Moving Tips

Today's Helpful Topic: Damage Claims and Missing Items

Damage Claims:

Interstate movers allow nine months from the time of delivery to submit a claim for damage to your household goods. Locals move claims must be submitted within 30 days. Your shipment is considered delivered if it is unloaded into a residence, public/self storage unit, or into permanent storage. To file a claim you must request a claim form from the movers. All claims must be made in writing, include sufficient information to identify the item, and must include the inventory number and estimated amount for the repair or estimated replacement amount. If you do not have the original receipt supply the manufacturer of the item should be acceptable.

If you have done everything outlined in our Moving Facts Booklet, with regards to notations of damages, and missing items and declaring high value items with the mover, there should be no problems with having your claim settled quickly and fairly. If you have difficulty however, or haven't heard from the mover within 30 days of submitting your claim, please contact your CRS Consultant. They will assist you in whatever they can.

Important- The success of any claim is dependent on the notations made on the inventory sheet at the time of loading and delivery. you only have one opportunity to file a claim, therefore, it is imperative that you inspect all of your household goods prior to filing. Also, the movers will NOT settle a claim if your shipment has been moved from the location of original delivery.

Missing Items:

It is your responsibility to make sure all of your items arrive with the shipment at the time of delivery. If there are items missing, you must inform the driver and notate the missing articles on the inventory sheet. if you do not notice an item is missing until after delivery is completed, it is important that you notify the mover as soon as possible. The mover will place a trace to attempt to locate the item ( some movers will require you to file a damage claim in order to start a trace). If the item is not found, you may put in a claim for recovery. However, if the loss was not notated on the inventory at delivery, it is highly unlikely that the mover will accept liability,

Important- Because of the limit of mover liability on self packed boxes and high value items that are not declared prior to loading, it is unlikely that the movers will settle a claim for loss of these items.