ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 27 (UPI) -- U.S. and state authorities are cracking down on "rogue" moving outfits that use online scams to take advantage of people, industry officials say.
Online scam artists are posing as licensed movers and ripping off consumers by increasing prices, giving false estimates and taking consumers' possessions hostage, USA Today reported Wednesday.
Unlicensed moving companies are more likely to overcharge customers, said Linda Bauer Darr, president and chief executive officer of the American Moving and Storage Association in Alexandria, Va.
"Our mission is to get these rogues off the road; that is the single most important thing we can do right now. The rogues in the industry are killing our business and killing consumers' faith in professional movers," says Darr.
The Better Business Bureau logged more than 8,900 complaints against both licensed and unlicensed moving companies in 2010, which was a 5 percent increase from 2009, a BBB spokeswoman said.
In 2010, the BBB began tracking complaints against online moving brokers, who act as go-betweens, connecting consumers and moving companies, receiving 285 against these brokers, and 111 so far in 2011.
In response to the widespread scamming, many states have conducted undercover investigations this year. Three California-based companies are facing fines of at least $25,000, 25 companies in New Jersey have been charged with operating without a license, and over 300 citations have been given to Illinois-based companies. Maryland passed a law that restricts movers from charging more than 25 percent above an original estimate.
Source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/07/27/Government-cracks-down-on-moving-scams/UPI-90001311812607/
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