Summertime is peak time for moving. But before you pack your first box, see what KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator Bebe Emerman has uncovered.

We get a lot of complaints about moving companies. It's a loosely regulated industry that has more than its share of bad apples. But, what about a mover that's not really a mover at all, but a middleman?

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Christine Donaldson thought she had it all wrapped up. She and her 3-year-old son are moving to Louisiana in July. So when she spotted the company Team USA Moving, she thought her troubles were over.

"And [they] made it seem like it would be easy," said Donaldson.

But it wasn't.

For one thing, Donaldson discovered Team USA isn't actually a mover, but a moving broker, which is a middleman who arranges things, takes a cut but has no responsibility.

"They never mentioned that," said Donaldson.

And there were other problems.

"The dates were all wrong," she said. "And then when I called them to ask them the name of the moving company -- and they said they didn't even have a moving company yet."

Frustrated, Donaldson sent several emails asking for her $800 deposit back.

Finally she got someone on the phone but the conversation turned ugly.

"And [the person on the phone] screamed I was the rudest person she ever met and they didn't want my business anyway and she hung up the phone on me," said Donaldson.

But she's not alone.

We uncovered dozens of complaints about the Florida-based company, most identical to Christine Donaldson's.

The company also shows up on two blacklists compiled by consumer groups, movingscam.com and the Moving Advocate Team.

We tried calling Team USA at its headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale. We talked to a woman called LaTasha, who wouldn't give her last name.

At first, she told us Donaldson might be entitled to a refund.

But then, the same thing that happed to Christine, happened to us.

She hung up on us.

So, we tried again. This time we spoke to a man named Stanley. Again, no last name and he wasn't helpful either.

Which leaves Christine Donaldson $800 poorer, with a house full of belongings, no mover and a lot of stress.

"I can't eat, I can't sleep," said Donaldson.

We're told moving brokers are regulated just not as stringently as regular movers. But that's not saying much.

Moving companies who operate within Washington get the most scrutiny. They have to have a permit, and are subject to disciplinary action if they mess up.

If you're looking at an out of state move watch out. Interstate movers and brokers are regulated by a hodgepodge of under-staffed and under-funded government agencies.

So when we say, "do your homework" before you hire a mover, we aren't kidding.