For every good move that someone experiences in dealing with the moving
industry, there is at least one bad move someone is going to experience. Most,
if not all of the bad moves are due to the lack of knowledge of the rights that
you’re given during your move.
All moving companies that you consider to assist you with your move must
provide you with a booklet about ‘Your Rights and Responsibilities When You
Move,’ which is created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA).
Once you receive the booklet from your mover, read as much as of as you can.
You’ll learn what types of insurance a mover can cover, what you can do to
limit a mover’s liability of your belongings, the difference between a binding
estimate and a non-binding estimate and much more.
What You Must Know
Under federal law, any mover you decide to select for the transport of your
belongings to your new home must give you the ‘Rights and Responsibilities’
booklet.
Moving Companies
Movers can provide you with two types of moving insurance, such as Full Value
Protection or Release Value of 60 Cents per Pound for Article. These insurances
are very different and can lead to dispute once the move is over if you confuse
the two.
There are notorious reports of moving companies overcharging people once the
movers arrive, there are reasons for that, some good, some bad. The moving
company that’s selected must inform you of adequate forms of payment at the
drop-off point, when the mover prepares an estimate for you. If you and your
mover are operating under a non-binding contract, you could pay up to 10% more
than your original estimate that was provided to. Before anything is done
between you and your mover, make sure the contract and terms that were reached
is a binding estimate. The binding estimate will limit any illegal activity
that the mover might perpetuate.
When people are overcharged by a mover when its time to unload a person’s
belongings will cause the person to be angry and seek legal action. However,
they may think the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration can assist them
in this venture, the sad news that’s incorrect.
FMCSA & FILING CLAIMS
The FMCSA does not have the capabilities to assist you and file a court
injunction against the moving company you chose. However, if you read the
booklet, you’d know that you have nine months to file a claim against the
moving company you used for any damages or losses you experienced throughout
the move. Once nine months has passed that means that the moving company is no
longer required to acknowledge your claim.
Before you Move
Make sure you read the booklet created by the FMCSA, front to back. There are
more items in the book that aren’t mentioned here such as requirements that the
order of service must contain as well as the requirements for the Bill of
Lading. There is also important information about the delivery receipt. Make
sure the moving company you select gives you your ‘Rights and
Responsibilities.’