A customer called us a while back, and he was calm in the way people are when they are trying not to shout. He had paid an advance to a mover he found online. The truck never came. The phone was switched off by evening. The number on the website, the “office” on the map, all of it was gone.
We hear a version of this story more often than we would like. So this guide is the checklist we would hand a friend before they book anybody, including us.
Why this is easy to get wrong
Moving is a business with a very low barrier to entry. A phone number, a rented vehicle and a free website are enough to call yourself a packers and movers company. Nothing stops a new name from appearing next month after the old one collects advances and vanishes.
You also decide in a hurry. A transfer letter arrives, a lease ends, a date is fixed. Hurry is exactly what bad operators count on.
Step 1: Check that the company physically exists
Ask for the office address and go there, or at least ask a friend nearby to look. A real moving company has a yard or a godown, boards, vehicles with the company name, and staff who know each other.
Search the address on a map and look at recent photos. A residential flat with a different name on the door is a warning. So is an address that changes between the website and the quotation.
Our own office is in Kumbakonam, 791, Main Road, Thippirajapuram, Kumbakonam. and customers are welcome to walk in.
Step 2: Read the reviews like a skeptic
Five-star reviews that all arrive in the same week, written in the same style, mean little. Look for the dull, detailed reviews. “They arrived at 8, finished by 2, one chair leg scratched and they fixed it” is worth ten reviews that say “Excellent service”.
Also read the one-star reviews and see how the company answered. Silence, or an argument, tells you what a damage claim will feel like.
Step 3: Understand what IBA approval is, and what it is not
Many companies advertise “IBA approved”. The Indian Banks’ Association keeps a list of movers that it approves for relocations where banks reimburse the cost, which is why it matters for people on transferable bank jobs. It is not a government licence, and it is not compulsory.
So treat it as a useful signal rather than a guarantee. If a company claims it, ask for the approval details and check them with the IBA yourself. We wrote a full walk-through in IBA approval for packers and movers, including what to ask for and what the listing does and does not cover.
Step 4: Get the paperwork before the truck is loaded
A proper mover gives you documents, and gives them before your goods leave the house. At minimum you should expect a written quotation, a goods inventory list that you sign, and a consignment note (often called an LR or lorry receipt) for the move.
If a company says “we will send everything later”, that sentence is the problem. The full list, and what each paper is for, is in what documents packers and movers should provide.
One more thing worth doing yourself: take photos of your large items and appliances before packing starts. It takes ten minutes and settles most arguments later.
Step 5: Be careful with advance payments
Some advance is normal. Trucks are booked, crews are scheduled, and a mover has to protect their time. The trouble is the size of it and who it goes to.
Pay by bank transfer or UPI to an account that matches the company name, keep the receipt, and avoid paying large sums in cash to an individual’s personal number. We explain a sensible way to split the payment in should you pay an advance to packers and movers.
Step 6: Compare quotes the right way
The cheapest quote is often the one that leaves things out. Loading, unloading, packing material, floor charges and insurance can each be missing from a low number and then appear on moving day.
Ask every company to quote the same scope in writing, then compare line by line. If one quote is far below the rest, ask what has been left out before you get excited.
Step 7: Know the common scams so you can spot them
Most fraud follows a short list of patterns. A very low quote that rises on the day. A “different” truck and crew from the one you were promised. Goods that are loaded, then held until you pay extra. An advance taken, then nothing.
These patterns, and what to do if you are already caught in one, are covered in how to avoid packers and movers fraud in India.
Step 8: Verify before you sign, using Tamil Nadu specifics
Check the company’s GST registration where they issue a GST invoice, look at their vehicle registrations, and ask for two or three recent customers in your area you can phone. A genuine company will give references without fuss.
For a step-by-step method that is specific to this state, see how to verify genuine packers and movers in Tamil Nadu.
A short pre-booking checklist
- Visited, or had someone visit, the office or godown
- Read recent reviews, including the bad ones
- Quotation in writing, with scope and what is excluded
- Inventory list and consignment note promised before loading
- Advance paid to a company account, with a receipt
- Two customer references you actually called
What we do, so you can hold us to it
We give a written quotation after seeing the goods or a video of them. The crew counts and lists items with you, not behind you. You get the papers before the truck moves.
If we ever miss any of this, tell us. That is how we find out.
Frequently asked questions
Is IBA approval necessary to hire a mover? No. It is a voluntary approval that matters mostly if your employer or bank reimburses the move. Many reliable local movers are not on the list, and some listed ones still need checking.
How much advance is reasonable? There is no fixed rule. Keep it modest, pay to a company account, and agree in writing when the balance is due.
What should I do if a mover refuses to give me my goods? Stay calm, keep every message, receipt and photo, and do not pay anything extra until you have the quotation and inventory in front of you. Then put your complaint in writing to the company.
Can I check a mover’s reviews myself? Yes, and you should. Look at Google reviews, ask neighbours, and call past customers.
Talk to us before you decide
Not sure about a quote you have received, ours or anybody else’s? Call +91 9791969523 and ask. We would rather you choose well than choose us carelessly.