LEGAL NEWSLINE

NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey Acting Attorney General John Hoffman announced fines on Monday against 26 unlicensed moving companies that allegedly violated state law.

Hoffman and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs assessed civil penalties of $2,500 each against the companies. Two of the companies face additional $25,000 civil penalties from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for allegedly performing interstate moves without possessing the federal operating authority to do so.

"Horror stories about predatory movers are all too common," Hoffman said. "By its very nature, the moving industry touches the lives of consumers when they are vulnerable and when they must rely on strangers to transport their valued possessions. These situations create the potential for abuse."

Under New Jersey law, all movers who operate within the state must be licensed by the Division of Consumer Affairs, protect consumers' goods by maintaining insurance, maintain a bona fide business address in New Jersey and provide consumers with a written estimate of the cost of the move. The movers must also register each moving vehicle they use with the state and keep the vehicles in compliance with inspection requirements.

"We are enforcing New Jersey's licensing laws in order to protect consumers and, just as importantly, to ensure a level playing field for New Jersey's many honest and licensed moving companies." Hoffman said.

The $2,500 fines against the 26 unlicensed movers will be reduced to $1,250 for any company that applies for state licensure within 30 days.

The moving companies facing fines include 2 Men and a Truck, A Few Good Guys With a Truck, Active Moving, Inc., also known as Manhattan Movers and Best Movers, Alessi Moving Inc., doing business as Alessi Moving & Storage, Always Moving Services Inc., also known as NYC Affordable Moving, Blue Star Moving & Storage LLC, Cardinal Moving Inc., Cheap as Heck Movers LLC, D&D Moving & Delivery, also known as NNJ Moving Help, Deliveries Made Correct Enterprise LLC, also known as Budget Movers, E.J. Mayer Transportation Systems Inc., doing business as EJ Mayer Moving, Elite Movers, George's Moving & Trucking Co. Inc. also known as George's & Son's Moving, Good Life Moving Services, Jaco Movers LLC, Jesus Loves Moving LLC, Just In Time Moving and Storage Inc., Lakewood Movers LLC, M4U Inc., doing business as Moving For You, Metro Movers, LLC, Morristown Moving Services LLC, doing business as M.M.S Delivery Service, also known as MMS Moving Service LLC, Moving Help, also known as A1 Movers, Plantwurx, also known as Van & a Man, Practical Movers Inc., also known as South Jersey Movers, Inc., Shamrock Moving & Storage Inc. and TLC Movers LLC.