May 22, 2026
Karen Jenness thought she had found a deal. The Florida woman was making a short cross-town move — around 16 miles from Oviedo to Altamonte Springs — and had locked in a $625 quote with a company called Best Relocators.
She’d spent an hour on the phone explaining every item. She packed her own boxes. She made sure everything was on the ground floor. Then the truck arrived, and the nightmare began.
Advertisement
According to WFTV 9, once about half of Jenness’ belongings were loaded onto the truck, the movers told her the real price: $3,980 — including $900 just for a small amount of packing materials.
When she pushed back, they threatened to haul everything to their warehouse until she could pay. She had no leverage and no choice.
The company eventually knocked a few hundred dollars off the total, but still demanded the balance in cash. Jenness didn’t have the money, so she had to borrow $3,000 from her mom to get her belongings back.
“It was a nightmare,” she told WFTV 9. “I think that they completely took advantage knowing that I was a single woman by herself.”
Moving complaints, by the numbers
What happened to Jenness is something the federal government has focused on in its nationwide enforcement operations for a while now.
Complaints regarding moving companies filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) totaled 7,647 in 2022, Newsweek reported, more than double the 3,030 from 2015. And a record peak of 10,133 complaints were made in 2021.
Florida had 3,883 complaints in 2022 — almost half the country’s total. New Jersey had 948, followed by California with 635. But Florida also had more registered moving brokers than any other state: 204 out of 1,399 in the U.S.
Advertisement
Since then, the majority of the FMCSA’s investigations have been in New Jersey and the total number of documented complaints has decreased as of 2024.
Best Relocators — the name Jenness’ movers operated under — is allegedly a falsity. WFTV 9 reported it’s a made-up business name for Omar’s Delivery Service, LLC, whose most recent registered address is a drop box in Kissimmee.
The company also operates under at least three other names, all of which carry an F rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), mostly for unanswered complaints. It also claimed on its website to be the No. 1 verified mover on Trustpilot in 2024. Trustpilot told WFTV the claim is untrue.
WFTV 9 found no records of the company being licensed for moves within Florida or across state lines. When they called Best Relocators directly, the line was disconnected twice, and the calls appeared to be blocked.
According to Newsweek’s summary of The Department of Transportation’s term “reincarnation,” faulty moving companies routinely post fake online reviews and make low price promises, then change their names and begin the process again with a new FMCSA license once real complaints start arriving.
Advertisement
“The common theme that runs through these consumer complaints is that the cost changes once their belongings are loaded,” BBB CEO Holly Salmons told WFTV.
Must Read
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — are you doing the same?
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
- Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year and begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
What you can do
Jenness is sharing her story in hopes of sparing others the same ordeal. The financial hit was real, but the power these companies wield depends entirely on catching people off guard.
Knowing your rights before moving day is the single best defense. Here’s what to look for before signing anything:
1. Verify the license. The FMCSA’s Protect Your Move database lets you check whether a moving company is properly registered with the federal government and review its complaint history. Every legitimate interstate mover must have a U.S. DOT number. If a company can’t provide one, walk away.
2. Get a binding estimate in writing. Under federal regulations, “if the mover increases the price after loading the truck, you are not required to pay more than 100% of the binding estimate or 110% of the non-binding estimate.”
Advertisement
And any additional charges must be billed 30 days after delivery of your goods — not demanded in cash at the door. A binding estimate locks in your price and eliminates the leverage scammers rely on.
3. Beware of cash-only demands. According to the FTC, one of the clearest warning signs of a fraudulent mover is a demand for cash or a large deposit before the move begins — the former of which Jenness experienced first hand. Reputable companies don’t operate that way.
Paying by credit card also gives you the ability to dispute fraudulent charges, something Jenness couldn’t do since she was forced to hand over borrowed cash.
4. Check multiple review platforms and look for patterns. Researching a company across different platforms for complaints and licensing is critical. A low-ball estimate followed by price spikes after loading is the defining signature of this type of fraud.
5. Request an in-home estimate. Having a mover assess your belongings in person, rather than over the phone, reduces the ability to manufacture surprise add-ons later. If a company only quotes over the phone and discourages an in-person visit, treat that as a red flag.
And if you’re already a victim, you can file a complaint with the FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint database or call 1-888-368-7238. The agency can review and revoke the licenses of movers and brokers found in violation. You can also report to the FTC and your state attorney general’s office.
You May Also Like
- Turning 50 with $0 saved for retirement? Most people don’t realize they’re actually just entering their prime earning decade. Here are 6 ways to catch up fast
- Inside a $1B real estate fund offering access to thousands of income-producing rental properties — with flexible minimums starting at $10
- Vanguard’s outlook on U.S. stocks is raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself
- Here are 5 easy ways to own multiple properties like Bezos and Beyoncé. You can start with $10 (and no, you don’t have to manage a single thing)
With a writing and editing career spanning over 15 years, Emma creates and refines content across a broad spectrum of industries, including personal finance, lifestyle, travel, health & wellness, real estate, beauty & fitness and B2B/SaaS/tech.
