Do You Know Your Moving Rights?

When you hire interstate movers, you will get a copy of documents that contains “your rights and responsibilities when you move”. Though, most of the people don’t know their moving rights while hiring interstate moving companies. Here we have come up with a guide of moving rights so on your next move you will know your rights and responsibilities that will make your move easier.

Your movers are required to offer you a written estimate

The company should provide you a written estimate based on the cost of the move. Interstate moving companies offer this estimate based on the total weight of the shipment. The cost calculator is used to calculate the cost of the overall estimate. Keep in mind that it is your right to get a moving estimate from your movers. It is recommended you do not sign any incomplete or blank estimate. A verbal estimate can’t be considered as the official document.

The cost estimate can be both binding and non-binding

Your mover can offer you both the binding or non-binding cost estimate. You will get this cost estimate before you move. A binding estimate is a cost that will be there on the final written estimate. Though if you add a few more items to your shipment after a binding estimate then it is mover’s right to provide you a new binding estimate. Note that some movers also charge you to create a binding estimate.

While a non-binding estimate is not a guarantee, it is just a predictor of the cost. In such a case, the final charges can be higher or lower as per the total weight of the shipment, the mover’s tariff and according to the services you have taken.

There should be two liability options in an estimate

All the movers should have to offer some degree of liability to customers for the security of the belongings they are transporting. The two liability options that they should provide are the full value protection and waiver of full value protection.

In full value protection, the price is written on the initial written estimate. In this case, if one of your item or belongings damaged during shipping then it is the responsibility of the movers either to repair it or replace it with the same. While in waiver of full value protection, you will receive a specific percentage of the total damage cost. This specific percentage is usually 60% of the total value. Full value liability option is expensive as compare to the waiver of full value protection. Do your maths and choose the one from the two availability liability options as per your needs and requirements.

It is your right to get an order for service from movers

It is the responsibility of the mover to prepare an order for service as per the shipment of your belongings. This order for service includes the entities of movers such as their name, address, telephone number and some basic identification of you such as your name, address. It also contains information like movers who are participating in the shipment process, the binding or non-binding estimate, terms and conditions of the move and other information regarding your move. The order for service also includes “Your rights and responsibilities while you move”.

You can file a claim for damage or loss during move

You have the right to file a claim in case of loss or damage of the belongings during transportation. But make sure that you have to submit the written claim within the nine months of the damage. And it is the responsibility of the mover to acknowledge it within 30 days after receiving it. After that, they also have 120 days to find a resolution in respect of the claim you have made.

Agreement on shipment pick-up and delivery dates

Before embarking on a move, it is important to settle an agreement in between you and mover. In this timeframe, you need to be present at the location to accept your shipment on delivery. There should be a particular date on pickup and delivery instead designated it “as soon as possible”.

In case, if the mover arrives before the date and time written on the agreement then it is their responsibility to handle the items or belongings until you reach there. It is their responsibility to keep your items protected from date of pick-up to date of delivery.

Moving company license

It is the responsibility of the moving companies to inform you about the license they own. They should provide you the number of their license. It is your right to ask for a license and to see it as well before hiring a moving company for your move.

Know your insurance-related moving rights

Apart from the two liability options to choose named as full value protection or waiver of full value protection, you can also be entitled to purchase third party cargo insurance if you want. But it is your responsibility to tell your mover if you are buying a third party cargo liability insurance. If you fail in doing then you might face loss in case of damage of the property.

Conclusion: Before embarking on a move, it is very important to know your moving rights. If you are not even aware of your rights and responsibilities then how you can protect these, so it is crucial to know it beforehand.