These 21 Movers In N.J. Operated Without A License: Authorities

Almost two dozen public movers across New Jersey cited for allegedly operating without a license, authorities stated on Thursday.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the moving companies were the target of an undercover NJ Division of Consumer Affairs investigation.

During a November sting operation, DCA investigators posed as consumers who needed items moved out of Pequannock Township.

But when they arrived at the job site, instead of clients, the moving companies found several police agencies waiting for them: the New Jersey State Police Mobile Safety Freight Unit, the Pequannock Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

During the sting, state police found 95 alleged violations during mechanical inspections of the moving vans and trucks, with one truck impounded.

Five individuals were also arrested on outstanding warrants, police reported.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, state law requires all intrastate movers (those performing residential moves that both begin and end in New Jersey) to be licensed by the Division of Consumer Affairs. Movers must also protect consumers’ goods by maintaining cargo liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and bodily injury and property damage insurance. In addition, movers must register each vehicle they use in New Jersey and keep the vehicles properly marked and insured. Movers also must provide consumers with a written estimate of the costs of the move.

There are approximately 300 licensed intrastate movers in New Jersey, authorities said.

The companies issued a Notice of Violation include:

• ABC Moving, a/k/a “Official Moving & Storage,” Brooklyn, New York
• A Precision Movers, Belmar
• Beastman Movers, Northfield
• Black Moon Movers, North Bergen
• Desoto Movers, Vineland
• Edison Movers, a/k/a “M&M Moving & Storage,” Astoria, New York
• Emmanuel Moving & Cleaning Service, Elizabeth
• 4 Brothers Moving, Garfield
• Garden City Movers a/k/a “NJ State Moving Inc.,” Elizabeth
• Hezzy’s In & Out Moving, Elmwood Park
• IC Moving, Princeton
• James Grodon Jr., Milford
• Master Movers, Cherry Hill
• Mike Davis Pro Service, Cranford
• Moverland, a/k/a “Manhattan Movers,” a/k/a “Hoboken Movers,” Newark
• Northeastern Van Lines, Queens, New York
• Rommel Service, Woodland Park
• Rowell’s Moving and Hauling, Pleasantville
• Soho Moving & Storage, Old Bridge
• Stevenson’s Moving, East Orange
• TGS Moving, Newark

According to the NJ Attorney General’s Office, the Notice of Violation issued to each public mover carries a possible civil penalty of $2,500. The public movers have the opportunity to become licensed with the DCA within 30 days and have the civil penalties reduced by 50 percent.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business - or suspect any other form of consumer abuse - can file a complaint online at the DCA website, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov, or by calling 1-800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200.

File photo by Emma Jane Hogbin Westby via Flickr Commons