If you are moving within New York State, here are some helpful tips when choosing a mover…
DO:
- You can search for a licensed mover at NYSMWA (newyorkstatemovers.com)
- Select your mover with care. Make sure the carrier is licensed by the Commissioner of Transportation. For verification call (518) 457-6512, or e-mail NYS DOT at nymoving@dot.ny.gov. When checking on a mover please provide their exact name, and if available, NYDOT number.
- Get at least three estimates, preferably from the movers doing a physical inspection of your home.
- Insist the mover provide you with a “Summary of Information” booklet, which describes your rights as a shipper.
- Before anything is moved, make sure the mover has given you an “Order for Service” with a dollar amount of how much you will have to pay at delivery in order for the mover to deliver all of you goods.
- Read everything that you sign, and make sure to keep a copy of each document.
- Make an inventory of all your household goods and include the number of boxes and condition of your furniture.
- Make sure you understand the liability of the mover. Have the mover explain his or her liability and how you can purchase additional coverage.
- Schedule your departure and arrival with enough flexibility to allow for possible delays.
- Advise the mover of telephone numbers and/or addresses where you can be reached en route, or at destination.
- File a written claim with the mover for any loss and/or damage.
DON’T:
- Use an unlicensed mover.
- Believe that any phone or written estimate given by a mover will be the actual cost of your move.
- Expect the mover to provide free packing supplies such as boxes, cartons and barrels. (Note: Should you hire the mover to provide packing services, then bubble wrap, tape, and similar packing materials are considered “tools of the trade” and are included in the packing fee.)
- Expect the mover to provide services free of charge, such as clean-up services, disconnection and reinstallation of appliances, fixtures, etc…
- Fail to make arrangements to pay in cash or certified check the amount shown on the “Order for Service” at the time of delivery.
- Sign your name to anything that you haven’t read first and then given your copy of the document.
WARNING SIGNS
The best way to ensure that your mover is authorized to move your goods is to look for these warning signs.
- They require or demand a large deposit.
- They do not have a physical address or license/NYS DOT number on their website and move paperwork (that’s required!)
- They use a generic name when answering the phone, like “Movers”.
- They did not provide the legally required “summary of information” booklet (also required!)
- Many bad reviews on Angie’s List, Yelp, Google, etc. (a few can be overlooked)
- If they arrive in an unmarked truck and/or if there are no DOT numbers on the truck, don’t sign anything without verifying the mover.
- You’re quoted a very low price that seems too good to be true.
HELPFUL TERMINOLOGY
There is a big difference between “licensed” and “unlicensed” and “mover” and “move broker”.
Licensed movers are regulated by the NYS Dept. of Transportation (DOT) and are required to maintain a certain level of insurance coverage, have a physical location, maintain a tariff of their rates and charges with the DOT and follow many other regulations put in place to protect you, the consumer.
Unlicensed movers do not have a license by the DOT and are violating New York law as a result. Because of this, they don’t necessarily maintain the proper insurance coverage, have a physical location or follow any of the other requirements to be licensed, leaving you unprotected during your move.
Licensed movers offer direct service for all moves they book, while move brokers act as middlemen between clients and movers, contracting services to separate companies. Move brokers often bid your move out to the lowest provider. ‘Brokers’ are not required to/or they do not necessarily vet or qualify the ‘companies’ they refer. ‘Brokers’ make their money by making a sale; they do not perform the work.