The Hidden Costs of Moving: How Some Long-Distance Movers Game the System
Think moving cross-country is just about boxes and bubble wrap? For some families, it turns into a pricey game of bait-and-switch, where the truck shows up, but the trust disappears.
For many families, the decision to relocate—whether for work, family, or a fresh start—comes with enough built-in stress.
What most don't expect is to be held hostage by the very company they hired to help. Beneath the surface of the moving industry lies a loosely regulated patchwork where some operators have mastered the art of deception, leaving consumers with missing belongings, inflated bills, or both.
According to the Better Business Bureau, more than 700 complaints related to moving scams were filed in 2024 alone, with the average reported loss pegged at $754. “In some cases, families lose far more,” says a spokesperson for Above All Moves, a Colorado mover advocating for transparency in the sector. “There were cases when movers threatened to withhold delivery unless additional, often arbitrary, fees were paid—and that’s just one of the many scams fly-by-night movers tend to pull.”
How Moves Are Hijacked for Profit
The industry’s low barrier to entry, coupled with inconsistent oversight across states, creates ideal conditions for bad actors to thrive.
Some of them lure customers with too-good-to-be-true estimates based on cubic footage rather than weight, leaving ample room for reinterpretation on moving day. Others subcontract the actual transport to multiple third-party crews, creating a trail of confusion and zero accountability. It’s not uncommon for personal items to be handled by three or more different companies before arriving, if they arrive at all.
Another increasingly common tactic involves the use of vague or deliberately misleading contracts that bury key terms in fine print. Customers may sign without realizing that the mover has the right to reclassify their load size or impose new surcharges at any point. “Some firms even advertise under different business names to obscure poor reputations or unresolved complaints with state agencies,” says Above All Moves’ spokesperson.
Simple Steps to Protect Yourself
How, then, can relocating families protect themselves?
Above All Moves advises insisting on an in-person or virtual walkthrough before accepting a quote. “This helps eliminate vague estimates and forces movers to be specific about what’s included,” its representative says.
It also emphasizes due diligence by reading reviews closely—especially the negative ones—and researching whether the mover subcontracts its work. Upfront payments are also discouraged, as a reputable company will structure payments around services rendered.
While moving will always come with complexity, it shouldn’t require legal threats or ransom-like negotiations. Above All Moves, for instance, has responded by introducing , where every detail of the move is laid out before the customer signs off.
“For us, it’s simple: if your mover doesn’t seem interested in the nitty-gritty of your move—one of the most important events of your life—then there’s something wrong,” its spokesperson adds.
