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How to Check if a Moving Company’s Contact Info Is Legit Before Booking
Booking a moving company without confirming its contact details can lead to unnecessary stress and unexpected costs. Ensuring that the moving company’s contact info is legitimate helps protect against fraudulent movers who might disappear with your belongings or provide poor services. Without proper verification, you may end up with movers who have no physical office or real presence, making it difficult to track them down if things go wrong.
This article will focus on practical steps you can take to verify a moving company’s contact information before booking. By checking the contact details carefully, you reduce the risk of scams and ensure a reliable and professional moving experience.
Why Verifying a Moving Company’s Contact Info Matters
Before trusting anyone with your move, make sure their contact details check out. Here’s why this step can save you from major stress and financial loss.
1. Confirms if the Business is Real – Verifying contact details helps confirm you’re working with a real, established business—not a scam.
2. Prevents Fraud – Fake or missing contact info is often a red flag. Scammers can take payment upfront and disappear with your money—or worse, your belongings.
3. Avoids Missed Appointments and Hidden Fees – Inaccurate contact details can result in no-shows or surprise charges you didn’t agree to.
4. Provides a Way to Resolve Issues – If something goes wrong, verified contact info allows you to follow up or escalate concerns quickly.
5. Improves Accountability – Legitimate companies list valid phone numbers, email addresses, and physical locations so customers can hold them accountable.
6. Reduces Risk of Lost Items – If movers go dark or can’t be traced, you may lose your possessions for good. Verifying details adds a layer of protection.
7. Makes Booking More Secure – Always double-check the company’s phone number, email, and business address before committing to any agreement.These steps lower your risk of scams and help you book with confidence.
How to Check if a Moving Company is Legit
Before booking, take time to verify the company’s identity and credibility. Here are practical ways to make sure the moving company you’re considering is the real deal.
1. Checking Business Registration and Licensing
Business registration and licensing confirm a moving company’s legitimacy and ensure they follow local regulations. Without proper licensing, you risk hiring an unregulated business that might provide poor service or disappear with your belongings. Verifying a company’s registration is easy using digital tools and platforms. You can try apps for moving, like Unpakt, Evernote, or Google Keep, to track details and compare providers. These apps help you find licensed companies and ensure their contact info is accurate. Also, start by checking your secretary of state’s online database, where you can search for registered companies.
Similarly, for extra assurance, use these apps to record and cross-check the company’s license number with official directories. Valid licenses demonstrate professionalism and compliance with legal requirements. Technology surely makes the verification process quicker and more efficient, ensuring you choose a reliable moving company. Verifying these credentials helps protect your belongings and ensures you’re working with a legitimate service.
2. Validating Physical Address and Office Presence
A physical address shows that a moving company has a presence in the community. It provides reassurance that the business is not just operating online without real-world operations. To confirm the existence of a physical office, start by checking the company’s address on online maps. You can search the address to see if it points to an actual building or a residential area. Look for any visible office or warehouse facilities. Some companies may also include pictures of their office or storage space on their website.
Another method is to call the company and ask for details about their office location. If they hesitate or give vague answers, it could be a sign of a potential scam. Verifying a physical location helps ensure that you’re dealing with a reliable company that can be held accountable for its services.
Also, another helpful way is to use a USPS Address Verification Tool. This tool helps you identify whether the address is zoned for commercial or residential use and reveals other useful information. If the address is listed as residential but the company claims to have a warehouse or office there, that’s a red flag. These details give you more context before trusting a company with your move.
3. Using Official Websites and Directories
Official websites and directories offer reliable sources to verify a moving company’s legitimacy. Moving company’s contact info can often be cross-checked across multiple platforms to ensure accuracy. Start by visiting the company’s official website to confirm their contact details, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and business addresses. Next, use trusted online directories, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or government databases, to verify their registration and licensing. Many of these directories allow you to search for verified companies by name or location.
Make sure the contact info provided on the website matches what is listed on these platforms. If discrepancies arise, it could signal a potential issue. Verifying the company’s credentials through official sources reduces the risk of falling for scams and helps ensure you are dealing with a legitimate business. According to the Federal Trade Commission, during the last year, people collectively “lost $12.5 billion to scams”. So make sure to always double-check the details before moving forward with any booking.
4. Customer Reviews and Feedback
Customer reviews provide valuable insight into a moving company’s reliability and service quality. By reading reviews, you can get a better idea of what to expect. It’s important to check reviews on several platforms, including Google, Yelp, and Facebook, to ensure consistency across different sources. Look for detailed, genuine feedback from customers who have used the service recently.
To analyze reviews for authenticity, watch out for the following signs of fake or manipulated reviews:
- Overly generic language or vague descriptions
- Multiple reviews posted within a short time frame
- A high number of overly positive or negative reviews with similar wording
- No personal experiences or specific details shared
- Unverified or suspiciously uniform reviews across various platforms
Checking multiple sources and analyzing reviews carefully helps ensure you are choosing a legitimate and trustworthy moving company.
The Role of Insurance and Bonding in Verifying a Moving Company’s Legitimacy
Insurance and bonding show that a moving company takes responsibility for protecting your belongings. A legitimate mover should provide proof of both. Insurance covers damages or loss during the move, while bonding offers protection if the company fails to meet its agreement. Without these, you may face costly replacements or legal trouble if something goes wrong.
To confirm whether a company is insured or bonded, ask for their policy numbers and the names of their providers. Most trustworthy movers will share this without hesitation. You can also verify their status through local regulatory websites or consumer protection agencies. Many states offer online databases where you can search by company name or license number.
This simple check helps protect your property and gives you confidence in your choice. Insurance and bonding don’t just offer financial safety — they signal that the company operates with accountability and meets legal standards.
Why an In-Person Estimate is a Good Sign of a Legitimate Moving Company
A company offering an in-person estimate shows they take the process seriously. It signals they want to understand your moving needs clearly. Visiting your home lets them see everything firsthand, which leads to a more accurate quote. Over-the-phone estimates often miss important details and may result in unexpected charges later.
During an in-person estimate, observe how the representative conducts themselves. A professional mover will ask questions, take notes, and inspect all areas involved in the move. They should explain how they calculate the estimate and provide a written breakdown.
Be cautious if a company refuses to visit and insists on giving only a phone or online quote. This may suggest they aren’t committed to transparency or accuracy.
Verifying Contact Information on Social Media
Many companies maintain active profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Check these profiles for consistency in their business name, contact details, and branding. A legitimate moving company will keep its social media profiles up-to-date with accurate information. Furthermore, review the activity on their pages. Regular posts, updates, and interactions with followers indicate an engaged and legitimate business.You can also use social media to interact with past customers. Look for comments or posts from people who have used the service. If possible, reach out to these customers for direct feedback about their experiences. Authentic customer interactions on social media can provide valuable insight into the company’s reliability.
Final Thoughts
Verifying a moving company’s contact info is an important step in ensuring you hire a trustworthy and reliable service. If you check business registration, physical address, reviews, and social media activity, you will avoid potential scams. Always confirm the contact info across multiple platforms for peace of mind. A few minutes of research could save you from losing money, time, or even your belongings.
