Moving can be one of the most hectic, stressful occasions in your life. One way to make it less nerve-wracking is to hire a professional moving company. However, before choosing a service provider, it pays to do your research and learn what you can expect. In doing so, you will likely find various companies have very different payment policies, which could leave you confused about when to pay movers.
When Should I Pay Movers?
Even if you’re only moving from one Knoxville neighborhood to another, relocating is a complicated project requiring a lot of decisions and variables. Experienced moving pros can take some of the burden off your shoulders by providing packing and unpacking, white-glove delivery, storage solutions and more. With so many variables involved, you may be wondering whether you should pay your movers at the beginning of the process, at the end or somewhere in the middle.
A rule of thumb among the majority of trustworthy moving companies is that your total payment will not be due until after your moving crew completes their work. Though you may have a reasonably priced deposit due upfront to secure your moving date and time, most reputable professionals will not ask for a full payment until finishing the entire move.
Be Mindful of Moving Scams
For many people, moving is a relatively rare occurrence – something they only do a handful of times in their lives. That’s why even smooth, relatively trouble-free moves can be anxiety-inducing for people whose precious belongings and memories are tied up in the process.
While most moving companies are legitimate businesses with their customers’ best interests at heart, moving fraud is becoming increasingly common in our industry. Some less-than-scrupulous companies take advantage of their clients’ lack of experience with the moving process by creating deliberately vague or confusing policies.
Customers have filed complaints against these “rogue movers” for practices like these:
- Refusing to provide a written estimate
- Quoting a price without offering an onsite inspection of your belongings
- Demanding cash or a large, upfront deposit before agreeing to do the work
- Providing an unrealistically low estimate
- Asking for money, then not showing up on the agreed-upon date
- Loading your belongings onto their truck, then holding them hostage by refusing to complete the move until you pay more money
Becoming a Savvy Moving Customer
Before hiring any company to complete your move, it’s wise to do your homework. You can start by looking for customer reviews and testimonials. You can also ask any business you’re considering working with to provide referrals to people they’ve recently worked with. Most reputable companies will be proud to provide this information.
Don’t be alarmed if a business asks you to pay an upfront deposit to secure your date and time. However, it’s still a best practice to use your credit card instead of paying with cash. Most credit card companies allow you to dispute fraudulent charges and have them removed from your statement, so if anything about the moving company raises red flags after you’ve paid your deposit, you’ll have an easier time getting your money back. And remember, if an estimate ever seems too good to be true, that’s probably because it is.
Experienced Knoxville Movers
At Fox Moving and Storage, we pride ourselves on customer service and our ability to provide a smooth, hassle-free experience to everyone who chooses to partner with us. Whether you are planning to move across town or across the country, our trained moving team is here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation, in-home estimate.