DeSantis signs legislation combatting moving scammers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Legislation combatting moving scammers was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday.

The bill, SB 304, by Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, outlines various consumer protections for those using intrastate moving services.

The legislation provides further registration requirements for movers and moving brokers, a required performance bond in certain circumstances for shippers’ moved goods and a binding estimate of the cost of services, including any applicable fees of a moving broker, to be provided by the mover to a prospective shipper.

Additionally, it requires a moving broker to arrange with a registered mover for the loading, transportation, shipment, or unloading of household goods as part of a household move.

The broker must include certain information on any document provided by the moving broker to a shipper and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is required to suspend a mover’s or moving broker’s registration under certain circumstances.

Moving scams often come in the form initial low-ball cost estimates by movers who then ultimately jack up the price of their services after the household belongings are in the truck and waiting to be moved.

Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken legal action in the past against moving scammers in the state who did not participate in ethical business practices and lied to customers about the services that they provided and the opportunity for potential refunds.

According to Miami Realtors, Florida saw a record level of in-migraiton in 2022, with nearly 740,000 people moving to the Sunshine State, primarily coming from California, New York and New Jersey.

The legislation is set to go into effect on July 1.