Blackwood Moving Company Stung by State

A Blackwood-based moving company has been cited by the the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs in a sting operation targeting unlicensed movers.

New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa on Wednesday announced charges against 25 moving companies, including South Jersey Moving, of Blackwood, for operating without a license.

The sting operation, dubbed Operation Mother's Attic II and conducted with assistance from New Jersey State Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, took place from July 23 through July 26.

Consumer Affairs investigators set appointments with 23 movers from across the state and two from New York City for that time frame. The movers were asked to come to Highland Park, in Middlesex County, to meet with what they felt were consumers looking to make a move within New Jersey.

A total of 22 moving companies sent workers to Highland Park. The other three have also been cited.

In addition to South Jersey Moving, there were two other South Jersey-based companies charged as a result of the operation—Mary's Moving, of Marlton, and Ron's Moving, of Willingboro.

“One moving company sent a truck that should not have been on the streets because it was uninsured. Another sent a truck that was declared unsafe and unfit for use. Several of the movers were wanted on outstanding warrants, including two who were wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Acting Consumer Affairs Director Eric T. Kanefsky said. “These examples illustrate the dangers consumers face when they hire unlicensed movers.”

Kanefsky noted the Division of Consumer Affairs received 119 complaints from consumers about moving companies in 2011.

Under state law, according to the Office of the Attorney General, "all movers who operate intrastate, that is, point to point within New Jersey, must be licensed by the Division of Consumer Affairs. Licensed movers must protect consumers’ goods by maintaining cargo liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and bodily injury and property damage insurance."

“Predatory movers have been known to hold customers’ property hostage as a form of extortion, then demand thousands of dollars more than the price their customers originally agreed to pay,” Chiesa said in a statement. “We are enforcing New Jersey’s licensing laws in order to protect consumers from this type of abuse, and protect the interests of the many movers who operate honestly and in compliance with the law.”

Cited for operating without a license in Operation Mother's Attic II were:

• Affordable Movers, of Oakhurst
• All Country Moving & Storage, of Union City
• Budget Minded Dependable Movers, of Somerset
• Delbridge Moving & Cleanouts, of Bayonne
• Eric Meekins, advertising as “Eric,” of Long Branch
• Father & Son Moving & Storage, of Pemberton
• General Movers, aka Hoboken Movers, aka Official Moving and Storage, of New York City
• George’s Moving, of Boonton
• Heavy & Light Moves, of Linden
• JHR Group, of Newton
• Lakeland Moving & Storage, of Ringwood
• Marcus Hall Moving & Relocation, of Jersey City
• Mary’s Moving, of Marlton
• Me & My Small Truck, of East Brunswick
• Move for Less, of Palisades Park
• Move For One Flat Rate, of Piscataway
• Movers Working Independent, aka MI JANTO 007, of Garfield
• NJ Pro Movers, aka NY Pro Movers aka Stress Less Movers, of New York City
• Ron’s Moving, of Willingboro
• Shawn the Super Mover, of Manville
• South Jersey Moving, of Blackwood
• Tuck’s Moving Service, of Hackettstown
• Umex Moving & Storage, of Plainfield
• United Direct Movers, of Bloomfield
• Woodbridge Moving, of Tinton Falls

Each company faces a civil penalty of up to $2,500. Companies who apply for licensure within 30 days can have the penalty reduced to $1,250.