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October 2025 President’s Column
President's Comments
By: Steve Weitekamp |
Rogue Movers is a term that I strongly detest. Many well-meaning individuals say that Rogue Movers are a problem, but if someone is injured or killed by an unlicensed operator providing cosmetic surgery, the news doesn’t talk about the Rogue Doctor problem; that person is identified as a criminal. Therefore, if we need to identify the group, I use the term 'Illegal Operator'. Moving in California, regardless of the location of your business, without a permit from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) is an illegal act, whether you are a mover, contractor, or broker. If you perform work in California without an active Cal-T number, you are engaging in an illegal activity and are subject to fines and penalties from the state. Additionally, you are not legally allowed to charge for any moving services, and any state court would require you to refund any money collected, regardless of the services being provided.
This can and does happen. I was an expert witness for a former client of mine (we’ll call Joan), who owed over $50,000 for moving and storage to a well-established Illegal Operator who even had a warehouse. I know, crazy, right? Since Joan was a slow payer, the illegal operator threatened a warehouse lien. Joan called me for help. I explained her options, and she had her attorney call me. When deposed by the attorney for the illegal operator, not only did I explain the ridiculous business decisions of his client but shared the bad news that not only could they not collect the $50,000 owed for services rendered but if they had collected any other money over the course of the professional relationship, they would be returning that, along with Joan’s household goods. In short, they had no lien or even a right to possession.
Realtors and Insurance Companies are entities that believe in licensing and regulations, yet frequently recommend illegal operators to handle their clients' moves or restoration projects. This puts their clients at risk and potentially even their own businesses. It is difficult to understand why a realtor would risk their client’s well-being and their own reputation. On several occasions, I have received a call from a consumer who is concerned that a mover's quote is too low. After discussing the rates, which are in a competitive range, and the mover, who is a CMSA member in good standing, I understand the issue. My next question is, was your last move provided by a restoration company, and the answer is invariably yes. Their rates are frequently multiples of BHGS MAX4 rates. The insurance company frequently pays the bill, and if you haven’t had to purchase insurance in the last several years, you might say this is a victimless crime. NOT ME! |
