How do/did you handle damage done by movers?

[athena1277]

We just had movers move us and have found several damaged items.:mad: The packers are mostly at fault. How do you decide what to file claims with insurance for? We used the insurance through our homeowners policy, if that makes a difference. We feel like the company should still be held responsible for the damage. Most of the damage is small, but will cost to repair or replace. Some things are not replaceable.:crying: I'm just not sure how to go about dealing with this. What advice does the hive have for me? Thanks!

[athena1277]

Surely someone has a BTDT experience to share. Anyone???

[Annie G]

We just called the moving company and they sent us a claim form. We filled it out and they handled it.

[Kelli in TN]

Smack his head and say "Honey, why weren't you more careful?"

[Suzanne in ABQ]

We moved four times with movers. Every time, the driver gave us an itemized list of every box and every piece of furniture, along with instructions for how to file claims. There were usually something like 120 days to file a claim. We hardly ever had to make a claim, but when we did, we filed and were paid by the moving company. We never involved our homeowners insurance.

[Hillary in KS]

We moved four times with movers. Every time, the driver gave us an itemized list of every box and every piece of furniture, along with instructions for how to file claims. There were usually something like 120 days to file a claim. We hardly ever had to make a claim, but when we did, we filed and were paid by the moving company. We never involved our homeowners insurance.

 

Yes. After four moves we've only ever had damage once. We filed the claim form from the company's website and the company sent out an inspector to see if the item could be repaired or needed to be replaced. As it turned out, it would have been more expensive to repair it so they sent us a check for the cost to replace the item.

 

No homeowner's insurance involved.

 

Now, the thing is, your belongings were likely insured by the mover's insurance at the cost of $0.50 per pound, or whatever they carry. So if your flat screen weighs 30 pounds, they'll send you a check for $15 to replace it. Not great.

 

If you purchase insurance for items to be repaired/replaced at actual cost, they will do that. But that's something you have to purchase from them.

 

We paid $500 to insure 11,000 lbs. of "stuff" when we moved from KS to NE.

[Mabelen]

Yes. After four moves we've only ever had damage once. We filed the claim form from the company's website and the company sent out an inspector to see if the item could be repaired or needed to be replaced. As it turned out, it would have been more expensive to repair it so they sent us a check for the cost to replace the item.

 

No homeowner's insurance involved.

 

Now, the thing is, your belongings were likely insured by the mover's insurance at the cost of $0.50 per pound, or whatever they carry. So if your flat screen weighs 30 pounds, they'll send you a check for $15 to replace it. Not great.

 

If you purchase insurance for items to be repaired/replaced at actual cost, they will do that. But that's something you have to purchase from them.

 

We paid $500 to insure 11,000 lbs. of "stuff" when we moved from KS to NE.

 

Nowadays the basic included insurance is $0.60 per pound per item. Like you say you can buy full replacement insurance from the movers. For both the basic (free) and the full replacement insurance purchased from the movers, you process your claim through the moving company. If you have homeowners insurance that covers your goods during the move, you would have to claim through your insurance company.

[BikeBookBread]

We're military, so it might be different, but we HAD to file a claim with our HO first for anything lost, and then get a formal "rejection" for the damaged items which would be covered by the military. Our HO insurance then subrogates for reimbursement from the movers, as will the USAF. So one way or the other, the movers WILL pay...your insurance company WILL try to be reimbursed. (I used to be a claims adjuster.)

[lynn]

Pictures and estimates for replace/repair and file the claim with the movers asap. Sometimes you can only make 1 claim for all damage within a certain amount of time. so be sure to open every box and test all electronics. Is there is damage on the box take pictures. If there's damage from faulty packing take pictures. We lost almost every electronic thing we had years ago due to the movers picking up our items in CT in June and not getting to or unloading in Cape Canaveral for several weeks thus the heat damaged a lot of electronic items. We just had a time frame took pictures and got estimate and submitted. I understand about the items that cannot be replaced this has happened to us before. We have not had any issues and got remimbursed in a timely manner.