Moving can turn out to be very stressful, and the last you would want to worry about is whether your belongings are going to reach you safely, in good condition. On an average 1.4 to 1.6 million households move from one place to another every year. Almost all families have a smooth moving experience. However, fraudulent moving companies have victimized some families. In fact, every year the U.S. Department of Transportation receives almost 3,000 to 4,000 complaints from consumers who state that moving companies have victimized them.

It usually happens that people hire a moving company over the net because of the low estimate, but once the truckload of belongings shows up, the estimate surges two to three times the original bid. Consumers are asked to pay their new bills, or else they are forewarned about their possessions being put up for auction.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) moving companies often are unable to deliver or end up delivering damaged goods. Thereafter they refuse to reimburse for the loss and damages incurred. These movers may not even be legitimate carriers, and customers could easily fall especially, the uninformed and elderly.

Following are some tips which can be helpful in knowing if the moving company you are dealing with is genuine -:

• Make all moving plans and arrangements in advance.
• Cross check the authenticity of the company with the local Better Business Bureau.
• Get minimum three bids for the moving estimate.
• Notify of timing of your move and the destination to every company.
• Enquire about the various services offered, and charges and rates that will be applicable to your moving process in particular.
• Check for any liability issues, when it comes to your belongings being transported. Also enquire about the claims protection you would have.
• Enquire about the pickup and delivery and how it will work.
• Ask movers for a detailed explanation of the estimates. Get a copy of estimate for yourself.
• Often, when customers get a non-binding estimate, the actual charges exceed the ones given. Therefore customers should make sure that they have a certified check or ample cash for paying the estimated cost of the move in addition to the extra 10 percent at time of delivery.
• State the pickup and delivery dates in the order for service.
• Read the Bill of Lading carefully and ask the movers questions regarding the same.
• You are entitled to be present every time the shipment is being weighed. You can make a request for the shipment to be reweighed.