Few things in life match the stress and expense of a big move – just ask anyone who has changed addresses recently.

While the majority of moves happen without incident, the Government Accounting Office reported that about 3,000 consumer complaints were filed against interstate movers last year.

In the most classic and prevalent scam, a moving company will give a low estimate, only to substantially hike the quoted price once the items are loaded. If the consumer doesn’t pay the new price, the belongings are held hostage.

Tim Walker, who started www.movingscam.com after he was scammed by a moving company, says consumers should be wary of hiring companies on the Internet.

But certainly use the Internet for research. For example, go to www.moving.org, the site run by the American Moving and Storage Association. You should be skeptical of Web sites that look good but could be run by dishonest brokers who actually don’t own a moving company, one expert said. The broker collects a deposit and then refers consumers to rogue moving companies. Legitimate referral companies generally will not ask you to pay an upfront deposit.

Other advice to consider: When choosing a company, look locally. Get recommendations from friends and neighbors, and check with local real estate agents.

Be sure to get a written estimate from at least three movers, the National Endowment for Financial Education recommends. There are binding estimates, in which your final bill cannot go higher than what you’re quoted, and nonbinding estimates. A non-binding estimate is not a contract but instead an approximation of the cost.

And for goodness sake, don’t get an estimate over the phone. Get a company representative to come to your home to view your belongings.

When the representative arrives, the endowment says you should discuss what services will be provided, the mover’s responsibility for any damages or losses that may occur, and how disputes are settled.

For interstate moves, the company should provide you with the booklet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” produced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can download a copy at www.protectyourmove.gov. The booklet also has contact information for issues if you’re moving within the same state. Such moves are not covered by federal regulations.