How to file a moving claim
- Check the delivery against the inventory As items are unloaded, compare them with the inventory and write any missing or damaged item on the inventory form.
- Photograph the damage Take clear photos of damaged items and packaging before anything is repaired or discarded.
- Keep the evidence Hold on to damaged items, the bill of lading, the inventory and the estimate.
- Write the claim Describe each item, the problem and the amount you are claiming, and attach copies of your documents.
- Send it within 9 months of delivery Deliver the claim in writing to your mover or its third-party insurer and keep proof that you sent it.
- Track the deadlines Expect an acknowledgment within 30 days and a decision within 120 days, and ask about arbitration if you cannot agree.
Most moves finish without a claim, but items do get chipped, scuffed or misplaced. A calm process, started on the day of delivery, gives you a strong chance of a fair outcome. The steps below follow federal rules for interstate household goods moves.
At delivery: build the record
Federal rules give you the chance to observe that the same articles are being delivered and to see their condition, and to write down any missing articles and the condition of any damaged ones. Check each item against the inventory as it comes off the truck. If you find new damage, mark it on the inventory, point it out to the crew and ask that the mover's copy be marked too. Do not sign the mover's copy until it is accurate. Take photos of damage before moving the item.
Within 9 months: send the written claim
You have 9 months from the date of delivery, or from the date the shipment should have been delivered if the whole shipment was lost, to submit your claim. It must be in writing, addressed to the mover or its third-party insurer. Include your name and shipment number, the items, a description of the loss or damage, the amount you are claiming and copies of the inventory, bill of lading, photos and any repair estimates.
What the mover must do next
Once your claim is in, the mover has 30 days to acknowledge it in writing and tell you what extra documents it needs. It then has 120 days to pay, decline or make a firm settlement offer in writing. If it cannot finish in that time, it must tell you in writing, and it may take extensions of 60 days.
If you cannot agree
FMCSA cannot settle a claim for you. Your options are arbitration and a lawsuit. A mover is required to offer an arbitration program, and if you request arbitration on a claim of 10,000 dollars or less, the mover must agree and the decision is binding. Above that amount the mover decides whether to agree. You may also go to court instead.
What affects the amount
The valuation level on your bill of lading sets how much the mover owes, as described in the valuation guide. Declared high-value articles, packing you did yourself and hazardous items you did not disclose can all change the result. For storage in transit, a separate 9-month period begins after the date the mover converts the goods to permanent storage.