What to Do if Your Movers Are Late
It’s important to have a solid plan in place for your move to make the process go smoothly, but even the best laid plans can encounter some kinks. If your movers are late for pickup or delivery on your move day, it can really throw a wrench in your plans, but knowing what to do if that situation should occur will help you feel calm and in control.
What steps should you take if your movers are late for pickup or delivery? Follow the 3 C’s: Calm, Contract, and Call.
- Stay calm.
- Check your move contract.
- Call the move company.
Why Are My Movers Late?
There are tons of reasons why your movers could be late. They could be stuck in bad traffic, they might have accidentally gone to the wrong address, the truck might have gotten a flat tire. Even the most reputable moving companies can encounter a few bumps in the road, so to speak. However, the important question isn’t why your movers are late — the important question is when they will arrive and what you will do in the meantime.
What to Do if Your Movers Are Late
Let’s take a look at each of the 3 C’s in more detail.
Stay Calm
The last thing you want to do if something goes wrong on move day is to lose your temper. Nothing about the situation will improve if you allow yourself to become angry or frantic, and it will impede you from figuring out the best way to proceed.
Check Your Contract
Always have your move contract and any other important papers handy on move day so you can access them if you need to check details or contact information. If your movers are late for pickup or drop off, check the times listed in your move contract to be certain they are actually late. Perhaps there is a window listed rather than a specific time, and they are still within their window.
Call the Moving Company
If you have already checked the details of your move contract and confirmed that your movers are indeed late, the next step is to call the move company. The address and phone number for your moving company should be clearly listed on your contract. If you have a move coordinator, their contact information should be listed as well.
Call the company (or your coordinator) and calmly let them know the movers are late and ask when they will arrive. Be polite yet firm in requesting specific details about the arrive time. Their response will shape how you react.
- If they say the movers should be there in the next 15 minutes, you can simply continue to wait calmly.
- If they say it will be an hour or longer, use the extra time to double check that everything is ready — boxes are labeled, items you are taking with you are safely packed in your vehicle, cleaning is done, etc.
- If they say the movers will not be able to arrive until the following day, you may have to rearrange some things in your schedule.
If for some reason you cannot contact your move company (no one answers the phone after multiple tries, for example), it is up to you whether you will continue to wait or attempt to contact another moving company for a last-minute move.
Pro mover tip: Have the contact information for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) handy in the event of a worst case scenario. If your movers do not arrive with your possessions at your new destination and you cannot reach anyone at the company, you may be the victim of a moving scam. You can contact FMCSA at 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888- 368-7238) Monday–Friday 9 am to 7 pm Eastern. They will give you advice on what you should do next.
Take Appropriate Action
The final step is how you will handle the situation when your movers do arrive, which depends heavily on how late your movers were and how they respond to the situation. Are they apologetic, or do they act as if nothing happened? Did they or the company attempt to contact you to let you know what was going on?
If you are unhappy, let your movers know. Perhaps the company can offer some sort of discount for your trouble. Leaving a review after it is all said and done is also a powerful response that can help other customers or even illicit a response from the company. (If everything else about your move went smoothly, mention that as well so people get the whole picture.)
Call Your Minneapolis Moving Experts
At AAA, we work hard every day to ensure our customers have the best possible moving experience. If you’re planning a move, give us a call and get a free move quote.