New York, NY (PRWEB) March 06, 2014
In a short span of one year, The Better Business Bureau received nearly 9,000 complaints (8,486 to be precise) against movers in N. America alone. The scope of the complaints varied from pricing issues to lost or damaged goods and in rare instances movers who held consumer belongings hostage -- literally, reports The New York Times.
From iron-clad contracts to “consumer timidity”, there are a variety of reasons why unscrupulous movers escape the law enforcement radar and continue practicing their nefarious practices in broad daylight. Unfortunately, the work of a handful of moving companies has tarnished the reputation of tens of thousands of others that do their work honestly and ethically.
“It is hard work. We are often left with lifelong injuries that almost go untreated. Apart from the physical impact of our work, we are faced with unreasonably long hours and little to no benefits. Despite the drawbacks, we do our work honestly,” says Anmol, an executive with a moving truck rental company in New York.
While it is true that some “bad apples” have been preying on gullible consumers, there are a host of companies that do not practice such trickery. Yet, consumers need to be made aware of ways to protect themselves.
“While it is true that there are some questionable companies, overall, there are plenty of good ones that go the extra mile to serve consumers. Fortunately, there are several steps a consumer can take to avoid becoming a victim,” explains Yonni Rossa, founder of MovingQuote.org, a company that specializes in helping individuals locate the best movers in America.
Rossa recommends the following strategies to safeguard consumers:
Forget the verbal agreement
One of the most common mistakes that occur during the moving process is a lack of writing. Many individuals simply accept the quote, price, or terms offered by the mover over the phone or in-person. While that may not be such a bad thing, there is little protection a customer can get if she runs into issues. The best bet in such situations is to get everything in writing.
Do your research about the company
Fortunately, Rossa’s site MovingQuote.org has done most of the legwork for clients. In addition to pre-screened movers, the site features a host of reviews and rating systems that help warn and educate users about a particular moving company’s track record.
Yonni’s company is a unique destination for individuals who want to research and obtain quotes from a large number of companies. Ratings, reviews, research, and pre-screened movers form a host of features that Rossa’s company offers to his prospective customers. In addition to onsite tools, his company has forged strategic alliances with some of the best moving companies in the business.