| How To Verify Your Mover Is Legitimate
1. BBB - Better Business Bureau
Once you've compiled a list of potential moving companies, you can use
the Internet to check on each one. Look at each company’s record with
the Better Business Bureau ( www.bbb.org ) or other consumer organizations in your local area.
2. AMSA - American Moving and Storage Association
Moving companies who are members of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA)
have all agreed to abide by the terms of published tariffs (a tariff is
the carrier's provisions, including rates, for services performed,
applicable to the customer's move) and participate in the Arbitration
Program sponsored by that organization. The Arbitration Program ensures
that AMSA member movers comply with the federal requirement that they
have a formal arbitration program available to resolve their customers'
disputes over lost or damaged articles. If you cannot resolve such a
dispute with your mover, you may request arbitration to resolve your
claim. Many AMSA members are also participants in the AMSA Certified
Mover and Van Line Program. AMSA-certified moving companies and van
lines are companies which have voluntarily agreed to abide by a Code of
Conduct that requires complete disclosure of moving information to
consumers, written estimates of charges, timely service, and prompt
response to claims and complaints. They also have agreed to arbitrate
disputes of up to $5,000 arising from loss or damage to the articles in
your shipment.
3. DOT - Department of Transportation
An interstate (moving goods from one state to another) moving company must be licensed with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT),
the federal agency that regulates moving companies. A moving company
that holds a proper license is subject to all of the consumer and other
regulations administered by the DOT. Call the moving company's office
and ask for their DOT number. Ask if they are affiliated with a certain
van line. If they are, ask for that DOT number. But remember, a DOT
number alone does not guarantee a reputable moving company.
4. FMCSA - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Now that you have the DOT number, you can find out even more
information on your potential moving company. To make sure that your
moving company not only has the license authority to perform your move,
but also the insurance to make it legal, visit www.safersys.org . This is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA)
Web site that allows you to search for motor carrier license
information. On the left side of the Web page, there is a search area
labeled "Public Business Services." Pull the first menu bar down to
"Licensing & Insurance," then enter your moving company's DOT
license number (If your moving company is affiliated with a specific
van line enter the van line DOT number here instead.).
Click on the button labeled "Screen" to view insurance information.
Under the column "Authority Type" there are three listings: Common,
Contract, and Broker. The column with the header "Authority Status"
will tell you if their authority is active. Your moving company should
have at least "Common" marked as active. If the columns "Application
Pending" or "Revocation Pending" do not say "NO" for common authority,
then you should be aware that something might be wrong. The last table
lists the insurance required for moving companies and the insurance
your moving company has on file. A moving company is required to have
bodily injury and property coverage (BIPD $750,000 minimum) and cargo
insurance filed with the FMCSA, If your moving company does not have
either one of these insurances, you should be looking for a different
carrier.
One final way to check your mover is to
call the FMCSA's Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline at
888-368-7238 and ask about the complaint history of your moving company.
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