Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

I was furious. When my shipping company did not respond to my request, I was forced to file a complaint with the FMCSA. Using this information, I immediately filed a complaint (you have a window of 9 months post-submission to do this). Once my compensation was received, it was almost enough to cover the stolen items and personal belongings. Moving, stealing, or fraudulent business is something that no one should have to deal with, especially during a hectic time like moving. While steps such as doing thorough research can help you avoid this, buying an adequate travel insurance policy for your household goods and knowing who to contact and what to do after the fact can help fix the problem faster and easier.

That’s why it’s a good idea to take the necessary steps to relieve stress and protect your property during the moving process. Relying on a moving company to get all your goods from here to there without damage and at an agreed price is a lot. While there is no way to make sure your belongings don’t get lost or stolen during a move, there are definitely ways to prevent this and take steps so you don’t fall victim to fraud. Since you are moving all of your belongings during the moving process, there is a real possibility that something could be damaged or lost.

Why…because moving can also result in the loss of some of your most prized possessions—items you may have collected all your life. On average, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) receives more than 7,000 cases of property loss and fraud every year from insurance claims, small claims, and police reports. Sometimes shipping companies will hold your belongings hostage on a moving truck until you give them an excessive amount of money.

The FMCSA has a consumer protection provision called the 110% Rule, which states that shipping companies cannot charge you more than 110% of the original written estimate before shipping your items.

While it will take time to file a complaint, it is the only way to protect yourself and avoid being scammed by your shipping company. While other incidents such as late delivery, badly damaged items, and slow service may not be serious enough to be sued, they can still merit a claim. You can also file a complaint with the company if you believe that it is responsible for your damaged or lost items and did not take responsibility for them.

Consumers may also want to check the national FMCSA consumer complaints database or the local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the shipping company they are considering for use. The best way to avoid moving house theft is to research potential shipping companies and look for warning signs such as consumer complaints and lack of licenses or insurance.

Like everything else in the moving industry, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with each company’s claims processes during your pre-move inspection. Reviewing the deletion application process prior to moving will also help you decide whether or not to work with a company.

The first step is to take notes of what’s missing or damaged, read online reviews of the company for previous similar situations. You should also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and tell them that the shipping company has defrauded you. While the BBB may not resolve your dispute, filing a formal complaint can prevent fraud by the same company.

This may not solve the problem, but at least you will have written confirmation of your complaint. Once you are certain that one or more of your assets were indeed damaged during the move, you will want to start the complaint process as soon as possible. Although you have nine months to file a complaint after you move, the sooner you start the process, the better. When filing a complaint, you must first make sure that you have all the relevant documents regarding your move.

If your relocation is within a state or state, consult your state’s road carrier regulatory government agency. You can also find contact information for troubleshooting if you are migrating to the same state. County boards, including Palm Beach, Dade, and Broward counties, also have rules governing local transfers.

When researching, make sure the company is licensed and has insurance in case of loss or damage to household items. Insurers usually bear the cost of stolen items when moving lost, damaged, and stolen cases.

Filing a moving claim

Filing damages and loss claims compared to having your belongings held hostage by unscrupulous movers, suing for lost or damaged items during a move is a walk in the park. Sure, this can be another annoying headache you’d rather not face after an already stressful move, but in most cases, reputable movers will take your claims seriously if they can be substantiated. If you rush through the process and confirm that all of your items have arrived in good condition, it will be much more difficult to trace them or file a claim with the movers. Remember that if personal effects are damaged or lost, complaints often need to be filed within 30 days for local moves and 60 days for long-distance moves.

You should also check the moving vehicle to make sure the porter hasn’t forgotten to unload any of your items. Make sure both you and the moving company check inventory and confirm that the move is complete. You can also contact FMCSA to file a complaint if the moving company has lost an item. Ask a company representative to come to your home to view your items.

When a representative arrives, you should discuss what services will be provided, liability for any damage or loss that may arise during the move, and how the company will work with you to resolve the dispute. For interstate moves, the company must provide you with a brochure entitled Your Rights and Responsibilities when Moving, prepared by the FMCSA. The carrier does not provide you with a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When Moving, the Mover’s booklet is required due to federal regulations that must be provided to their clients during the planning stages of their interstate moves.

A broker on the go is a company that organizes the transport of your cargo using subcontractors to provide the service. Some shipping companies appear to be legitimate on the internet, but in reality, they are professional scammers who do not perform transfers, steal items in the process, or overload their services.

When it comes to choosing to work directly with moving companies, you can help others avoid falling prey to the same irresponsible illegal movers by writing an online review (which might be more accurately called an online notice) letting the Better Business Bureau know about your situation. , and file a complaint with government agencies and the FMCSA. You can also turn to the local news to educate others in your area about moving scams. Also, if someone you haven’t contacted offers you moving services or the company you’re considering requires a deposit, keep shopping.

Get a moving quote with a professional moving company

When you are preparing to move, it’s important to get a professional moving quote. At entrustmovers.com, we can provide you with a moving quote for a local or long-distance move.