Moving Guide
Moving Companies
 Many
have been victims of unregulated rogue movers operating coast-to-coast who
advertise their van lines on the Web, charge two to three times what they
promise and hold your goods captive until you pay. And because the
federal Interstate Commerce Commission was abolished a few years ago, the
rogue companies have been getting away with it.
The feds don't have the staffing and the state doesn't
have the authority or jurisdiction to help the victims get their money back
or punish rogue movers. Oregon's consumer-protection spokeswoman,
Jan Margosian, said her office has received numerous complaints about rogue
movers, but the state doesn't have jurisdiction over state-to-state moves.
Here are two Web sites that may be helpful when planning
a move:
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Protect Your
Move This is a US Department of Transportation Web site.
You can learn red flags for spotting rogue movers and how to choose
a reputable mover. The site has a section about "knowing your
rights when hiring a mover."
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Moving Scam
At the core of the web site are message boards staffed around the clock
by experienced volunteers who answer moving-related questions promptly
and at no cost to the consumer. None of the volunteers receive any income
from this activity. The site does officially endorsed some moving
companies and the "endorsement is based on the positive experiences
of many consumers who have used them."
One Stop Shopping - Bill Saver
Bill
Saver You're apt to be amazed at the low prices on long-distance
rates, credit card interest, Internet fees, wireless plans, life and car
insurance premiums and telephone calling cards.
Change of Address
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The United States Postal Service will forward first
class mail to your new address for 12 months - 60 days for second class
mail - without charge. Complete a
Change of Address Order Form at the postal service Web site. You
will then need to sign the form and either give it to your letter carrier
or mail it to your local post office.
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The
US Postal Service Web site has developed an online source of help
for movers. It covers everything from motor vehicles to voter
registration.
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Visit your local post office and pick up PS Form 3576's
(a.k.a. change of address notification postcards).
Register to Vote Online
 Oregonians can register to vote online as of March 1,
2010. Oregon is the fourth state in the nation to offer voters an
electronic path to the polls.
The online registration system, which cost the state about $200,000 to
set up, is cheaper, more secure and more accurate way to reach more
voters, particularly the housebound, elderly and out-of-state members of
the military, according to the Oregon
Secretary of State
office.
The state estimates about 77 percent of eligible voters are
registered, leaving about 600,000 still unregistered. Minnesota and
Maine have the highest registration rate in the nation at 80 percent.
You will be required to have a valid Oregon driver's license, permit or
identification card. For those who register online, the signatures on
their driver's licenses, permits or ID cards will serve as the
signatures for voter registration cards. Those signatures will be
checked to validate mail ballots in elections. Voters also can go to the
online site to change political parties or addresses.
Oregonians can register online by going to the
Web site:
www.oregonvotes.org.
Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles
If your vehicle is subject to the
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) inspection program,
you can renew your registration at the DEQ after your vehicle passes the
required tests, or you can renew online at the Oregon
DMV.
Drivers License Change of Address If your address changes, you
must notify DMV within 30 days of the change. You may complete
an
address change form
and mail it to DMV. DMV will mail you an address change sticker to
put onto your driver license, instruction permit or identification card.
Portland Utility Companies
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Comcast Cable
TV cable carrier for most of the Portland area as well as internet
and telephone service.
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City
of Portland Water Bureau The Water Bureau is a rate-financed,
City-owned utility. Water rates are established each year to assure
adequate revenues for water system support. Call (503) 823-7770
to open and close accounts when you move. If you are a new customer,
ask for a welcome packet that has information about water, sewer and
stormwater charges and services.
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Verizon
Verizon offers mobile, TV, internet, and land line telephone services.
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Metro Recycling and Garbage Locate your hauler and obtain
information about recycling.
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National
Association of Regulatory Commissions Links to most states
utility commissions - usually the state has links to the local utilities
that they regulate.
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Northwest Natural
Natural gas supplier. Address: 220 NW 2nd Avenue, Portland,
OR 97209-3943. Telephone: (503) 226-4211. Contact
NW Natural by e-mail
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PacificCorp To
contact a customer service representative at Utah Power or Pacific Power,
call toll-free at 1-888-221-7070.
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Portland General
Electric (PGE) Electrical utility that services most of the Portland
area. Visit
PGE's contacts page for telephone numbers and the locations of offices.
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Tualatin
Valley Water District Serves Washington County. The
service area is 45+ square miles located west of Portland in east Washington
County, encompassing such communities as Cedar Hills, Oak Hills, Terra
Linda, Cedar Mill, Reedville, Rock Creek, Cooper Mountain, The Bluffs,
Progress, Metzger, Bonny Slope, Aloha, Orenco. The service area also
includes portions of the cities of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard and
Portland.
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Qwest
Telephone carrier that provides local service for 14 Western and Midwestern
states. Qwest is the local provider for most of Oregon including
homes in the City of Portland.
Electronic Recycling
Oregon and Washington's free electronic recycling programs
started in January, 2009, with the two states collecting nearly 5 million
pounds of televisions, computers, and monitors.
Internet Service Providers (ISP)
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List of ISPs Allows multiple ways of searching for an ISP.
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The Director
Lists 13,000 ISPs. Key in your telephone area code and you'll
get a list of ISPs servicing the area code.
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Comcast Comcast offers high speed internet service along with
their cable TV service.
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Qwest
Qwest offers a number of options for internet connection including high
speed DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).
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Verizon
Besides mobile services, Verizon also offers internet services.
Newspapers
Telephone Solicitors - Consumer Complaints
 Do
Not Call Registry The National Do Not Call Registry gives you
a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home.
Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the
registry for 31 days. if they do, you can file a complaint at their web
site. you can register your home or mobile phone for free. telephone numbers
placed on the national do not call registry will remain on it permanently
due to the do-not-call improvement act of 2007, which became law in February
2008 so your registration will not expire once it is entered into the system.
Online Complaints Database
The Oregon attorney general's office has put its
complaints database online, meaning consumers can better research
companies before deciding where to take their business. Consumers
without Internet access may call the agency at 1-877-877-9392.
Entries on the database, which contains complaints received since
January 1, 2008, do not include consumers' names and offer limited
information, such as a company's address, the general category of the
complaint and whether it was resolved.
Repairs
and Remodeling
For a comprehensive list of resources on repairs and remodeling
visit my Home Improvement page as well
as my Green Homes page.
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