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The lamp was your grandmother’s. You wrapped it yourself in three layers of bubble wrap and marked the box “FRAGILE” in red marker. Now you’re standing in your new Green Bay apartment staring at pieces of broken porcelain scattered across the floor. Your chest tightens. Can you get compensated for this? What do you do first?
Moving Claims Guide
About 30% of moves involve some type of damage according to industry data. Scratched furniture, broken dishes, missing items, or dented appliances happen even with careful planning. The difference between getting reimbursement and eating the loss comes down to knowing the claim process and acting fast.
Your Coverage Isn’t What You Think
Moving companies don’t work like regular insurance. When they say “licensed and insured,” that doesn’t mean your belongings are fully protected. They offer valuation options, and most people choose the wrong kind without realizing it.
Released value protection is free and pays 0.60 per pound for damaged items. Your 80-pound dresser worth $2,000 gets you $48. This works fine if you’re moving milk crates and futons, but it’s terrible for real furniture or high-value items.
Full-value protection costs extra but actually covers what things are worth:
- The mover repairs or replaces damaged items at actual value
- For a typical move, you’ll pay 1 to 2% of your shipment value
- On a $5,000 load, that’s $50 to $100 for real insurance coverage
- Moving companies typically offer two valuation options at minimum
Here’s what nobody tells you: many moving companies won’t cover damage to boxes you packed yourself. They can’t verify how you packed it, so they deny those damage claims. Green Bay Moving Co. offers professional packing, cleaning, and installation services specifically because professional mover packing creates accountability and protects your claim rights.
Document Before Moving Day
You can’t fix this after damage happens. Smart documentation before your move separates successful claims from denied ones.
Pull out your phone and photograph all high-value items. Get multiple angles. Zoom in on existing scratches so nobody can claim that damage happened during the move.
What to photograph before the moving process begins:
- All furniture from at least three angles
- Close-ups of any existing damage
- Electronics and their serial numbers
- Antiques and valuable belongings
- Your walls, floors, and doorframes
Your mover will create an inventory list on moving day. This becomes part of your Bill of Lading, which is both moving contract and receipt. Read every line. If something is marked damaged and it’s not, speak up. Our experienced moving crews in Green Bay WI go through the inventory with you to make sure everything is accurate.
Keep receipts for expensive stuff. When your TV breaks, the claims adjuster wants proof you paid $1,200 for it three years ago, regardless of the item’s current condition.
Delivery Day Is Critical
The next few minutes determine whether your claim for lost or damaged belongings succeeds or fails. What you sign at delivery carries legal weight.
Do not sign the Bill of Lading or delivery paperwork until you inspect everything. Crews sometimes rush you because they’ve got another job waiting. Push back.
Check these items carefully:
- Count every box against the inventory list
- Look for crushed corners on damaged boxes
- Check furniture for fresh scratches or dents
- Walk through looking for property damage to walls
- Open boxes with fragile items if possible
Found visible damage? Write it on the delivery paperwork right now. Be specific. “Table damaged” won’t cut it. Write “dining table top has 4-inch scratch on left side” with today’s date. Make the driver sign it.
Some damage to items only shows up when you unpack days later. That’s concealed loss or damage and it’s still claimable under federal law. You’ve got nine months of delivery to file a claim, but sooner is better.
How to File a Movers Damage Claim
You found damaged or lost items. Now you need your money back. The claim process has specific steps and moving companies will use any mistake to deny you.
Contact your moving company within 48 hours. Also send an email so there’s a paper trail. Ask for their claim form. Every licensed mover has one, and they’re required to give it to you.
What you’ll need to file a damage claim:
- Your Bill of Lading with the delivery date
- The inventory list from moving day
- Photos of damaged items from multiple angles
- Photos of how items were packed
- Receipts showing original purchase price
- Written description of damaged goods
Fill out their claim form completely in the case of damage. Describe each damaged item in detail. State exactly what you want: repair, replacement, or cash reimbursement. Calculate how much compensation you’re requesting.
Send it certified mail through the claims department. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations say the moving company is responsible and must acknowledge your claim within 30 days. They get 120 more days to resolve your claim. Filing your claim properly keeps the process moving forward.
When Claims Get Denied
Not every damage claim works out. Moving companies deny claims for predictable reasons you can avoid.
Late filing after nine months kills claims automatically. Missing documentation gives them an easy out. Pre-existing damage confuses things, which is why before photos matter. Self-packed boxes get denied almost always under basic coverage terms.
If they deny your claim with the mover, ask for a written explanation:
- Sometimes adding more photos or receipts can change their mind
- For interstate movers, the company must offer arbitration through Surface Transportation Board
- You can file a complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Small claims court handles damages under $5,000 to $10,000
- You’ll need to file a lawsuit for higher amounts
Third-party moving insurance offers additional protection beyond what interstate movers must offer. It covers loss and damage that your moving company’s basic plan won’t.
Why Professional Movers Prevent Problems
Dealing with lost or damaged goods is miserable. Preventing damage during the move beats submitting your claim every single time.
Professional training makes a huge difference. Our crews know how to lift furniture without dropping it, navigate tight staircases without scraping walls, and load the delivery truck so nothing shifts. Green Bay Moving Co. handles cleaning, repair, installation, and moving services daily while amateur movers learn the hard way.
Equipment matters more than people realize:
- Furniture blankets protect surfaces during the moving process
- Floor runners save your hardwood from damage or missing scratches
- Proper dollies move heavy household goods safely
- Straps keep loads from shifting in the delivery truck
We keep our damage rate under 2% across all our residential, office, and apartment moving services. That comes from careful pre-move assessments, quality packing materials, and knowing how Wisconsin homes are built. When choosing a mover, experience in the moving industry matters.
Skip the DIY Gamble
Most damage happens during DIY moves. People drop furniture, scratch walls, break dishes, and throw out their backs. When you damage your own belongings, there’s nobody to file a claim against.
Rental truck companies offer minimal coverage that pays almost nothing in the event of a claim. Your insurance company might cover some losses but the deductible usually exceeds the damage value.
Green Bay Moving Co. gives you upfront pricing with zero hidden fees. We carry full insurance coverage on every move. Our family-owned company built its reputation by treating your household possessions during the move like our own across Green Bay, Appleton, Manitowoc, and Oshkosh.
We handle local and long-distance movers jobs with the same care. Contact moving company directly today for a free quote. See why families trust our residential movers for stress-free relocations moving into your new home.
