Wallingford, CT – June 30, 2008 – Connecticut Better Business Bureau warns consumers about a minefield of potential problems with moving companies, based on thousands of complaints about everything from lateness to damages, incompetence, deceptive practices and bait-and-switch advertising. Though there are many reputable relocation companies, consumers filed a stunning 10,000 complaints with Better Business Bureau nationwide in 2006. According to Connecticut Better Business Bureau President Paulette Hotton, the key to avoiding problems with movers is homework, to prevent turning a routine move into a nightmare. “It is important to remember that all of your most precious possessions are being entrusted to a third party, and you want to ensure that you are not left trying to clean-up problems with the mover months after you set up into your new dwelling.” Recently, a Washington, DC Grand Jury handed down indictments against more than a dozen household movers for allegedly defrauding and extorting hundreds of clients across the country. Fourteen defendants, including drivers and salesmen in California and Florida have been charged with a number of related offenses following a three year-long investigation by the F.B.I., I.R.S. and the Department of Transportation. Your BBB recommends: • Get references from friends, neighbors, relatives or your real estate agent. • Ask the movers for references on their last 10 jobs and check with the clients to see if there were any problems during their move and whether they’d use the same company again. • If you are looking for a moving company on the Internet, be certain it contains licensing information, moving tips, clear warranties, a local address and assurance the movers themselves are trained, and have passed background checks. • Do not allow the mover’s verbal estimate to be the determining factor. Insist on an in-home visit to see the size and quantity of belongings for a proper estimate. • Get written estimates and compare them so you can identify very low estimates which may result in extra charges later on. • Read the fine print and understand your options for insuring your possessions. • Before signing a contract, ask how damage claims are handled once you have signed-off on delivery. • Search for a Reliability Report on our web site. For Consumers/Check Out a Business to see if any complaints have been filed, search your BBB Accredited Business Directory for a trustworthy mover, or ask for an eQuote to receive e-mail bids from several BBB accredited moving companies. According to Hotton, “You should begin to plan all aspects of your move about a month before the moving date. If you compare the problems an unscrupulous moving company can cause, you will see that spending time up front to find a reliable mover is well worth the time.” When planning, don’t forget to make a list of “must-dos,” including forwarding your mail, sending out address change notices and informing your utilities. And as most people will tell you, you can lower your moving costs and lessen your load in general by getting rid of things you no longer need through a garage sale or throwing them out. Finally, remember to secure documents with personal information, and follow your BBB rule of thumb: If you don’t need it anymore, dispose of it properly. ###