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Just so everyone is clear, United Van Lines, Atlas, Allied and other major carriers all follow same guidelines for pricing.
HERE IS THE SCAM. Weight tickets. Where do they weigh the shipment? Who regulates weight tickets? The answer NO ONE. Most shipments are weighed at the truck stop on a certified scale, but you can weigh someone else's truck or hang a tire on the scale for your light weight. Heavy weight, is it before or after the driver filled his tanks with fuel and added 2 thousand pounds of weight to the shipment. You can pull a truck on the scale with the front axles of another truck on the scale with you and get whatever weight you want. The CAT scale weight ticket or any other weight ticket is a SCAM. Yes, the scale is certified, but it is only certified to whatever is on the scale. Some companies print up their own weight tickets. How can you pay based on a fake weight ticket?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I know with Atlas Van Lines you have the right to be there when the truck is getting its light weight and its heavy weight.
While there may be an occasional rogue moving company that attempts to falsify a weight ticket--by and large the industry (and the scale owners) work very hard to get exact weights. Customers have the right to witness their truck being weighed. Scale operators have video camera's on their scales, and they have very narrow tracks where the trucks pull up--just to prevent such falsifications.
Additionally, all moving companies give estimates of both the weight and the price before the move. Government regulations allow moving companies who do not give a fixed price up front to change their weight (from the estimate given) by a maximum of 10%. In other words, once they give the estimate they are not allowed by law to change it by more than 10%.
It is also the case that it takes a significant amount of weight to drastically affect the price. 500 lbs. really doesn't do much to the price. 1500 lbs would--but in the context of the overall move, it would not be enough to warrant such a procedure by the driver. That is especially the case if the price is fixed up front (Allied Van Lines offers a guaranteed price up front that will not change regardless of the weight differences).
Finally, the local agents and the headquarters personnel know the weights of each truck in their fleet. If a truck comes in very light, or extra heavy--it will be reweighed.
The biggest scams in today's moving industry are more geared toward adding services that were not mentioned in the quote, requiring deposits to 'hold the truck' up front, adding more than 10% of the move quote before unloading, failure to repair/correct any damaged items. Those are typically not done by the main moving companies--they are done by small movers who have poor ratings (or no ratings) with the BBB, and other such like companies.
Check out www.movingscam.com to read about these practices.
It is a nationwide law that you can be present for the original weight and you can also request a re-weigh. I work for an independent moving company and we are very fair and honest. We get a lot of business from people like you who have used major van lines because their prices "seem" lower and the time frame may be more likable, but after using us they never go back. Pretty soon there will be a company that will combine the power of all us little independent companies so we can all work together to help people move all over the country! Let's put those scam van lines out of business!
Also I hope they gave you a little booklet containing your rights and responsibilities, as that is also a law that they need to provide that information to you. You're sales rep should've given you that literature.
I worked at a United Van Lines agent in Columbus that used their own scales. The biggest scam that ALL movers use is to quote you very high costs, and THEN make YOU pay for insurance coverage in the event anything happens while THEY are handling the shipment. You get 60 cents per pound coverage in your quote. If an expensive lamp that weighs ten pounds is lost or damaged, you will be reimbursed $6.00. Shipments are commonly loaded, taken to the warehouse, unloaded, then packed with other shipments to fill a trailer. Your furniture has been handle four times since you last saw the truck it was loaded into. Trucks carry three to four hundred gallons of fuel, which weighs 7 pounds/gallon. Drivers weigh empty once, then reweigh after each shipment is loaded, two, three or more times-after they have fueled. I've seen them pull cars (front axle) on with the truck, even gone out with ten or more guys to stand on the scales with the truck. I've seen them unload in-van equipment before they get their empty weight. If your driver is not domiciled in your city, he has picked up "rent-a-bums" for cash. You pay for an experienced mover, and usually the driver is the sole person with skill. (Unless you specify everyone on your shipment is an employee of the local agent!) Remember they can add ten percent to whatever you were told when the deal was made to you.
Then at delivery, most have purchased trucks so long you can't get into a footbal stadium. That results in YOU paying for a LOCAL delivery charge, which means getting a straight truck to unload your items off the trailer and bring to your new home. Huge charges there, because you are officially stuck at that point. They count the distance they are able to park from the entrance, and charge extra after a certain number of feet. If stuff goes upstairs, (or downstairs)more money. If you need an elevator, more money. If you want delivery after 5 workdays or anytime on weekends-more money. And remember, if you do not pay for FULL VALUE COVERAGE INSURANCE (again, more money) you are moving at high risk. After that, they will expect you to generously tip the workers, buy food, drinks, etc., and then sign a letter referring their service to be used for future sales.
If you are moving, I would suggest:
Go to an agent for a van line in your city. As operations who is the best mover they have employed. Get him to chose two or three helpers, also from the moving company. Those guys have acces to hundreds of special boxes that have been used once. Usually you pay huge prices for brand new, and later they are baled and recycled. Draw up a contract for the men and boxes for a set number per hour. That makes him a independent contractor in case he or his helpers get hurt. Those guys will usually swipe the tape and packing materials from their employer. If you have a large home, call ABF for a trailer. They won't do anything other than drop and hook and deliver. They also will not handle your shipment. Have your crew bring walkramps from their employer. Let the pros pack and load, then block off with plywood. Do the same thing on the delivery end. Pay the guys $35 to $50 an hour each-don't skimp on them. If you don't have a lot of things use the same process and rent a PODS box. Your movers can tell you what size to order. PODS uses flatbed carriers for the long haul, and delivers with a little truck that allows you to stick it in the garage while you are working. If you don't save fifty or more percent on your move, with much better service, you have not followed the instructions.