‘They told me on the phone that it would be $169’: Phoenix woman hires movers. Then she fails to read the fine print
Moving is one of those life events that is going to be exhausting no matter what. You’re packing boxes, coordinating schedules, juggling deposits, and trying to keep costs from spiraling while everything feels time-sensitive.
That’s why many people lean on moving companies to take at least part of the stress off their plate. But as one Phoenix woman found out, trusting a quote over the phone can come back to haunt you if you don’t slow down and read every line of the contract.
What Went Wrong During the Move?
TikTok creator Justine (@thatflippingagent) shared a storytime about her recent moving experience in Phoenix, Arizona, warning viewers to pay close attention to the fine print before committing to a mover.
“You really have to read the fine print on things,” she says at the start of the video, explaining that she almost got “played” by a moving company just days before her move.
According to Justine, she booked movers two days ahead of time and was quoted $169 on the phone for two people. She agreed to the price and paid a deposit that same morning. Shortly after, the company called to confirm and sent over the contract.
That’s when she noticed something didn’t line up.
“They told me on the phone that it would be $169 for two people,” she says. “And then they sent over the contract and it was for $179 an hour.”
Confused, Justine decided to read the contract more closely. That’s when she noticed the other extra charges starting to stack up. The company allegedly listed a fuel charge equal to 15% of the entire bill. On top of that, they also charged an extra hour of drive time.
“So I’m paying for an extra hourly wage of drive time,” she explains, “but then they charge a 15% of the entire bill for fuel.”
She breaks down how quickly that adds up. If the job took four hours, including the extra drive time, the fuel charge alone would come out to an additional $102, even though she was already paying for the drive time itself.
“That’s crazy,” she says.
At that point, Justine asked for her deposit back. She says the company agreed to refund it, and she immediately booked a different mover instead.
“I was able to book with another mover who’s $115 an hour for three people,” she says. “No hidden charges. Gotta be careful out there.”
Other Moving Company Red Flags
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the situation Justine described matches common warning signs consumers should watch for when hiring movers.
The agency warns that dishonest movers often give low estimates over the phone or online without ever seeing your home or belongings. Once your items are loaded onto the truck, they may demand more money before delivering or unloading them. In some cases, movers even hold belongings hostage until customers pay far more than originally agreed.
Other red flags the FMCSA advises consumers to look out for include movers who refuse to perform an on-site inspection and only offer estimates sight unseen, companies that won’t provide a written estimate or claim the cost will be determined after loading, or movers who demand cash or a large deposit before the move.
Additional warning signs include claims that all goods are fully covered by insurance, generic greetings like “Movers” when you call instead of a company name, poorly maintained or nonexistent offices, rental trucks showing up on moving day instead of marked company vehicles, and sudden claims that you have more belongings than originally estimated.
Commenters React With Their Own Stories
In the comments under Justine’s video, viewers shared similar experiences with surprise charges and stressful moving days.
“This just happened to me,” one person wrote. They explained that the company sent an extra mover and charged double the quote without calling first. “I cried after paying the bill because these kids were just standing in my new home staring at me after they told me the new cost.”
@thatflippingagent Read the fine print, I’ve never had a moving company charge this before. #readthefineprint #movers #storytime ♬ original sound – Justine – That Flipping Agent
Others shared better outcomes. “Two Guys and a Truck,” one commenter wrote. “Finished early and didn’t even want lunch money.”
Another viewer focused on the logic of the charges. “I feel like they should either get a fuel charge or a travel time, but not both,” they wrote. “Movers are almost always an issue. I think they know it’s not something people do that frequently.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Justine via email for additional details.
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