There are plenty of steps you can take if you had a bad experience with a mover. Unfortunately, just not paying isn’t one of those options. First of all, it makes you look like the bad guy. And importantly, it opens you up to a whole world of consequences that range from legal to financial – and possibly never seeing your stuff again.
At Moving APT, we’ve been helping customers move for over 20 years. But our experience goes beyond just heavy lifting and interstate transportation. Let’s see what to do if you’ve been burnt by the other guys, and let’s see why refusing payment isn’t such a good idea.
But First: Are You Dealing with a Moving Scam? Here’s how to tell.
There’s a couple reasons people may not want to pay their movers. The most obvious is a lack of satisfaction for crappy customer service and a horrible moving experience. But there’s always the chance you’re being shaken down by fraudsters. Here are some giveaways you’re dealing with a moving scam:
- They want it paid for up front: Never pay for the full price of a move up front. A small down payment is okay, but you shouldn’t be on the hook for more than a few percent or a couple hundred bucks.
- They don’t show their license info: A legit moving company will display their MC number and their DOT number on their website, or at least make it easy to find and look up when requested.
- The estimate’s too good to be true: We recommend collecting at least three different estimates from three different moving companies. This gives you a better idea of the industry average, and if a quote seems way too cheap, you’ll know it’s a scam.
- They don’t explain your rights and responsibilities: According to the Department of Transportation, movers are legally required to provide a booklet explaining your rights and responsibilities when they’re planning everything out.
- They’re being vague about dates and storage: While many movers provide a rough time window for their pickup and delivery, no info at all (or just a vague assurance on the phone) is not a good sign. Same applies for the address of their storage facilities.
What Happens if I Don’t Pay My Movers?
Short answer: Nothing good. Here’s what a moving company can do if you refuse to pay:
- Legal Action: When you refuse to pay your movers, you’re breaching a contract. They may resort to legal action to get the money they’re owed, which will turn into a legal battle that’s more expensive than just the price of your relocation.
- Confiscation: You’re not in a strong negotiating position as is. Not paying will just make things worse. If your movers have any of your items in storage – or your stuff is still on the truck – your moving company may confiscate your items until you cough up the cash.
- They’ll charge you for storage: Confiscation isn’t free. If your belongings are taking up valuable truck or shelf space at your movers’ HQ, they’ll charge you for storage – even if it wasn’t included on your contract to begin with. At this point, you’re just digging a hole.
- Yes, they may be able to sell your stuff: Let’s say you still don’t cave. At a certain point, your movers may quit trying to get money out of you, but you won’t see your stuff again. If a court allows it, your movers can pawn off your belongings to recoup losses.
- They can tank your credit: And of course, not paying your movers can seriously damage your credit. Instead of going straight for the hardball approach, there are other methods you can try that won’t destroy your credit rating…
Here’s What You Should Actually Do If You Were Unhappy with Your Movers
Take a deep breath. Don’t do anything when you’re mad. Instead of just not paying (which could land you in some serious trouble), there are other options you can try if you’re unhappy with your moving company.
- File a complaint: It’s time to channel your inner Karen. Reputable moving companies will have a customer service line. Find it, call ‘em up, and let your voice be heard. If they don’t take action, you still have other tools in your toolbox.
- File a claim: This specifically applies if your items were damaged, lost, or destroyed in transit. You’ll have to file a claim with your moving insurance provider (more on moving insurance later), and that’ll start you on the way to financial compensation.
- Report them: The moving industry has to bend the knee to a few major organizations. First, there’s the Department of Transportation (DOT). But more specifically, there’s the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can file a complaint online.
- Warn your friends: Don’t forget to warn all your friends (and heck, anyone who’ll listen) if you had a bad experience with a moving company. You may still have to pay, but you can do your part to make sure they don’t take anyone else’s money.
Must-Have Moving Services (That You’ll Actually Want to Pay For)
Every move is different, and if you want your move to be worth the money, you’ll look into à la carte moving services. You’ll be able to pick and choose the exact services you need on the big day. Here are some of our recommendations:
1. Full Value Insurance Coverage
Long distance moving companies are legally required to provide some kind of insurance policy. The bare minimum is basic coverage, and it’s only good for $0.60 per pound of damaged goods. It’s free, but you probably have items that are worth more than that.
We’re not going to encourage you to gamble with your insurance. It’s not responsible of us, and it’s not responsible of you, either. If you want to stay protected on moving day, shell out a little extra for full coverage insurance. This means you’ll be reimbursed the actual value of your belongings if anything gets broken.
2. Storage
Chances are, all your stuff isn’t going to be an exact fit at your new place. Some of it won’t match, some of it won’t fit, and some of it will just keep getting in the way while you’re unpacking your other boxes. Here’s an idea: Book storage with your movers, and deal with it tomorrow.
We don’t usually encourage aggressive procrastination, but you’ll need a breather after moving day, and you can’t really keep a moving truck parked in your driveway for however many weeks it’ll take you to get settled in.
Pay your movers for storage, and they’ll keep it out of sight and out of mind until the time is right. Some long distance movers offer full service storage, and can deliver your items right to your door.
3. Direct Delivery
Typically, it takes between 1 and 21 days to complete a move. That “1-day” estimate is more for local moving, and that “21-day” estimate is reserved for big, 5-bedroom, cross-country moves. Most moves will fit somewhere in the middle, usually about a 4 or 5 days for a 3-bedroom home going 1000 miles.
Since most movers will make stops between point A and point B for other moves on the same route, it really adds a lot of extra time. If you’re in a hurry, that’s probably not an ideal timeframe. Pay ‘em for direct delivery, and they’ll send the truck right to your destination.
4. Specialty Item Handling
Some items need extra TLC. We’re talking pool tables, pianos, antiques, artwork, collectibles, and more. If you have items like this, we really recommend booking specialty item handling. These guys will show up with all the tools and supplies they need to keep everything extra safe, and since they build a reputation on extra care, they’ll always bring their A-game.
Sometimes specialty item handling can get a little technical. We’ve seen teams hoist pianos out of windows, and build custom crates around those not-very-box-shaped items. Specialty movers may cost a little extra, but the added peace of mind is priceless.
6. Full Service Moving
Think of literally everything you have to do before the big day. Packing. Renting a truck. Planning the route. Loading everything up, driving it all those miles, and finally doing it all in reverse – all while hopefully not hurting yourself. Wouldn’t it be nice to book a team that just… does all of that for you?
You deserve to treat yourself. When you book full service movers, you’re taking all the pressure out of the equation. A full service moving company takes care of every step of the whole process, right down to folding your clothes and boxing everything up. It may not be the cheapest option (usually from a couple of hundred bucks to a few grand), but the convenience is unbeatable.
PAY YOUR MOVERS. (And book a team that deserves your cash)
Obviously, nothing good comes from just… not paying people who work for you. While we understand you may not be satisfied with a mover’s performance, withholding the cash and breaching the contract is not the way to solve your problems.
Y’know how you can avoid this situation completely? Try booking with a moving company that’s gonna get it right the first time. At Moving APT, we’ve got 20 years of experience backing us up, as well as several moving teams who can provide the exact services you need for the job. Why not start things off right, and use our moving cost calculator to get a free quote?
FAQs About Paying Your Movers
How much should I tip my movers?
Try to provide between 15% and 20% of your total price, to be split up across your whole moving team. Moving is hard work, and in the industry, tips are pretty much the norm. Unless a moving company has explicitly declined to accept gratuity, you should have some extra cash set aside for the big day.
How much should I pay up front?
First of all, let us make something clear: You should never have to pay the full price up front. This is a HUGE red flag. If a moving company asks for all your money before they’ve done any work, there’s no guarantee they’ll actually perform the work in the first place.
On the other hand, plenty of legit movers request a down payment. But this shouldn’t be more than a couple hundred bucks, or a few percent of your total. Anything more than that, and you may be dealing with a scammer.
Why does moving cost so much?
There’s a TON of behind-the-scenes coordination that goes into a move. First of all, your movers need to coordinate between multiple teams and service providers (assuming you went for à la carte services). They’ll also need to map out your route depending on where other customers are headed. And of course, they need to do all the heavy lifting and long haul transport.
Most people think moving is just… putting stuff in a truck, and going someplace with it. But when you’re dealing with interstate moving, there’s a whole web of personnel that needs to be brought into the loop. And thousands of moves happen every day, so you can tell how challenging that can be.
Is moving yourself worth it?
Ehhhh… Look, we’re professional movers, so whatever we say is gonna be a little biased. DIY moving definitely has its place – for example, if you’re a starving college kid or you’re moving out of a bedroom or garage. It’s cheap, and assuming you don’t have a lot of stuff to move, it’s pretty straightforward.
But when you’ve got lots of furniture, and a long way to travel, you may want to pay for the pros. Besides, after renting a truck, paying for gas, and shelling out extra for food and lodging, your savings may not be what you expected – especially once you factor in missed work-hours.
What is a binding estimate?
A binding estimate means your price won’t be changed before, during, or after your move. Other quotes (for example, nonbinding estimates) can actually be adjusted after the job’s been finished. If your mover issues a binding estimate, it’s a good sign – you know what you’re getting, and you know what you’re paying.
