{"id":41362,"date":"2024-09-18T15:27:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T15:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?p=41362"},"modified":"2024-10-29T21:01:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T21:01:13","slug":"how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Moving Company Scams When Moving Long Distance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_38 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump Ahead To: <\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#A_Long-Distance_Move_Has_More_Protection_from_Moving_Scams\" title=\"A Long-Distance Move Has More Protection from Moving Scams\">A Long-Distance Move Has More Protection from Moving Scams<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#1_Is_the_Moving_Company_FMCSA-Regulated\" title=\"1. Is the Moving Company FMCSA-Regulated?\">1. Is the Moving Company FMCSA-Regulated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#2_Is_the_Moving_Company_Background_Info_Readily_Available\" title=\"2. Is the Moving Company Background Info Readily Available?\">2. Is the Moving Company Background Info Readily Available?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#3_When_You_Call_Does_Someone_Answer\" title=\"3. When You Call, Does Someone Answer?\">3. When You Call, Does Someone Answer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#4_Do_They_Maintain_Enough_Insurance_to_Cover_Your_Household_Goods\" title=\"4. Do They Maintain Enough Insurance to Cover Your Household Goods?\">4. Do They Maintain Enough Insurance to Cover Your Household Goods?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#If_you_only_read_one_tip_for_worst_moving_companies_read_this_one\" title=\"If you only read one tip for worst moving companies, read this one!\">If you only read one tip for worst moving companies, read this one!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#5_References_Offered_When_Asked_For\" title=\"5. References Offered When Asked For?\">5. References Offered When Asked For?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#6_Do_They_Offer_a_Required_Booklet_About_Your_Rights\" title=\"6. Do They Offer a Required Booklet About Your Rights?\">6. Do They Offer a Required Booklet About Your Rights?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#7_Do_They_Discourage_In-home_Assessments\" title=\"7. Do They Discourage In-home Assessments?\">7. Do They Discourage In-home Assessments?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#8_Will_They_Provide_a_Comprehensive_Breakdown_of_Costs\" title=\"8. Will They Provide a Comprehensive Breakdown of Costs?\">8. Will They Provide a Comprehensive Breakdown of Costs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#9_Too_Good_to_Be_True_Low-Ball_Estimate\" title=\"9. Too Good to Be True Low-Ball Estimate\">9. Too Good to Be True Low-Ball Estimate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#10_Not_Accept_Credit_Cards_for_Payment\" title=\"10. Not Accept Credit Cards for Payment\">10. Not Accept Credit Cards for Payment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#11_Want_a_Big_Cash_Deposit_in_Advance\" title=\"11. Want a Big Cash Deposit in Advance\">11. Want a Big Cash Deposit in Advance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#12_Do_the_Reviews_Trigger_your_Warning_System\" title=\"12. Do the Reviews Trigger your Warning System?\">12. Do the Reviews Trigger your Warning System?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#13_What_Do_Rating_Agencies_Say\" title=\"13. What Do Rating Agencies Say?\">13. What Do Rating Agencies Say?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#14_Any_Friends_and_Family_Recommendations\" title=\"14. Any Friends and Family Recommendations?\">14. Any Friends and Family Recommendations?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-moving-company-scams-when-moving-long-distance\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\r\n<p>Moving is complicated enough. You don\u2019t need to accidently pick the worst moving company on the planet. Or deal with moving scams. Unfortunately, it happens. Too often. So often, we wrote this to help you find the best long-distance movers and avoid those moving scams. Here are 14 great tips for how to avoid moving company scams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 id=\"h-a-long-distance-move-has-more-protection-from-moving-scams\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Long-Distance_Move_Has_More_Protection_from_Moving_Scams\"><\/span>A Long-Distance Move Has More Protection from Moving Scams<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>That\u2019s the good news. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was setup to keep highways safer by enforcing safety regulations for interstate movers. The consumer abuses made them add <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oig.dot.gov\/investigations\/household-goods-moving-fraud\">bad-actor regulations<\/a> which we will review, plus add some of our own based on experiences I and friends have had. That doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t do your homework. Here\u2019s where to start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-dominant-color=\"5c645c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #5c645c;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-41363 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Bellhop Moving team in Dallas, TX\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Bellhop-Dallas-1024x538.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Bellhop-Dallas-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Bellhop-Dallas-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Bellhop-Dallas-768x404.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Bellhop-Dallas-jpg.webp 1360w\"><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-1-is-the-moving-company-fmcsa-regulated\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Is_the_Moving_Company_FMCSA-Regulated\"><\/span>1. Is the Moving Company FMCSA-Regulated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Check to determine whether the interstate mover and broker is <a href=\"https:\/\/ai.fmcsa.dot.gov\/hhg\/search.asp\">registered with FMCSA<\/a> and has a U.S. DOT number. Typing in the name \u2018Bellhop\u2019, for example, brought up a data record for Bellhop Movers. You want to see the same search result. But wait, there\u2019s more,<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-2-is-the-moving-company-background-info-readily-available\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Is_the_Moving_Company_Background_Info_Readily_Available\"><\/span>2. Is the Moving Company Background Info Readily Available?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The FMCSA expects you to be able to find the following information easily.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Location of the company&#8217;s headquarters<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li>Contact information<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li>Registration status<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li>Type of authority (e.g. carrier, broker, freight forwarder, etc.) Bellhop Movers is a registered broker, for example. That\u2019s ok; they find qualified movers for you.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li>Complaints and possibly a safety rating.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-3-when-you-call-does-someone-answer\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_When_You_Call_Does_Someone_Answer\"><\/span>3. When You Call, Does Someone Answer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Or call back? Take the time to dial and speak with someone at the mover\u2019s phone number shown in the FMCSA data. I called Bellhop\u2019s, went through the usual prompts and was rewarded with a real person. You want to do the same. If there is an answering machine, leave your phone. <em>If they don\u2019t call back, <\/em>take them off your list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-4-do-they-maintain-enough-insurance-to-cover-your-household-goods\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Do_They_Maintain_Enough_Insurance_to_Cover_Your_Household_Goods\"><\/span>4. Do They Maintain Enough Insurance to Cover Your Household Goods?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Under Federal law, interstate movers must offer two different liability options referred to as valuation coverage: <em>Full Value Protection<\/em> and <em>Released Value<\/em>. You should <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmcsa.dot.gov\/consumer-protection\/protect-your-move\/are-you-moving\/liability-protection\">read this<\/a> before deciding which.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 id=\"h-if-you-only-read-one-tip-for-worst-moving-companies-read-this-one\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_you_only_read_one_tip_for_worst_moving_companies_read_this_one\"><\/span>If you only read one tip for worst moving companies, read this one!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>Released Value<\/em> pays you back based on the <em>weight<\/em> of the damaged object &#8211; $0.60 (60 cents per pound), not its replacement value. A big, expensive, flat-screen TV weighing 50lbs would payout $30. Ouch!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>This is a frequent complaint for any move when things are broken. Even highly rated long-distance movers unintentionally have breakage. So, <em>think beforehand<\/em> about what high-value objects are most likely to break and arrange to (1) pack them really well or (2) carry them yourself or (3) opt for Full Value Protection (and gather substantiating receipts).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>I <em>never<\/em> ship with a mover family photo albums, important docs, sentimental objects if I can help it. My rule of thumb is: if I would grab it when the house is on fire, then I don\u2019t ship it with movers. Imagine the leverage a bad mover would have if they had those items!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-5-references-offered-when-asked-for\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_References_Offered_When_Asked_For\"><\/span>5. References Offered When Asked For?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you have a very complicated move, say of a large household with many valuable furnishings, ask for references from similar moves. If none are provided, think about this choice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-6-do-they-offer-a-required-booklet-about-your-rights\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Do_They_Offer_a_Required_Booklet_About_Your_Rights\"><\/span>6. Do They Offer a <em>Required<\/em> Booklet About Your Rights?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmcsa.dot.gov\/sites\/fmcsa.dot.gov\/files\/RightsandResponsibilitiesBooklet_2022Update.pdf\">Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move<\/a>\u00a0is a pamphlet FMCSA wrote to inform you. It\u2019s available from the mover and broker. Take it as a flag if they don\u2019t offer one when you ask or send you a link to the same booklet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>FYI I checked and there are two versions, one updated in 2022. If they send you to a PDF file which <em>does not say <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmcsa.dot.gov\/sites\/fmcsa.dot.gov\/files\/RightsandResponsibilitiesBooklet_2022Update.pdf\">\u20262022update<\/a>and look like the above. think twice about using them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-7-do-they-discourage-in-home-assessments\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Do_They_Discourage_In-home_Assessments\"><\/span>7. Do They Discourage In-home Assessments?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Your charges are based on weight and miles. That often can require an inspection for a large family move. <strong>To avoid surprise<\/strong> <strong>charges<\/strong> schedule one. If they really balk, walk.<\/p><div class=\"getbe-middle\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"getbe-42272533\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/book\/service\/\" aria-label=\"The Better Way to Move\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"The Better Way to Move\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" width=\"600\" height=\"160\" style=\" max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png 600w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160-300x80.png 300w\"><\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Full disclosure: Bellhop Movers has pioneered instant online moving estimates that 99% of our customers use. Call them if you need reassurance and check their many reviews.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-8-will-they-provide-a-comprehensive-breakdown-of-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Will_They_Provide_a_Comprehensive_Breakdown_of_Costs\"><\/span>8. Will They Provide a Comprehensive Breakdown of Costs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Be alert to hidden fees. <em>Ask for a comprehensive breakdown of costs<\/em> to avoid surprise charges. Walk if they brush it off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-9-too-good-to-be-true-low-ball-estimate\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Too_Good_to_Be_True_Low-Ball_Estimate\"><\/span>9. Too Good to Be True Low-Ball Estimate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>We assume you have gotten multiple bids. If a mover\u2019s bid seems way low, it may be a red flag. It\u2019s worth talking about. Long-distance movers <em>can<\/em> save you money by combining your move with others; (we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/all-you-need-to-know-about-shared-moving-trucks\/\">wrote about it here<\/a>). It may work for you, but be sure to check their reasons for the low-ball, too-good-to-be-true price.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-10-not-accept-credit-cards-for-payment\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Not_Accept_Credit_Cards_for_Payment\"><\/span>10. Not Accept Credit Cards for Payment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Banks allow you to dispute credit card charges holding up payment \u2013 the primary reason the worst moving companies don\u2019t like them. One phone call by you to your bank is a <em>lot of leverage. <\/em>Find another mover if they don\u2019t accept credit cards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-11-want-a-big-cash-deposit-in-advance\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Want_a_Big_Cash_Deposit_in_Advance\"><\/span>11. Want a Big Cash Deposit in Advance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It\u2019s typical for many services to expect a 25-50% deposit upfront. Ordering kitchen cabinets at Home Depot, securing a lease on a rental car, moving your stuff. Any amount over 50% may be a red flag.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-12-do-the-reviews-trigger-your-warning-system\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Do_the_Reviews_Trigger_your_Warning_System\"><\/span>12. Do the Reviews Trigger your Warning System?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Lots of reviews are good, but not necessarily enough. Look at the <em>lower-rated reviews<\/em> (#1s and #2s) to find complaints. Check for a <em>healthy dialogue<\/em> and an honest attempt by the company to fix the situation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Moving is a challenging business. There are always grumblers, and others who have lots of damage due to their own improper wrapping (which movers like Bellhop can\u2019t know when they pick up that box). Companies that care about their reputation will attempt to address what they can, and their comments will reflect it. If bad reviews receive no written explanation, go elsewhere. If someone is complaining about the .60 cents per pound replacement, it\u2019s what the FMCSA rule says they can pay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-13-what-do-rating-agencies-say\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_What_Do_Rating_Agencies_Say\"><\/span>13. What Do Rating Agencies Say?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Your local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/\">Better Business Bureau<\/a> should be one of the first places you go. Many legitimate movers will be accredited with the BBB. I was amazed how many movers are there in my town (Seattle). This is a great source.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-14-any-friends-and-family-recommendations\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Any_Friends_and_Family_Recommendations\"><\/span>14. Any Friends and Family Recommendations?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It seems like we are all moving. Your neighbors may know a top-rated\u00a0 long-distance mover based on their experience. Check also with your HR department. Many large companies have moving assist services and may have a short list of best long-distance movers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>There are horror stories galore of the worst moving companies holding peoples\u2019 goods for ransom. Don\u2019t let this happen to you. Check for great movers like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/\"><em>Bellhop Movers<\/em><\/a>. They\u2019re experts at long-distance moves. As brokers, they know the best long-distance moving companies. And they care about your stuff <em>and<\/em> their reputation. They\u2019re big and they got that way by delivering on their promise of affordable, low stress moves.<\/p>\r\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re looking at a <a href=\"\/ga\/atlanta\/long-distance-movers\/\">long-distance move to Atlanta<\/a>, a <a href=\"\/ca\/los-angeles\/long-distance-movers\/\">cross-country move to Los Angeles<\/a>, or a <a href=\"\/il\/chicago\/long-distance-movers\/\">interstate move to Chicago<\/a>, Bellhop can help.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The FMCSA has a consumer protection regulation called the 110% Rule, which states that moving companies cannot demand payment greater than 110% of the cost of the original written estimate before delivering your items. We wrote this post so you will never experience it. But if you do, remembering it may help. Good luck with your move!<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moving is complicated enough. You don\u2019t need to accidently pick the worst moving company on the planet. Or deal with moving scams. Unfortunately, it happens. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1209,19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.5 (Yoast SEO v19.10) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Avoid Moving Company Scams When Moving Long Distance - Bellhop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are a lot of scams in the moving industry. 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