How to submit a claim for moving damage in NYC

Even though you have done the research and hired professionals, there are times when even they make a mistake during the moving process. Of course, this is not something they intended or something they are proud of. However, the result is not something you, as a client, are satisfied with. Luckily, even in a situation like this, there is a solution. All you have to do is to submit a claim for moving damage, and the local moving company NYC will make it up to you. In this article, we are going to give you some instructions on the matter. Make sure you follow them, and there will be nothing to worry about!

Do not trouble yourself with questions ‘what if?’ and ‘why me?’

The damage has already been done, right? There is no need for you to prolong the agony and trouble yourself with questions such as ‘what if?’ and ‘why me?’ That is not a satisfactory situation neither for you nor for your moving company. However, there is a solution even for an occasion such as this one. If you have moving insurance, there is nothing to worry about. You will know what your rights are when an unexpected situation happens, such as this one. All you should do is to focus on the paperwork and make sure each and every step is taken correctly. So, prepare yourself mentally and make sure you know what steps you need to make.

How to submit a claim for moving damage

First of all, you should know that you can file a complaint but only in the case where you have a signed inventory sheet. Of course, this is something that each and every professional moving company, such as NYC movers, will provide you with before the move.

An additional piece of advice would be to photograph your belongings before your mover takes them away. By doing this, you will have a piece of evidence that your items were in perfect condition before the movers loaded them in the moving truck. It is also a good idea to make a detailed inventory of your belongings. That will be of great use when you need to submit a claim for moving damage.

Act as soon as you notice a broken item

Once the movers unload the moving truck, check each and every item of yours. In case you notice that even one of them is broken, damaged, or lost, you should act immediately. What you should do is to contact your moving company and inform them that you will submit a claim for moving damage. Also, make sure you use the original inventory sheet as a piece of evidence.

Of course, you should not forget to add the photos you have taken before the transport. Plus, you should add photos of the damaged items. That is the best way in which you can prove your statement. You can even document in written form the damage of the items. That is something that should be done ‘just in case’ since there is no such thing as having too many pieces of evidence.

Do not touch or throw away the damaged items

Something you should not do at any cost is to move the damaged items around or to throw them away. You should not try to fix them as well. That can cause major damage to that item, or it can damage other items around it. Plus, the moving company will surely send a company representative to see the item and inspect the damage. It is much better if they can see what the real condition of that item is. If this item is on your way, and prevents you from completing your daily tasks, ask what to do with it. In case there is something you can do, the moving company will give you some tips.

All the paperwork should be at hand

One of the most important things you should do is to keep copies of all the documents you have signed and all the pieces of evidence you have delivered. These are very important, and you should have them at hand until the process is over. In addition to this, you should be prepared for filling in several forms. All the moving companies in Brooklyn have regular procedures for making claims, so this should not come as a surprise.

Even though the time frame for filling in the claim and processing it is up to 9 months, the sooner you finish this, the better. In this way, you will give your company enough time to process the claim. However, if you do not hear from them within the set time-frame, you should contact the Better Business Bureau. They are going to mediate, and both parties will be satisfied.

The price of the damaged items is quite important

Your moving company may be going to ask you to note the price of the items. You will have to provide them with the price at the moment you have bought it and on the day when they were damaged. If you get a full refund, this is more than excellent. However, it is also possible that customers do not get a full refund. If this is the case with you, you should try to negotiate with your movers.

By doing this, you can get the best possible offer from the moving company. If the moving company is not willing to negotiate, you can take legal action. Namely, you can proceed with a lawsuit, but you should know that this can be a time-consuming and expensive procedure for both parties.

Declare your belongings as valuable as they are

You already know that the cost of moving insurance is usually linked to the dollar amount you value your goods at. So, in case you choose to value your goods at less than they are actually worth, you will probably save some money upfront. However, when you file a moving insurance claim, you should write the exact cost of items in question. The reason for this is that your moving company will pay you according to the original value you have declared.

A settlement should always be an option

Something you should avoid when you submit a claim for moving damage involves a third party. Since your goal is a positive outcome of this issue, try to communicate with your moving company in a civilized way and reach a settlement. Each and every reputable moving company will not only make a decent offer for an agreement but will also compensate you.

On the other hand, if there is a negative outcome, you should file a complaint at FMCSA. In addition to this, you should also share your bad experience with other customers by writing a review. That is something that people who are moving to Brooklyn will appreciate. They will know that even if something unexpected happens, they cannot count on getting a refund for their belongings.

How to try to prevent this from happening

When looking for a moving company, you should not only read good reviews. Make sure you read the bad ones as well. The reason for this is simple- you are going to learn a lot from them. For example, you will know how a certain moving company acts in situations like these. You will learn whether you can get a refund or not.

Also, you will see if they are friendly and willing to cooperate. In case you realize this is not the case, the best thing you should do is not to hire them. It is a much better idea to spend even a whole day more searching for a professional than learning how to submit a claim for moving damage. That will only cost you money, time and, what is more important, nerves.

Pay special attention when choosing a mover for relocating your office

Even though home relocation is a process that requires a professional, you should also choose your commercial mover with great care. The reason for this is quite simple- you need someone capable of transporting your equipment with no damage. That is precisely why you should hire the best commercial movers NYC has to offer. They are going to do everything in their power to avoid damaging a single piece of your equipment.

You can even count on them to pack all of them and safely transport them to the new office. Of course, should you take a look at their reviews, you will see that they will provide you with premium services. Also, in case there is somehow any damage done to an item of yours, you will get to make a settlement with them.

You know that even professionals can sometimes make a mistake. A moment of distraction is needed for your belongings to get damaged. However, if you have moving insurance, there will be nothing for you to worry about. What you should do next is to submit a claim for moving damage. We know that this is a complex process, which is why we have provided you with several tips on the matter.

First of all, you should document the damage. After that, you should fill in some paperwork and send it to the moving company. Once you have done this, all you have to do is wait. If your mover finds a satisfactory solution, it is perfect. If not, other authorities can help you make a settlement and get your refund.