Out of State Movers Preferred Form Of Payments
- American National Movers
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
Regarding moving to another state, there is a lot of confusion about an acceptable form of payment. Should you pay cash, is it okay to pay movers upfront or before they unload? Then we have the big question mark on whether or not a mover can accept a credit card for the entire transaction. This article will provide insight into the best form of payment for movers and how to pay cash if they don't accept credit cards.
Can You Pay Movers With A Credit Card?
Several large, long distance moving companies accept credit cards for pick-up and delivery, but they don't prefer it:
Why Movers Avoid Credit Card For Payment.
Many movers prefer certified funds or cash after loading and before unloading to mitigate the risk of you filing a dispute with your credit card company. Moving companies prefer to avoid the hassle of using resources to get those funds back after a consumer has filed a chargeback with their bank.
State to State Movers Prefer Cash or Certified Funds.
Many banks view movers as high risk because customers file credit disputes with moving businesses. As a result, credit card merchants charge movers higher processing fees to accept CC, and moving companies often get penalized for receiving a chargeback.
Consequently, Movers May Ask for Cash, Check, or Certified Funds.
To avoid charging the customer a 5% processing fee and losing money through a dispute, your movers may request cash, check, or money order as payment.
Is It Normal To Pay Movers Cash or Certified Funds?
Paying your out of state movers cash or certified funds is generally normal as long as you are provided a payment receipt. Do not pay your movers cash without viewing and signing a document that displays a record of you making said payment in cash to your movers.
Paying Your Movers Upfront.
Regarding upfront payment, a state to state moving company normally asks for a deposit made via a credit or debit card, and payment after your belongings have been loaded on move day.
Important Things To Know.
Upfront payment.
Paying a deposit to your movers is normal, especially if you're moving to another state. However, this deposit should be paid via credit or debit, NOT cash, to avoid scams.
Zelle Payments.
Moving companies may ask you to Zelle a portion of the balance once they have arrived and loaded your household goods, which is common. However, if a mover asks you to Zelle funds before arriving to move from the state, this is likely a scam.
Certified Check.
If your movers do not accept credit cards as payment at pick up or delivery, paying via certified check is better than paying cash. The reason is that it's traceable and can be proven that you've paid for the services.
Do You Have To Pay Movers Before They Unload?
Why You Need To Pay Before Movers Unload.
Frankly, long distance moving companies require payment before unloading the truck to ensure they get paid for their services. They are afraid to provide services without a guarantee that they were paid for services due to a billing dispute or damaged item. This may be frustrating, but you can do nothing as the FMCSA allows this practice.
Bottom Line
Each moving company has a different set of rules and guidelines regarding the form of payments they accept. Paying in cash is not abnormal as long as you pay it to an honest and reputable mover. However, there are better ways to pay, such as Zelle, certified checks, money orders, or Venmo. If you're uncomfortable with your long distance movers payment policy, don't hesitate to cancel services on loading day and contact another company.
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