Galloway Moving Company Cited For Unlicensed Moves, Faces Over $27,000 in Fines

A Galloway Township moving company is among 26 unlicensed moving companies cited with violating state law and facing a penalty of $2,500, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced Monday morning.

Shamrock Moving and Storage Inc. also faces a $25,000 fine from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which participated in the state-led undercover sting operation known as Operation Mother’s Attic.

Moving companies were cited for soliciting moves within the state without a license. Shamrock and Cardinal Moving Inc., of Wayne, also performed moves from New Jersey to another state without federal approval, Hoffman said.

According to The Press of Atlantic City, the Better Business Bureau gives Shamrock an “F” grade, due to a high number of customer complaints.

The operation took place from Nov. 19-22. Prior to the start of the operation, undercover agents booked moves with all 26 companies through online listings. All companies were suspected of being unlicensed movers before the operation took place.

Moving crews were sent to a self-storage facility in Ledgewood, where they were confronted by New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and FMCSA investigators, as well as agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a transportation compliance unit of the New Jersey State Police.

Two unidentified employees from one of the companies were arrested by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers on the spot for outstanding warrants, and one company’s truck was condemned for severe safety violations.

All moving companies in the state must be licensed by Consumer Affairs. The license means movers will protect consumer’s goods by maintaining cargo liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and bodily injury and property damage insurance. They must also maintain a bona fide business address in New Jersey, and register, insure and maintain each of their moving vehicles.

Each company has an opportunity to request a hearing before the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, if they dispute the allegations against them.

The following moving companies are alleged to be unlicensed:

* 2 Men and a Truck, of Garfield

* A Few Good Guys With a Truck, of East Orange

* Active Moving, Inc., aka Manhattan Movers, aka Best Movers, of Brooklyn, N.Y.

* Alessi Moving, Inc., d/b/a Alessi Moving & Storage, of Stockholm

* Always Moving Services, Inc., aka NYC Affordable Moving, of East Orange

* Blue Star Moving & Storage, LLC, of Paterson

* Cardinal Moving, Inc., of Wayne

* Cheap as Heck Movers, LLC, of East Orange

* D&D Moving & Delivery, aka NNJ Moving Help, of Palisades Park

* Deliveries Made Correct Enterprise, LLC, aka Budget Movers, of East Orange

* E.J. Mayer Transportation Systems, Inc., d/b/a EJ Mayer Moving, of Westwood

* Elite Movers, of Paterson

* George’s Moving & Trucking Co., Inc. aka George’s & Son’s Moving, of Rockaway

* Good Life Moving Services, of Orange

* Jaco Movers, LLC, of Middlesex

* Jesus Loves Moving, LLC, of Newark

* Just In Time Moving and Storage, Inc., of Kenilworth

* Lakewood Movers, LLC, of Lakewood

* M4U Inc., d/b/a Moving For You, of Ridgefield

* Metro Movers, LLC, of Jersey City

* Morristown Moving Services, LLC d/b/a M.M.S Delivery Service, aka MMS Moving Service, LLC, of Waldwick

* Moving Help, aka A1 Movers, of Parsippany

* Plantwurx aka Van & a Man, of Fort Lee

* Practical Movers, Inc., aka South Jersey Movers, Inc., of Philadelphia, P.A.

Eight of the unlicensed movers had listings on Craigslist. Five had listings on Angie’s List.  Nine used their own websites.  The rest were listed in online third-party moving websites or other Internet venues.

Officials offered the following advice for residents seeking movers:

* Obtain a written estimate from the mover you select. The cost can be estimated on an hourly rate, by weight and miles traveled, or by cubic measurement.

* Never pack jewelry, money, or valuable documents with your goods to be moved. The mover is not responsible for items of extraordinary value.

* Check your goods as they are being delivered. If any are lost or damaged, notify the mover immediately. A damage claim can be filed up to 90 days after the move date.

* Unless you purchase additional coverage, the mover is required to compensate you only up to 60 cents per pound, per article, for damages.