List Excerpts: Useful Questions to Ask Movers
On the assumption that you have an estimator in your living room,
1) What is their MC#?
2) Are they a mover or a broker? (Don't talk to a broker.) If they're a mover, are they an agent for one of the large lines? What is the agent's name and contact info and mc#?
3) Can they give you a not-to-exceed binding estimate?
4) See if they give you a copy of Rights and Responsibilities (they should).
5) What tarrif are they using? When did they start using it? Where is it published? Will it change by the move date? If it's 400N, will they state on the order for service and the bill of lading that it includes long carry, stairs, shuttles, ATCs, KD labour, etc.? (Right now, it should be 400N. 400M is _illegal_.)
6) Do they give you an itemized estimate, which eat item and fee broken out?
7) What is their discount policy? Their bottom line discount?
8) Can they agree to all changes in writing?
9) Will they charge overtime? (It should be 'no'.) How much, when does it start, under what basis? (Still 'no'.)
10) Will they charge hourly for labour? (Again: no.)
11) What about per-state permit fees and taxes?
12) Extra charges for the do-it-yourself parts of your move? (Again: 'no'.)
13) Are they registered in both CA and MD and VA?
14) Do they take credit? Do they break payments up? How do they expect to get paid? If they use the word deposit, argue or don't go with them.
15) The estimate needs to be free, or toss the estimator out.
16) How long is the price in effect?
17) Can they provide a delivery guarantee?
18) Can they provide a performance guarantee?
19) Does time of month/week/season affect the price?
20) What are their insurance policies?
21) Does it cost extra to guarantee a date?
22) Extra coverage for accidents or storage?
23) How do they cover high value items?
24) Do they subcontract? Who with?
25) Always always run a BBB, DoT and movingscam.com check.
1) What is their MC#?
2) Are they a mover or a broker? (Don't talk to a broker.) If they're a mover, are they an agent for one of the large lines? What is the agent's name and contact info and mc#?
3) Can they give you a not-to-exceed binding estimate?
4) See if they give you a copy of Rights and Responsibilities (they should).
5) What tarrif are they using? When did they start using it? Where is it published? Will it change by the move date? If it's 400N, will they state on the order for service and the bill of lading that it includes long carry, stairs, shuttles, ATCs, KD labour, etc.? (Right now, it should be 400N. 400M is _illegal_.)
6) Do they give you an itemized estimate, which eat item and fee broken out?
7) What is their discount policy? Their bottom line discount?
8) Can they agree to all changes in writing?
9) Will they charge overtime? (It should be 'no'.) How much, when does it start, under what basis? (Still 'no'.)
10) Will they charge hourly for labour? (Again: no.)
11) What about per-state permit fees and taxes?
12) Extra charges for the do-it-yourself parts of your move? (Again: 'no'.)
13) Are they registered in both CA and MD and VA?
14) Do they take credit? Do they break payments up? How do they expect to get paid? If they use the word deposit, argue or don't go with them.
15) The estimate needs to be free, or toss the estimator out.
16) How long is the price in effect?
17) Can they provide a delivery guarantee?
18) Can they provide a performance guarantee?
19) Does time of month/week/season affect the price?
20) What are their insurance policies?
21) Does it cost extra to guarantee a date?
22) Extra coverage for accidents or storage?
23) How do they cover high value items?
24) Do they subcontract? Who with?
25) Always always run a BBB, DoT and movingscam.com check.