WHAT TO DO WHEN MOVERS DAMAGE YOUR GOODS

As much as shifting to a whole new place is exciting and thrilling, it’s equally just as stressful and tiresome, and it’s the actual physical move that’s the biggest hurdle that one may face. That’s why we hire movers to do the job for us. They are professionals who can help move items from one place to another and also suggest you on the best moving checklist to follow. Movers help to do the heavy lifting for us, however, no moving company has a 100% success ratio. Sometimes accidents happen, and your goods may get damaged. So, what do you do if this occurs?

Here’s a guide that you could take for reference-

BEFORE AND DURING THE MOVE-

Prevention is better than cure: To prevent any damage while transit, make sure you do everything in your power to keep your goods safe. Best out of state moving companies make sure they pack everything efficiently. And if you are opting for a DIY move, try and use boxes, as they are easily stackable and guarantee a collective pickup. Pack individual items with as much packing material as you can, for example- bubble wrap, recycled paper, newspapers, etc. Try packing the boxes tightly and cushioning each item as much as possible to avoid damage during transit.

 Inspect Your Goods before Packing-

Take pictures of your items before you pack them. This serves as proof of what your goods looked like in their original form. This can be used while filing for a claim in case there’s an instance where the damage takes place.

 Find a Trusted Team of Movers- 

The next step is to hire a trusted team of movers who are preferably registered as a business with your local authorities. This way, you know you’re hiring a trustworthy company, and if so happens to be, they can be held responsible for any wayward instances.

 Do a Walk-Through-

Figure out the best way to remove your belongings from point A to the moving truck. Doing this before removing items makes navigation through the place easier and avoids mishaps. Make sure to discuss these details with the team of movers.

 Take a Close Look at Your Contract-

After hiring a team, you most likely will be signing a contract that usually, the company provides. Make sure to read all of the terms and conditions in the contract. Knowing their applicable service conditions and what they are and are not responsible for, helps avoid disputes after the move.

AFTER THE MOVE:

Get Insured-

Before signing the contract, determine what kind of insurance the company provides. Ask

Questions like how much is the maximum claim per item, how they reached that decision or the logic behind it, the period for filing a claim after transit, etc. Find out what all the insurance covers, for example, do they cover for damage during pickup, during transit and well as delivery, loss of goods due to theft, damage of goods due to climate, etc. Be crystal clear on their terms and conditions. However, if you are unhappy with their service conditions either look for another moving company or hire a third-party insurance provider.

Inspect for Damage-

After the entire move is done, make sure to check and inspect all the items. If damages have been incurred, go back to the pictures taken before transit and damaged goods for reference and proof for the claim you should file with the moving company.

File a Claim-

As soon as you discover that damage has been incurred, try and file an insurance claim immediately. While filing for insurance, add supporting proof of said damaged goods (before as well as after transit), a list of all inventory that was provided to the movers beforehand, and/or any other document that could potentially bolster your case. After filing for a claim, the company could designate a claim adjuster to your claim. Keep factual information about the move ready, for instance- date of signing the contract, date of transit, phone numbers of all the movers, and also hard copies of all the documents that were received from them.

Don’t Discard Damaged Items-

Don’t dispose of the items that were damaged during transit until and unless the insurance claim that you filed for, hasn’t been cleared by the removal company. This way you still have physical evidence of the goods being broken or damaged if the claim adjuster attributed to your case needs to refer to said damaged goods. This physical evidence can also be presented to authorities if the company refuses to compensate.

Exacerbate the Issue Further-

If the company isn’t responded to your submitted claim, you could put up a review of said company on their site, as well as other review-oriented sites like Yelp. However, if the company has denied providing for any form of compensation or you did not receive a satisfactory answer or solution, taking the issue further is also another viable option. You can do this by filing for an official complaint against the removal company with the local association they are registered with.

 

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