(1) To conduct business as a mover or moving broker, or advertise to engage in the business of moving or offering to move, without being registered with the department.

(2) To knowingly make any false statement, representation, or certification in any application, document, or record required to be submitted or retained under this chapter.

(3) To misrepresent or deceptively represent:

(a) The contract for services, bill of lading, or inventory of household goods for the move estimated.

(b) The timeframe or schedule for delivery or storage of household goods estimated.

(c) The price, size, nature, extent, qualities, or characteristics of accessorial or moving services offered.

(d) The nature or extent of other goods, services, or amenities offered.

(e) A shipper’s rights, privileges, or benefits.

(4) To fail to honor and comply with all provisions of the contract for services or bill of lading regarding the purchaser’s rights, benefits, and privileges thereunder.

(5) To withhold delivery of household goods or in any way hold goods in storage against the expressed wishes of the shipper if payment has been made as delineated in the estimate or contract for services.

(6)(a) To include in any contract any provision purporting to waive or limit any right or benefit provided to shippers under this chapter.

(b) To seek or solicit a waiver or acceptance of limitation from a shipper concerning rights or benefits provided under this chapter.

(c) To use a local mailing address, registration facility, drop box, or answering service in the promotion, advertising, solicitation, or sale of contracts, unless the mover’s, and, if applicable, the moving broker’s, fixed business address is clearly disclosed during any telephone solicitation and is prominently and conspicuously disclosed on all solicitation materials and on the contract.

(d) To commit any other act of fraud, misrepresentation, or failure to disclose a material fact.

(e) To refuse or fail, or for any of the mover’s or broker’s principal officers to refuse or fail, after notice, to produce any document or record or disclose any information required to be produced or disclosed.

(f) To knowingly make a false statement in response to any request or investigation by the department, the Department of Legal Affairs, or the state attorney.

(7) For a moving broker to enter into a contract or agreement for moving, loading, shipping, transporting, or unloading services with a mover who is not registered with the department pursuant to this chapter.

(8) For a mover to enter into a contract or agreement for moving, loading, shipping, transporting, or unloading services with a moving broker who is not registered with the department pursuant to this chapter.

(9) For a mover or a moving broker to knowingly refuse or fail to disclose in writing to a customer before a household move that the mover, or an employee or subcontractor of the mover or moving broker, who has access to the dwelling or property of the customer, including access to give a quote for the move, has been convicted of a felony listed in s. 775.21(4)(a)1. or convicted of a similar offense of another jurisdiction, regardless of when such felony offense was committed.

History.—s. 7, ch. 2002-53; s. 9, ch. 2006-4; s. 3, ch. 2011-121; s. 25, ch. 2013-251; s. 2, ch. 2017-79.