THE PRETENDER
The transporting of cars by an independent carrier is an extremely competitive enterprise. Interested consumers visit a website expressing interest in getting their car shipped. This information is then provided to brokers who will attempt to contact the customer to give provide pricing and service.
There will be really low quotes and there can be really high quotes. There are brokers willing to do anything to get your business (check out “lowball limbo” http://transportscams.com/lowball-limbo/)
Now there is a “new” version of an old tactic. I call it “The Pretender”.
While brokers will state that there are trucks in your area (which is true but we are never quite sure as to whom has space available at the time we are in communication with the customer), we have to actively search for a driver on your behalf to get your car moved. Some brokers in the past and even today will pretend that they are a carrier, even going to the extremes of having a colleague pretend to be a dispatcher for the “trucker”.
The latest thing is to contact customers who are already working with a broker and on the national board whether by phone or by text and “pretend” that the customer’s broker contacted ‘them’- the carrier. Now the new hook is to say that the broker asked the ‘carrier’ to call them to ask the customer for more money because their broker did not give them the right price. They further state that there are limited spaces available on “this” truck so call now!
If the customer is anxious, they would jump on this, anything to get their car moved and they would reach out to the supposed carrier. The problem is it is just another broker who will just be starting the process all over again.
The things to look out for are the following:-
- If the supposed carrier asks for the pickup address, contact name(s) and phone number(s), delivery address, contact name(s) and phone number(s). If they were the carrier in contact with your broker, all of that information is provided to them when the vehicle is assigned to a legitimate carrier.
- If the supposed carrier asks for credit card information over the phone to “secure” the limited space, they are not a carrier. A carrier does not ask for credit card information, they usually work and get paid upon delivery.
If anything you come across any of these tactics, first reach out to your original broker to clear up any misconceptions.
This will help to keep your auto transport move as smooth as humanly possible.
If you would like a quote, or have any questions or want further insight even if you do not place an order through my company, you can reach me at:
Nicole Cooke
Senior Transport Coordinator
South Beach Transport
Toll Free: 1-888-378-2390
Local: 623-432-9914
Fax: 1-888-260-4529
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