What Reporters Should Know About:
Yellow Pages Ads – Anyone can advertise in the Yellow Pages; it doesn’t mean that they are properly
licensed or insured – so, don’t believe everything that you read. If a mover includes his license (DOT/
ICC/ IM) number in his ad, check it out first (for interstate movers, you can find out this information from
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at its www.protectyourmove.gov website; for intrastate
movers this information can be found on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
website at http://www.800helpfla.com/).
The Internet – Just like Yellow Pages advertising, when a mover has a website, it doesn’t mean that
the mover is licensed or insured; it only means that he had enough money to pay for the site – so don’t
believe everything you read. If a mover includes his license (DOT/ ICC/ IM) number in his ad, check it
out first. (for interstate movers, you can find out this information from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration at its www.protectyourmove.gov website; for intrastate movers this information can be
found on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website at
http://www.800helpfla.com/). Some movers even display the logo of the BBB, FMWA or AMSA without
authorization – so always check first.
Moving Brokers – Most brokers (especially those who operate on the Internet) do not own trucks or
warehouses like traditional movers. Instead, they operate by collecting a deposit from you and then
arranging for your move to be handled by one of their affiliated (often unlicensed) movers. The deposit
they collect will be based on their guess of how much you are going to move based on a survey that
you provide. (If the mover won’t come to your home to survey your furnishings before preparing your
estimate, be prepared for an unpleasant surprise when the estimate turns out to be much lower than
the actual charges.) Usually you will not have the same consumer protection when you use a broker as
with a traditional moving company. And, after the broker collects your deposit, you may find it difficult
to get him interested in helping you in the event of a claim or dispute with the mover that he has
arranged for you.
Deposits and Cubic Foot Rates – FMWA professional movers generally don’t require a deposit before
moving you, and if they do it is generally just a small “good faith” deposit. Some scam movers or
Internet brokers, however, frequently require a large deposit. So if a mover you are considering
requires you to pay a big deposit, such as requiring half the cost of your move up front, to “hold your
dates” or to insure “prompt service,” choose another mover.
Also, federal consumer regulations do not allow movers to require you to pay for your move before you
move, instead, payment is due at delivery, when the truck arrives at your new residence. These same
regulations stipulate that if you are moving under a non-binding estimate, your charges must be based
on the weight of your shipment (and that the weight should be determined on a scale that has been
certified by an official state agency) and not on the number cubic feet in your shipment or by any other
means.
FMWA - The Florida Movers and Warehousemen's Association (FMWA) was formed in 1979 as a
nonprofit trade association that includes household movers and warehouse services throughout the
state of Florida. As providers of these services, we became concerned that the state legislature and
other regulatory bodies were adopting inconsistent and sometimes unnecessary standards to govern
our industry. Since our members ascribe to our comprehensive code of ethics and are committed to the
highest standards, we believe that our voice is critical in shaping policies that protect the moving
industry and its consumers, without adding unnecessary burden and cost to professional moves.
Since our formation, the FMWA has been recognized as being the "gold standard” of where to go for an
honest, reputable mover. Because of our professional standards, which require proof of licensure, proof
of insurance, attestation to our code of ethics, and a commitment to quality; FMWA members are
trusted with the biggest and most sensitive moves, all the way to moving a few items from one room to
another.
AMSA – AMSA is a non-profit organization that acts as a clearinghouse for matters relating to
consumer protection, information and arbitration. AMSA is not a governmental agency and does not
have the authority to order refunds or reimbursements for damages, force a settlement or provide legal
service; however, AMSA does remove movers from its membership who show a repeated pattern of
consumer abuse. AMSA provides a mover referral service and certifies members who have
demonstrated a high level of customer commitment.
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