Moving Articles and News

Moving Rules

Effective March, 2004, the proposed rules say, in part:

• All moving estimates must be provided in writing, including estimates provided over the telephone.
• Brokers must provide full written disclosure in advance of the move that explains that actual charges may differ from the estimated charges and give reasons why.
• Movers can demand no more than 100 percent of a binding estimate before delivery or 110 percent of a nonbinding estimate at the time of delivery.
• Movers must specify the form of payment with the estimate and other required documents.
• Movers must deliver goods on agreed upon dates.
• Movers must write an inventory of all items involved in a move, assigning each item an identification number.
• Carriers and brokers must comply with advertising requirements when using Web sites.
• The new rules also codify arbitration requirements, allow households to pay for the move with money orders, mandates that movers who agree to accept charge or credit cards must schedule the delivery at a time when the mover's credit department is open to process credit payments or have a vehicle equipped to do so and the mover must determine before preparing the bill of lading, any charges for special delivery requirements including elevators, long carries, etc.