How to avoid Scams by Packers and Movers?

With the increase in demand for packers and movers services, there is also an increase in fraud. An increase in fraud and scams are problematic for people who have moving plans on the card. The relocation process is already hectic, And when some rogue packers and movers scam, it turns into a nightmare. A moving process involves expensive things for people, and there is a lot of care that needs to be taken while hiring a moving company. Below are essential tips that need to be considered before finalizing a deal with any packers and movers for secure and safer relocation.

Verify the Legal Documents

All reliable and authentic packers and movers are licensed and registered by proper authority and own documents of its registration. If you are in the middle of shortlisting a moving company for your relocation, consider checking the company’s legal documents such as GST registration certificate, company incorporation certificate, shop establishment license, PAN card of the company, etc.

Quick Tip: Don’t forget to read the company’s terms and conditions while checking the documents.

Hire Only IBA Approved Packers & Movers

Why waste time searching packers and movers on the internet or asking from your relatives when you can easily hire INDIAN BANKS ASSOCIATION(IBA) approved packers and movers in India. As INDIAN BANKS ASSOCIATION(IBA) only supports moving companies registered, you can conveniently and fearlessly hire such companies for your relocation process.

Visit Their Office Premises

A company with a properly registered office address indicates reliability and uprightness. A visit to the registered office of packers and movers will clear out doubts in your mind. You can see what facilities they have, how they treat their customers, and analyze their behavior.

Quick Tip: Check whether the office is rented, owned, or taken on lease.

Get the Moving Quote in Writing

As a consumer of packers and movers’ services, it is your right to ask for the moving quotes in writing. It will save you from any hidden charges that the moving company may levy. The written estimate will bind you and the service provider together in the deal, setting obligations of services and payments on both parties.

Quick Tip: Make Sure that every element of the moving cost is correctly listed in the invoice

Don’t make the Cash Payments

With the popularity of digital payments among consumers, we prefer to make payments using cards or online payment methods to make sure secure payments, But While making payments to your packers and movers, it is essential to avoid making payments in cash as there is a risk of fraud or scam in such payment modes. When you make your payment using a debit or credit card, the amount goes straight into service providers’ banks, which can be used as an authenticity.

Never Ever Pay Full Moving Cost in Advance

This is the riskiest step that you will take in your relocation process. It’s never a wise decision to make the complete payment in advance. The ones involved in fraud will run away with your money leaving you depressed and out of place.

Quick Tip: Pay some percentage of the total moving cost to them in the initial stages and the remaining payment after completing the moving process.

Ask About The Hidden Charges

The detailed invoice with a complete listing of the moving charges separately gives the customers a fair idea about paying for the packers and movers’ services. The amount mentioned in the invoice is the final estimate about the entire relocation process and saves you from any hidden charges.

Quick Tip: Always ask for an accurate invoice from your packers and movers at finalizing the deal with them. Ensure that there will be no extra costs to be paid in the future to them apart from the final invoice amount.

Get Moving Quotes in From Minimum of Two Service Providers in Advance

The online platforms connect verified packers and movers to users to get a free moving quote about a specific moving. Entering the details like the date, relocation type, relocation, size of the action, and the current and destination city will give the user a fair idea about the prevailing moving charges in the market and save from getting cheated by the packers & movers.

Quick Tip: Get this estimate from 3-4 websites to better understand the prevailing trends.

Ask Questions

As relocating a house is a crucial decision; therefore, people become very curious about everything. It is always important to clear all your doubts about the shifting process before finalizing any deal with any packers and movers service provider. Asking the right questions regarding the relocation services from the packers and movers is essential. You should pay significant attention to the answers which you receive from them. Make sure that they answer every question with great patience and give you every detail about the services.

Quick Tip: Don’t forget to ask about moving charges and insurance services (if any).

Ask to Conduct Pre-Move Survey

All professional packers and movers perform a survey of their customers’ residence or office before giving them a final moving estimate. This process involves a detailed list of all the items by the packers and movers company’s expert that needs to be relocated from the current location to the new site. During this survey, he will write down the customer’s requirements regarding the packing material required to pack the items and calculate the final moving cost based on the distance traveled and other factors affecting moving cost.

Quick Tip: Avoid hiring moving companies to estimate the cost without performing the survey.

Ask for Availability of Insurance Coverage

Reliable packers and movers understand the value of the personal baggage of their customers. They will make sure that the belongings are safely transported to the new location without any damages. If any damages are done to the precious belongings, they offer their customers insurance to save them from monetary losses.

Quick Tip: Choose packers and movers who offer insurance on goods to their customers for distance moves.

Unmarked or Non-Branded Vehicle

A licensed moving company will always have its moving vehicle. An unmarked vehicle is one that has no identification that it belongs to a particular company. Such vehicles can be a sign of fraud packers and movers.

Don’t do Detailed Discussions over Phone

The mobile conversation is the most initial step in hiring reliable packers and movers. But, it is also advised never to take any decisions over the phone call. A face-to-face conversation with the companies professional will give you a better idea about their services and observe them in a detailed manner.

Quick Tip: Keep the mobile conversation short and ask for a possible date and time to visit them.

Prefer Hiring through Online Platforms of Verified Packers & Movers

Multiple websites have emerged in recent years with the details of the pre-verified packers and movers across the country. These online platforms connect people to various packers and movers for relocation in their area within minutes and save their time on research. There is a freedom to judge and board the provided moving companies and choose the most appropriate one for you.

Quick Tip: Compare all of them based on the prices, services provided, cities served, etc.

Don’t go for cheap options

Running after moving companies who offer low or so-called discounted prices relocation services is never the best choice. This can attract the customers and finally ask for significant amounts of money and give the responsibility of relocating household items that can be risky as there is a risk of fraud involved in such deals. After all, your precious baggage cost is much more than the payable amount to reliable packers and movers.

Quick Tip: Give preference to the customer reviews and Google ratings

Always Opt for Door to Door Services

While finalizing the deal with packers and movers, it is necessary to check whether they provide door-to-door shifting services to their customers or not. A licensed moving company will pick your good from your current location and safely deliver them to your new place. So, while asking questions, don’t forget to ask about this service, which may lead to unloading your goods by your packers and movers, and you may have to make other arrangements to get your interests to reach safely to your new home.

Be Cautious of Similar Brand Name

Packers and Movers who have established their business to cheat people often opt for their companies’ names, which sounds similar to a famous brand. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly check the company’s background before hiring them for your move.

Quick Tip: Start by searching the company’s name on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website.

Analyze Customer Reviews & Ratings

The feedback posted by the customers of the moving company on their website, social media accounts, or other websites helps a lot in decision making. Google ratings are not the only factor that can help you find your suitable packers and movers. Explore websites for authentic customer reviews regarding any moving company – find movers.

Quick Tip: Always be aware of fake online reviews.

Explore The Website

A website of any moving company throws light on its services. It gives people enough idea about the services the company offers to their customers, who are part of the administration, the prices, the cities they provide their services, and other related information. A detailed website capturing every minor detail from the customers’ perspective indicates its professionalism and may help build trust.

Quick Tip: Don’t judge the reliability of packers and movers from their attractive-looking website.

Ask for References & Recommendations

As the packers and movers industry is booming, most people avail of this growing sector’s services to ease their relocation process. If you have someone in your friends, family or colleagues who have relocated to a new place using a moving company’s services, it is better to ask for references from the person. It will save you time in finding suitable packers and movers for yourself. You can clear all your doubts about the quality of services and the price charged by the company.

Quick Tip: Recommendations are beneficial, but it is always better to do a bit of investigation about them. Gather more information before hiring them for your move.

The Final Note

While hiring any packers and movers for your relocation, keeping in mind this thing – considering INDIAN BANKS ASSOCIATION(IBA) approved packers and movers, by verifying the legal documents of the company, never make full payment of services in advance in cash, ask for an original bill, and visiting office packers and movers – will assist you in hiring experts from the industry, but also save you from any moving scam. TransRentals has a list of trusted packers and movers in Major cities in India, ensuring hassle-free relocation at any part of the country. After all, safety is all that matters in the relocation process of your belongings!!!