The quote is cheaper than anyone else's, and you get it in five minutes over the phone or through a web form. Nobody comes to look at your furniture. Then on moving day, once your things are on the truck, the crew says your shipment takes up far more space than expected and the price goes up. State regulators know this pattern well. Arizona's attorney general warns that dishonest moving companies will often give you a low estimate over the phone or in online postings to get your business and then demand far more after your goods have been loaded onto their truck.
How the lowball works, step by step
- The quote. A salesperson prices the move from a rough list of rooms or items, usually in cubic feet, without an in-person or video survey.
- The booking. You pay a deposit and sign paperwork, often without being told clearly whether the estimate is binding or non-binding.
- The re-measure. After loading, the crew says the volume is much larger than quoted and charges for the difference, often at a higher rate.
- The leverage. With your belongings already on the truck, you're pressured to pay before anything is unloaded.
Court records show how this has played out. In a federal racketeering case in Ohio, prosecutors said the defendants would provide customers with low binding estimates to do their move, promising to beat their competitor's prices. After the customers agreed to hire the moving companies, employees of the moving companies would load the customers' goods onto the truck and then the price of the move would be bumped. Co-conspirators would use an inflated cubic footage for the price of moving the customers' goods. In a separate New Jersey case, prosecutors said the companies involved raised final prices for moves above the allowed increase from initial estimates as provided by federal regulations, including increases as high as 400 percent on the day of the move.
Recent enforcement
In February 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York sentenced Kristy Mak to 2 years of incarceration. The OIG says Mak and a co-defendant lured customers to these movers by posting fake reviews online and directing sales associates to low-ball the costs of moving household goods. After that, the movers would suddenly add new fees. Customers could not reach the sales associates about these additional fees and drivers threatened to hold customers' goods hostage unless they paid them. The court ordered four defendants to pay $1,795,950 in restitution. In October 2025, a federal court in New Jersey sentenced two moving companies, and ordered 11 Even Movers and Storage and Mallad Trading to pay $1,908,486 and $314,761 in restitution, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Warning signs
- No survey. Under a 2022 federal rule for interstate moves, the Mover will be required to conduct a physical survey in all instances regardless of distance from the Mover's location, unless the Individual Shipper elects to waive it in writing. That survey can be done by video: FMCSA changed the definition to allow for virtual surveys through live and pre-recorded video.
- Pricing by cubic feet only. FMCSA says a non-binding estimate should spell out what your final charges are based on, such as the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided, and the mover's published tariff. A Better Business Bureau official told WFTV that charging by how much your stuff weighs is always better than by how many cubic feet it fills in the truck.
- A price far below everyone else's. Arizona's attorney general warns that if the estimate sounds too good to be true, it could be deceptive.
- A verbal-only quote, or a salesperson who won't say in writing whether the estimate is binding.
What federal rules say
For interstate moves, the most a carrier may demand is 100 percent of a binding estimate before delivery or 110 percent of a non-binding estimate at the time of delivery. FMCSA says that if you have paid the mover 110% of the non-binding estimate or 100% of the binding estimate and the mover fails to deliver your goods, they have violated the Federal regulations. If a mover decides more services are needed once your goods are in transit, FMCSA rules say a shipper be informed before the additional services are performed. Consumers must sign a written attachment to the contract if they agree to pay additional service charges. The 110 percent cap doesn't erase a legitimate balance: you can still owe more, but it is billed later, not collected at the door.
In-state moves fall under state law. Arizona, for example, says it is illegal for a moving company to refuse to deliver or unload goods once you pay the "total estimated price" in the signed contract. This article isn't legal advice. For your own situation, contact FMCSA or your state attorney general.
If it happens to you
- Keep your original written estimate. Don't sign a new or blank document under pressure.
- Write down the crew's names, the truck's plate and the USDOT number. Take photos of the loaded truck.
- For interstate moves, file a complaint online or call 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238).
- Report it to your state attorney general. If your belongings are driven off, Arizona officials advise people to contact the local law enforcement or Arizona Department of Public Safety immediately.
- Pay by credit card where you can. Arizona's attorney general and the BBB recommend getting written estimates, and using credit cards for payments.
How to check a mover before you sign
Get a written binding or not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey. Make sure the company is registered for interstate household goods moves. You can look up any mover's USDOT record for free at movepricer.com/check and check its complaint history on FMCSA's Protect Your Move site.