Thepackersmovers shares the secret to saving yourself from fake moving companies

Updated: Jan 08, 2023, 13:30 IST

There are fraudsters in every industry, and their only aim is to rob innocent people as much as possible. Here's sharing our secret that can keep fraud-moving companies from stealing away your goods and money.

How do frauds take place in the packing and moving industries?

Frauds happen when you are unaware of something. When you need to learn how to verify the company you are dealing with and if they are genuine, you are at a very high risk of losing your valuables. Usually, people search for packing and moving companies online and unintentionally pick the one that no one verifies. In the excitement and tension of shifting their homes or offices, these people must also remember to verify the authenticity of the moving company on their own. That mistake gives confidence to fake moving companies to initiate their fraud with customers.

How can you save yourself from fake moving companies?

There are two ways to save yourself and your goods from getting into the hand of these fake moving companies. If you understand the verification process of packing and moving companies, it will be easier to catch them before starting your shift.

The first method includes verifying these companies on your own, and the steps involve:

1. Ask for their moving license issued under GOI’s name. If they cannot provide you with any proof of their authentic license, then they can be a fraud.

2.Go through their website and see if it looks genuine or not. Check everything from customer reviews to services they provide and how old the company's website is. See if their words match their website or not.

3.Ask for their GST number. They should give their GST number if they cannot show you their original license. And if the company doesn't show you any of these, whether in original or photocopied form, then the moving company is 100% fake, and you should not risk hiring them.

4.Check the company's reviews and ratings on Google. Ask questions on Google from people who have experienced their services. This will not just verify the packing and moving company's authenticity but will also give you an insight into their work culture and quality of services.

5.Visit the official address that they have given on the website. See if they have any appropriate office or not. From staff to banners, check everything and, if possible, see their moving vehicles. That's another great way of authenticating their genuineness.

If you think doing all this is challenging and want someone else to verify these companies for you, then you can opt for the second hiring method.

The second step is called hiring moving companies via directory portals, and here's what happens then:

1.Director portals like Thepackersmovers.com are associated with multiple moving companies in every city across India. Directory portals verify these companies on your behalf, reducing the chances of fraud from minimum to none.

2.You will get a minimum of three moving quotes from moving companies according to your need. Then the customer can re-verify the companies and compare the quotations to finalize which moving company they would like to hire.

3.If the customer takes a quotation from the finalized moving company in written form, it will further prevent a mismatch in the final cost. Since you will have written proof in this case, the company can't charge you extra money for any lame reason.

So, follow any of these steps, and you will stay away from fake moving companies, preventing your goods from landing in the wrong hands.

Where do most frauds happen?

When packing and moving companies are concerned, the maximum frauds happen while shifting household goods and in smaller cities. That’s because the framework of these companies isn't properly legalized and organized. Hence people from smaller towns aren’t informed enough to find out if the company is genuine and get looted by them.

What can I do if my moving company seems fraudulent?

If you have hired a moving company and now it seems fraudulent, ask them for their documents. Immediately cancel your booking if they refuse to show documents or excuse themselves from providing proof.

If you have already initiated the shifting and your goods are in a fraud company's hands, call them and keep track of their whereabouts. Follow their moving truck and make sure they know that they are being tracked. This might alarm them, and they drop the idea of robbing you.

But if the moving company has ghosted you after taking away your goods and they are non-traceable and unreachable, wait for some time and then file a complaint in the consumer court. Only they can help you now.

Follow these simple steps and keep the fraudsters at bay. Remember, just because a company is listed on Google and 'seems' genuine doesn't mean it is. There are multiple ways to make a website look genuine, so always research. Start it days before, so you get enough time to collect all the required data and then shift safely and timely.