Avoiding Moving Scams

Whether you’re moving across town or moving to the other side of Ontario, one of your top priorities is to find a good, reliable moving company. One with kind, professional movers. Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies out there with less than honourable intentions and avoiding scammers can feel like a job in itself. Don’t worry. There are tell-tale warning signs to look out for, so you can choose the best Vaughan, ON moving company for your next move. Keep reading. 

Red-Flags

You don’t have to know everything about moving companies to spot a scam. These red flags should grab your attention:

  • A too-good-to-be-true estimate. If it sounds too good, it probably is. If one estimate is thousands and thousands of dollars less than the other two or three you’ve received, something is either suspicious, or there’s been a miscalculation.
  • Many bad moving reviews. We’re living in an age of information, so work this to your advantage. Check out customer reviews and testimonies online. Don’t only go to the moving company’s website; look at Google Reviews, too. On that note, be sure the moving company actually has a website.
  • No references. If you wouldn’t hire an employee without good references, do not hire a moving company without checking theirs.
  • Unprofessional behaviour.
  • Up-front payment in full. There is no reason in this day and age for a moving company to require full payment from you before Moving Day. There should be a deposit prior to, and a balance payoff after the move.
  • No estimate. Never, ever hire a moving company in Vaughan, ON without an estimate.
  • Unmarked truck. Legitimate moving companies have marked trucks. That’s all there is to it.
  • The company is listed on Ontario’s Consumer Beware List with multiple complaints or charges. To search, go here: http://www.consumerbeware.mgs.gov.on.ca/catsct/start.do?lang=en

Signs You’re Dealing with a Good Moving Company

Not all professional movers are bad. In fact, many are reputable and hard working. And, since Canadians move every seven or eight years, on average, it’s important to learn how to easily spot the good moving companies. Here’s how you know you’ve found a moving company to rely on:

  • Recommendations from people you know. Friends and family who’ve had good experiences will be more than happy to recommend the company they used. And, they can give you reliable customer testimonies.
  • Good online reviews. Remember, not every review will be positive (you just can’t please everyone). But, online reviews are helpful in giving you a general idea of what to expect. And, you can see how the company responds to poor reviews to make amends.
  • Good standing with the Better Business Bureau.
  • The company follows Good Practice Guidelines for Canadian Movers. To learn more, go here: https://ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca02030.html
  • Willingness to offer an on-site estimate.
  • Properly insured. Your property is too valuable not to have this.

For your peace of mind, call ABS Movers & Storage at (416) 588-1499. We are located at 17 Dora Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 and we want to be your trusted Vaughan, ON moving company.