Movers Can Keep Your Stuff If You Refuse To Pay For Services
- American National Movers
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you signed a bill of lading and agreed to the charges and refuse to pay the long distance movers, they can keep your stuff until you pay them. Under federal law (49 CFR § 375), a long distance moving company can place your shipment in storage at your expense if you refuse to pay the legally due charges that you already accepted on the Bill of Lading. Below is a plain English guide to when a price increase is legitimate, when it crosses the line into hostage territory, and what realistic options you have at the delivery curb.
Are The Charges You're Being Asked To Pay Legal?
Below is a chart you can use as a reference if a long distance shipper increased the rate of your household goods and you want to ensure the mover request is legal:
Breakdown:
Binding Estimate. If your estimate is binding, your carrier cannot legally request that you pay more than the agreed price. However, if you add additional items, your long-distance movers can cancel the binding agreement and renegotiate the costs.
Non-Binding Estimates. A non-binding long distance moving quote is not a guaranteed price. This means your mover can increase your rate, if necessary, as long as it is before loading your household goods.
Cubic Footage Quotes.
Long distance moving estimates calculated by cubic feet can change in price when your movers arrive if your load is larger than estimated. However, if there is a price increase, the movers must notify you in writing before loading your household goods.
Weight Estimates.
When calculating costs based on the weight of your shipment, your movers may increase the price after weighing your shipment at a designated weight station.
Hostage Move.
If a moving company increases your costs after your household goods are on the truck or while in transit, this is illegal. You can refuse to make payment and file a complaint with your local police department and the FMCSA, but it will take some time to resolve, typically 2-4 weeks.
What Happens If You Can't Pay A Moving Company.
Whether the charges are legitimate or not, if you can't pay your movers, not even the police can force the company to unload your things. This is a civil matter, and your outcome will depend on whether you signed for the charges or not. Here is what to expect if you haven't paid your movers:
Shipment goes to storage.
The carrier can warehouse your goods and start charging daily storage plus a re-delivery fee.
FMCSA Investigation.
As mentioned previously, if you haven't paid your movers because you believe you're being scammed, you must contact the FMCSA for assistance. The FMCSA will assist you in filing a complaint against the moving company and initiate an investigation to help recover your belongings.
You still owe the freight bill.
Storage charges mount quickly—$40–$75 per day is common—while your furniture sits inaccessible.
The carrier may file a lien.
If unpaid, the mover can seek a warehouse worker's lien and eventually auction the shipment to recover costs.
Important Note:
refusing to pay rarely hurts the mover but often inflates your out-of-pocket costs.
Smarter Ways To Dispute A Bill With Movers Without Losing Your Stuff.
If you feel you're being scammed by movers but still want your stuff, don't refuse to pay, do this instead:
Recap:
Yes, movers can hold your stuff if you refuse to pay the agreed charges at delivery.
A price increase is legal only when you added items, exceeded weight, or signed a revised contract before loading.
Your fastest remedy is to pay under protest, document everything, and pursue arbitration or a chargeback later.
Prevent drama by locking in a binding estimate and declaring your full inventory upfront.
Need a mover that puts everything in writing—and sticks to it? American National Movers offers virtual surveys, binding flat rates, and delivery-day transparency, so you never have to wonder whether your furniture will be held hostage.
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