7 Warning Signs Of A Bad Moving Company

Sep 05, 2022 Relocating to a new home is challenging, and many hire a moving company to manage it smoothly. Since the professionals have the expertise and the right moving equipment, they can pack and transport your belongings expertly. However, everything can go downhill fast when you choose the wrong removalists. According to the latest housing mobility and conditions report, 1.14 million households moved at least once in the last 12 months in 2019-20. As more people are relocating, the need for removal services has increased. Therefore, moving companies are mushrooming, and not all are good or reliable. Scammers take advantage of the gullibility of people overwhelmed by the housing moving process. Thus, remain vigilant for the following seven warning signs of a bad moving company while looking for removalists in Adelaide.

1. No ASIC Registration

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) is a regulatory body, and businesses registered with it have several legal obligations. They must maintain a business name, have a registered office, share financial records and provide necessary information to ASIC to operate legally. Registered businesses also share their professional licences and unique identification numbers (ABN, ACN, ARBN & ARSN). Therefore, if you come across a moving company with no ASIC registration, skip hiring their removalists even if their rates are the cheapest.

2. The Moving Company Only Shares Instant Quotes

Sharing instant quotes is something scammers do to lure clients and abandon them after receiving a booking amount. Commonly, moving companies can give instant quotes based on user information shared via forms, emails or calls. But, furniture removalists Adelaide also conduct pre-move surveys to provide accurate estimates after assessing your property and its contents. When a moving company refuses to give pre-move surveys and only generates quotes online without visiting your property, you should not consider it. Note: Some scammers refuse even to give instant quotes, which is the biggest red flag you can get when hiring removalists.

3. Too Many Bad Reviews or Only Good Ones

Don’t consider a moving company when several people share bad reviews on different platforms about its lack of professionalism, imposition of hidden charges and other bad practices. Every company gets some bad reviews, but removalists can get a low market reputation with bad ethics and poor services, which you shouldn’t ignore. Additionally, some companies only have reviews that are too good to be true, and usually, these are untrustworthy and paid comments. Therefore, it is wise to steer clear of removalists in Adelaide with excessive polarising reviews.

4. No One to Address Your Concerns or Questions

Customer service makes or breaks businesses, which is why reputed removalists in Adelaide ensure you can get answers to queries and requests appropriately and in time. If a company doesn’t have professional sales representatives to address your concerns or questions, it will be the same on the moving day. You will keep chasing the removalists for moving time, their arrival, delays and other issues. Therefore, it is crucial to stop the bad experience initially when you cannot talk to a professional to share accurate and reliable information.

5. Frequent Business Name Changes & No Written Agreement

Businesses that frequently change their names do it to escape their bad reputation and scam unassuming people. Complete background checks to ensure the removalists you are booking have been in business for a few years. It is okay for a company to change its name due to mergers, acquisitions or other valid reasons. But, don’t fall for schemes of a moving company that cannot perform removals adequately. Also, never hire removalists who refuse to share a written agreement or take too much time to prepare one. If you sense hesitance or disinterest when you ask for the agreement, look for other removalists in Adelaide.

6. Lack of Moving Insurance or Claim to Sell It

Good removalists in Adelaide provide basic coverage for your belongings. It is included in your service charge, and while the cover isn’t too much, it still shows the company’s sincerity in safely handling and transporting your things. To get better coverage, you can inquire about moving insurance, and your removalists can arrange it via a third-party agency. Also another red flag to look for is when a moving company claims to sell moving insurance, as it is illegal for them to do so directly.

7. The Moving Company Asks for a Large Booking Amount

Asking for a booking amount is a common practice of removalists in Adelaide. It is usually 20% of the entire moving estimate or a fixed sum they ask every client. If a company asks for a large deposit that is suspiciously high and payable only in cash, then you should avoid sending them money. The scammers will take the cash and vanish without a trace leaving you to deal with the loss and your move in a lurch.

The Bottom Line

Moving scams can happen even when you have moved multiple times before with the help of removalists. Therefore, you must do your research properly to find reliable removalists in Adelaide and keep an eye out for the seven warning signs mentioned above of a bad moving company. By being aware, you can avoid a bad moving experience and substantial loss of money.