Should I pay movers with a credit card, cash, or Zelle?
On an interstate move, the estimate must state which forms of payment the mover accepts. The mover has to honor that at delivery unless you agree in writing to change it. Don't assume a card will be accepted unless the bill of lading says so.
When you can, use a credit card. Massachusetts warns never to pay movers in cash or by wire transfer, because that money is very hard to get back. If you must pay cash, get a signed receipt for every payment.
A credit card gives you federal dispute rights. If you were charged for services that weren't delivered as agreed, write to the card company's billing-dispute address within 60 days of the first statement showing the charge. The card company must acknowledge your letter within 30 days and resolve the dispute within 90 days. For complaints about poor quality of service, the charge must be over $50, you must have tried to settle it with the mover first, and the purchase must have been made in your home state or within 100 miles of your billing address.
These dispute rights apply to credit cards. Debit cards, Zelle and other payment apps, and wire transfers have different rules that are usually weaker.
Source: 49 CFR 375.217; FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move; FTC, Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges; 15 U.S.C. 1666i; Mass.gov, Protect Your Money and Belongings · Checked October 2026