your possessions and the layout of the location. This will give them insight as to the type of personnel and equipment that will ensure a smooth and successful move.
• Book a move weeks in advance. This lead time will give the mover the opportunity to schedule the proper equipment and labor to ensure a successful move.
• Use the free services of the California Moving & Storage Association to find legal movers in your area. The association includes an on-line profile and directory of nearly 500 movers throughout California.
• Take the time to read and understand the documentation. For local moves (up to 100 miles), the hourly charges begin when the moving van arrives at origin and concludes when the services have been completed at destination. The drive time between origin and destination is doubled to compensate for the time to deliver the equipment and labor to origin; and from the moving destination back to the terminal. Distance moves (over 100 miles) are billed by weight (per 100 lbs) and mileage.
• Keep a copy of all your documentation in the event it is necessary to file a damage claim.
• Buy professional packing supplies from the mover or another supplier. Your possessions can be damaged in transit if they are stored in inappropriate boxes and carriers.
• Use Styrofoam packing chips, bubble wrap, and un-printed paper to protect breakables.
• When doing your own packing, help your mover to be successful by packing heavy items, such as books, in smaller boxes. Light items should be packed in larger boxes. Visit your mover to see specific-use boxes for books, dishes, lamps, paintings, clothing, etc.
• Be courteous and professional to the crew. They are moving your possessions. While it is not necessary to offer them water or sodas during the move, these acts of kindness are important for establishing a positive relationship with your moving team.

Happy moving day!

2. They gave me a good price so I have to go with them.

3. They have a cool name. Any San Diego moving company with a nice name has to be good.

4. They’re website says that they’re honest, fair, careful, safe, hard working, and licensed. So that means they must be good.

5. I just need to pick a company already. It’s way too annoying to do research on moving companies.

These five things are commonly thought by you, the consumer. When you San Diego move you need to have a level head, and do as much research as possible.

•A nice logo does not mean that the moving company is reputable and fair.
•A good quote does not mean they won’t tack on extra costs once the San Diego move is over and refuse to give you your stuff until you pay the inflated price.
•A good name does not equal a good moving company.
•Just because they say they’re the best in the world, it doesn’t mean that they are.
•And most importantly, don’t be lazy. Do the research.
That last one is the most important because when you do the proper research you can find out all the information you need on a particular San Diego moving company. If you can’t find any information, then that should tell you something right off the bat. Read moving company reviews, look up their licenses and insurance, ask them questions, and make sure you just don’t settle.

What happens when you don’t do the proper research is you can find yourself in big trouble. I’ve seen some pretty harsh reviews before where people say how such and such moving company broke their couch, their TV, and their mattress. They also overcharged them by $1000 and delivered their items two weeks late.

As you can see, if you’re not careful with what you’re doing you can get burned.

Don’t be a sucker. Do what you need to do to make sure that you’ll find yourself safe and sound in your new home with all of your things completely intact.

The last time my husband and I moved, we hired three guys who were recommended by a neighbor. They showed up in an unmarked truck covered in graffiti to move our pitiful collection of furniture. It was a little sketchy, but in the end our stuff arrived at our new house in pretty good condition. Things are a little different now with our second move. We have grown-up furniture and a lot more of it. So after several weeks of researching companies and gathering estimates, here are my tips on shopping for a moving company:

• As soon as your house hits the market, you’ll start getting promotional cards in the mail and phone calls. Look through them for interesting deals. Research some of the names and see how they fare on consumer review services like Angie’s List.

 

• Get recommendations from friends and family. Anyone who’s ever used a moving company will have strong opinions about whether it was good or not. Some of the best moving companies get business only through word of mouth, so you won’t hear about them through promotions or advertising.

 

• Get several in-home estimates. No company will be able to give you an accurate figure over the phone of how much it will cost to move your stuff. A salesperson from the moving company will walk through your home, making note of large furniture, breakable items like china and how much furniture needs to be broken down. Don’t forget to show them the attic, garage and basement. Moving companies kept telling me that my attic would be the most expensive part of the move because of how much stuff we have stored there.

 

• If you’re working with a local real estate agent, ask if they have any discounts or coupons with moving companies. My agent was able to get me a 10 percent discount with a large local moving company.

 

• Pack your own stuff, especially if your moving date is a few weeks down the road. Having a moving company pack your belongings will double the price of the move. Even tackling a few boxes every weekend is worth saving the money. I’ve even heard of people having packing parties where they get a few friends together for food and drinks and some packing.

 

• Most moving companies will offer a few options for insurance to cover items that are broken, damaged or lost. You pay a certain amount, usually $4 to $9 for every $1,000 of your items’ value. Movers aren’t perfect, so insurance is probably a good way to go. But check with your own insurance policies to see if you already have coverage for moving damages. If not, choose an insurance plan based on the type of items the company will be moving. If you have lots of sentimental antiques, more coverage may be the best way to go.

 

• Don’t plan your move for a holiday weekend like Memorial Day or Labor Day. The rates go up on three-day holiday weekends, especially those that fall at the end of the month.

 

• Once you get a few estimates, figure out who your favorite is and ask if they can tweak their estimate to compete with the others. All the moving companies I spoke to said they would consider bringing down the price to match estimates from similar businesses.

Get a FREE Moving Estimate with Atlas Transfer & Storage and enter at a chance to WIN FREE San Diego Padres Tickets!

We ‘ve found a great website to help you learn about San Diego, “America’s Finest City” and what it can offer you. It is the City of San Diego Official Website. If you’re looking for more information about San Diego then you’ll find this website very useful, at we least we do. 

Here you’ll find information on San Diego Business, Leisure, Community, Visiting San Diego, City Services, City Employment , San Diego Glass Windows and more.

Next time your looking for a San Diego Mover or Storage provider give Atlas Transfer a call at 1-800-854-2938.

Sincerely,

Atlas Transfer & Storage Co.
P.O. Box 80008
San Diego, CA 92138