Pond Scum Van Lines, and Other Disreputable Businesses

Maybe I'm missing something here. But how in God's name do scammers survive in the Age of the Internet? Just google "Pond Scum Van Lines" (or whatever the company's name is), and every scathing review is at your fingertips. But sadly, not only do these effer clowns survive, they thrive. I'm willing venture that for every legit moving company, there is a disreputable one.

So here are a few things I've learned. Maybe it'll save you some heartache:

• Carriers versus Brokers. This is a big one. A carrier is a moving company that owns its own fleet of moving trucks. They maintain their trucks, have their own facilities, and hire their own drivers. If you select a carrier, you get that carrier's services. So what's a moving broker? A broker is a company who sets a price with you, and then bids out your move to a carrier. You won't know who will show up on your doorstep on moving day. Surprise! You could get that clown from "It". Or Snookie. Or John Boehner.  God only knows. 
• ProtectYourMove is your best friend. Sorry, Stephanie. ProtectYourMove is a government-run web site with a registry of all moving companies. You can look up a company by its DOT number, as well as a lot of other helpful info. For example, I was considering a company who claimed they were a highly regarded carrier with hundreds of vans in their fleet, but ProtectYourMove had them registered as a broker with a fleet of zero! When I asked the rep about it, he hung up on me! Which leads me to my next point.
• DOT Number. If a mover doesn't have a DOT number readily available, don't even think about using them. If a mover lies about its DOT registration, don't even think about using them.
• Beware the Deposit. You may be asked to submit a deposit to reserve a truck. Don't do it. Most reputable van companies don't ask for this.
• Beware the Low Bid. This is so sad to me. Here's the setting: a moving company gives you a low big. You rejoice at the great deal you're getting. The moving guys arrive on the big day and load all your stuff into the van. Then they demand more money or they'll drive off with your stuff. You can't reach customer service and you're crying and these guys are rude and oh god they're pulling away...fine, fine, here's another $500! Hard to believe, but apparently this is extremely common. I got six very low bids, and sure enough, a Google search revealed that every one of them used this tactic. Sad, but true.
• Small Volume Moves. Don't have much stuff? Move yourself! If you hire a carrier, you will probably share a van with other people who are moving to the same area as you. It may take longer to get your stuff, and there is a higher probability that items will be lost/stolen.
• Stick to a Top Ten Carrier.
• U-Haul
• Ryder
• Allied Van Lines
• Mayflower
• United Van Lines
• Atlas Van Lines
• Bekins
• North American Van Lines
• Crown
• ABF U-Pack