| By :
Molly Wider
With summer around the corner, it can be a busy time of the year for movers. Relocating for a job, for school or because you've bought a new home are some of the main reasons many people will search the internet in an attempt to find a moving company for a reasonable price. Well, if this is you, there is something you should know. In 2009, the Better Business Bureaus received just under 98,000 inquiries about moving companies. This is the second largest questioned consumer category next to roofing contractors. It seems this number is about to grow. According to Industry Canada, many scam artist-moving companies are placing ads on websites such as Craigslist and Kijiji in hopes of snagging someone looking for a cheap move. The scam begins once your possessions have been loaded and relocated. The department says that "Complaints include holding furniture hostage at the destination until consumers pay more than the original estimate and producing new hidden costs such as packaging. In some cases, the belongings are not delivered but are dumped or remain in warehouses and storage facilities. Consumers in this market are particularly vulnerable to such practices because of the ability of movers to confiscate or ransom their belongings." The result of a Canadian census found that 1.2 million Canadian households moved in the last five years, claiming an average person moves a total of 13 times throughout their lives. That opens a lot of potential business for moving scam artists. Industry Canada admits that the current legislation and regulations meant to protect consumers from such scam artist are not generally enforced. They want to tighten the rules when it comes to moving companies after Industry Canada received a massive amount of complaints where consumers claimed they'd been taken advantage of by moving companies. Industry Canada also says that according to the Access to Information Act, about one out of every four moves results in a consumer complaint. The Consumers Measures Committee, which is a federal-provincial group that is run by Industry Canada, launched a project in July 2009 with hope of better monitoring moving companies by analyzing the consumer complaints they receive. The Movers Association recommends using established operators such as Allied, United, North American, Mayflower and Atlas as they are part of the more than 200 members that make up the association. These companies live up to their standards and reputations and practice a signed code of ethics. The Canadian Council of the Better Business Bureaus showed consumer complaints about moving companies were number seven on their top ten list in 2009. Just over half of the 636 formal complaints were settled. Industry Canada and the Better Business Bureau have decided to post consumer advice on how to find a good moving company and what to look for. Being educated and doing a little homework could save you a big headache.
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