Tag Archives: Binding Estimate

Moving Scams- Binding Estimate

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17

Moving Scams, Vagueness in the Binding Estimate That Is Exploited By Movers.

An intelligent but naive consumer recently was ripped off by a moving company that had offered him a “binding agreement. Although he was under the impression that the binding agreement was absolute, he was informed by the company that there would be an additional $1100 charge for extra packing and tape. The company told him that the binding move cost estimate only applied to the weight.

Legally, the “binding estimate” applies to all the services shown on the estimate, not just the weight of the goods being transported.” However, what is significant about this story is that it illustrates the actual belief this victim had in the estimate, and how easily the moving company was able to manipulate his belief.

In the first place, a moving contract contains a lot of fine print. And while this man, as well as most consumers, heard the words “binding,” it was clear that he was not aware of what might be contained in the fine print. When the movers told him the binding only referred to the weight, it may signify that this company specifically put down a tiny stipulation that the estimate would not cover additional packing services required on the day of the move. Unfortunately, for this victim, movers are usually able to manipulate events on the day of the move, and force the homeowner to allow them to do more packing and taping than was described in the contract. They usually do this by telling the homeowner they can’t insure his belongings unless he allows them to repack certain items.

Movers can manipulate yet another technicality in the contract to totally void the agreement on the actual day of the move.

In most states, the law stipulates that if a party makes a change to a contract and fails to get it initialed by all the parties concerned then all prior agreements are voided. Unscrupulous moving companies have been known to encourage homeowners to ascent to a slight change in the contract, and then they fail to initial it. Once this occurs, this in effect allows the movers to raise the price, and at the same time gives them a technicality they can use in court if the homeowner should later contest the agreement.

You can protect yourselves from the tricks movers use to void the binding agreement, by contracting with a packing company to do you’re packing and loading. Packing Service, Inc. is an honest packing company that is dedicated to protecting consumers from moving scam. They will give you a flat guaranteed estimate for the cost of packing and loading all your items. If you will be transporting your goods with a moving company they will also provide you a complete packing list detailing the weight of all your items.

A good way for consumers to protect themselves in a move is to hire a packing service to pack and load for them. Packing Service, Inc. is an honest company that offers a Flat Fee Estimate and is dedicated to protecting consumers from moving scams they will pack and then load your belongings tightly on the moving truck, and will give you a complete packing list detailing the exact weight and cubic feet of your goods, so you won’t be overcharged by the movers.

Cubic Feet – Estimate Information

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13

What Can Happen When You Make a Estimate in Cubic Feet with a Mover?

Current law requires movers to give one of two types of estimates before every job. Either they must give a non-binding estimate based on weight. Or, they must give a binding estimate which can be based on cubic feet or weight. Unfortunately, moving scam companies have found a way to take advantage of this requirement.

In a phone conversation with a prospect they will talk about which type of moving cost estimate the prospect would like to have, cubic feet or weight. One way or another, however, the moving broker is determined to get the cubic foot estimate. So if the client agrees straight off, great. If not, the broker will sweeten the pot, and offer to make the estimate binding if he’ll take it in cubic feet. That sound very convincing, and a lot of people accept that sales pitch. But now read the following story that was posted on the bulletin board of an anti-scam web site and see what can happen when people accept the offer.

In this story, the couple was convinced to take the binding estimate in feet. But as so often happens, after their goods were loaded on the truck, the company informed them there were 300 more cubic feet than anticipated. Apparently the couple was forced to sign to that because the wife wrote: “It wasn’t like I could say “forget it-unload my stuff now”.

While waiting for the truck to arrive at the destination, the man called customer service and was told he could get on the truck and measure the space. However, when the truck arrived the driver refused to open the back door until he got paid. The husband called customer service again, only now they totally denied saying he could get on the truck to measure the space, in fact the contract specifically spelled out that the movers won’t unload the goods until they get paid. Those two statements aren’t really contradictory. Technically he could have gotten on the truck and measured everything before it was unloaded, but moving companies are experienced at exerting pressure to protect themselves.

Now that the truck was empty, the driver let the husband get on and make measurements and take pictures. But it was too late. The company could claim he had forgotten exactly where his goods were placed.

A good way for consumers to protect themselves in a move is to hire a packing service to pack and load for them. Packing Service, Inc. is an honest company that offers Flat Rate Quotes and is dedicated to protecting consumers from moving scams they will pack and then load your belongings tightly on the moving truck, and will give you a complete packing list detailing the exact weight and cubic feet of your goods, so you won’t be overcharged by the movers.