A home is built over a lifetime, but one bad move by fake movers can destroy everything.
In your search for professional movers, you will likely come across several fake movers pretending to be legitimate moving companies.
However, not all of these businesses are the same. Some may be hoodlums who don’t have insurance or a license.
It is essential to recognize the warning signs that the movers you are working with may be con artists posing as movers because fake movers frequently contribute to the negative image of their industry.
To help you avoid fake movers, here are eight warning signs to look out for:
- Lack of branding presence
A company’s branding is how people see the company from the outside.
Any moving company of repute should have a strong online and offline branding presence.
Check for things like a business address, staff uniforms, a truck with the company logo, packing boxes and business cards.
It’s possible that the business you’re dealing with isn’t as reputable or professional as it claims to be if it doesn’t have these essential branding features.
- Absence of a physical address
A website alone is insufficient.
If you don’t know where your movers are located, how will you find them if something goes wrong during your move?
Before hiring a mover, inquire about their physicallocation. It is necessary to have a physical address because it ensures that the business is real and does not just operate out of a PO box or storage unit.
Fake movers frequently do not list a physical address anywhere, including on their website.
Visit the address in person to determine whether it is a residential or commercial area if they have one. That’s a good sign if it’s the latter.
However, if it’s just a vacant lot or building, you should stay away from that business. Fake movers frequently do not have a storefront or office that you can visit. In the event that something goes wrong during the move, it will be difficult to locate them due to this.
- Negative reviews, fake reviews, and a lack of reviews
Prior to hiring a mover, do some research first by conducting a quick Google search.
Fake movers typically do not have a review section on their website or they will only have bad feedback. You can also check their social media pages because user feedback will give you a better idea of what to anticipate from the business.
That ought to be a big red flag if you cannot locate any reviews. Also, even if all of their reviews are positive, it might not be genuine. As a result, you can learn more about the mover from reviews on third-party websites like TrustPilot and Google Reviews.
Fake reviews and fake movers are another area of concern.
Fake moving reviews can be distinguished in a few ways:
- The majority of the reviews are highly favorable.
- A disproportionately larger number of reviews on their Google profiles compared to other moving companies
- Repeated reviews, frequently using the same words.
- Younger moving companies with more reviews than more established ones.
- Asking for payments up front
One of the tell-tale characteristics of fake movers is their propensity to provide price estimates without first comprehending the moving requirements of their clients, such as the volume, fragility, and required special handling of goods, among other factors.
They are often the cheapest option, but they rarely take the time to learn about the unique needs of each moving client.
As a result, they arrive unprepared on move day, which frequently results in disastrous outcomes.
Professional moving companies will insist on conducting a physical assessment of the goods that you’re moving and can only be able to quote a price after doing so.
Fake movers often ask for money in advance before they do any work. To entice you, they give low quote and then demand for full upfront payment in cash..
If you see this particular sign, RUN AWAY and don’t look back.
- Poor pricing models
Fake movers frequently provide you with a very low estimate in order to win your business. They might even claim that they will beat any other quote that you have received.
Once they’ve moved from the origin house, they may even hold your goods for ransom in exchange for additional funds.
Fake movers may issue you with a quote based on the weight of your goods. After that, they weigh your belongings using a substandard scale far from the industry standard, and then they charge you a higher price than was originally quoted.
Before hiring any movers, make sure to get accurate written estimates.
- Poor customer service
You can tell a fake moving company by the way it treats its customers.
Poor phone and in-person customer service is common among fake movers. They may fail to respond to your enquiries, be rude to you or dismiss you, or generally make you feel bad.
Things will only get worse as the move progresses if you are mistreated from the get-go.
Making some simple requests to their client service agents and observing how they respond is a good way to gauge them. If they fail this basic litmus test, turn away and seek better services elsewhere.
Another red flag is that they don’t inquire about specifics about your move and appear suspicious.
- Lack of insurance and licensing
A moving company’s insurances and licesnses are essential elements to look consider.
An insurance policy demonstrates that the company will pay for any damage to your belongings during the move. Fake movers frequently do not carry insurance, or their policy may only cover a small portion of the value of your belongings.
It’s also possible that fake movers are not properly incorporated or licensed for business. Fake movers frequently avoid licensing requirements by cutting corners. If catastrophe strikes during the move, you will be massively disadvantaged.
Check their credentials, such as professional memberships, as well.
The best moving companies in Uganda join international organizations like the International Association of Movers and the British Association of Removers since there is no Ugandan trade union for moving companies.
- Lack of appropriate moving supplies
On the day of the move, inspect the movers’ truck and equipment. Fake movers frequently lack the necessary equipment to safely transport your belongings. They might not have dollies, straps, or furniture pads, or they might use old, broken equipment.
Fake movers also frequently rent tiny trucks in an effort to save money. They don’t care about how well the job is done. Instead, they want it done quickly and cheaply, which frequently results in damaged possessions.
As an enlightened moving client, look out for the above red flags in your search for the best movers in Uganda.
