Dispute Resolution Program If a problem arises with your household goods transportation company (moving company), you should first try to reach an agreement to resolve the conflict. Take legal action against your moving company. Moving can be stressful and chaotic, and when things go wrong, the blame often falls on one of the closest objectives: the moving company. Disputes between moving companies and customers often turn into disputes over payment, which can easily turn into chargebacks.
Add a moving company that offers a final price you don't agree with or that delivers broken furniture, and the process can turn into a nightmare. While moving issues can vary, some issues tend to come up more frequently than others. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) lists shipments held hostage, loss of property, damage to property, and delayed shipments among the most common complaints about interstate removals. If you're annoyed with the work done by the moving company you hired, you might want to take action quickly.
However, keep in mind that quick decisions, such as running to file a lawsuit, may not provide the best results. Follow these five steps to address any complaints you have about your moving company and reach a resolution that you're happy with. Carefully review the terms set out by the company in the agreement. Certain requirements may be included with respect to how to handle problems you have with the company.
The contract may stipulate that you will have to notify the company of the damage and file a claim within a certain period of time, for example, within nine months of delivery. It could also indicate limitations on the amount of money that can be claimed. When contacting the company, follow the guidelines described in the contract. In addition, keep a record of your communication with the moving company.
Note the date you first contacted the company and describe your complaint. Then, keep track of the responses you receive from the moving company. If you can't resolve the problem directly with the moving company, you have other resources at your disposal. In the case of a move from state to state, you can file a formal complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
For example, if your moving company disappears with your merchandise, you can report it to the federal agency, which is part of the U.S. UU. Department of Transportation, about the situation online or by phone. Depending on the case, the agency may take enforcement action against the moving company.
If the moving company is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association, you can tell the group about your problem. When you file a consumer complaint with the Better Business Bureau, it will be referred to the company within two business days. The moving company will be asked to respond within 14 days and, if no response is received, a second request will be sent. Complaints are generally resolved within 30 business days.
If the moving company has made you a final settlement offer that you're not satisfied with, arbitration may be an option. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that interstate moving companies have a neutral arbitration program. Through this configuration, a third party helps resolve a dispute between you and your moving company. One such program is the AMSA arbitration program, which is commonly used in the moving industry to help resolve disputes.
An arbitration fee is charged and is usually divided between the customer and the moving company. Some moving companies may offer to charge the fee. If you're thinking about contacting an attorney, “look at how much money is at stake,” Miller said. For lawsuits involving a small amount of money, a lawsuit can usually be filed in small claims court, Irwin said.
You won't need a lawyer to do this, and the fees are usually low. However, if the amount of money in question is large enough to justify the expenses of an attorney, it is in your best interest to seek legal help. The first, very logical step you should take is to contact your moving company right away and try to solve any problems you may have. The peaceful resolution of a dispute or claim is always the best solution for both parties, since a lot of time, money and nerves can be saved with simple efforts to reach a mutual understanding.
If a moving company refuses to deliver your goods until you pay them more money (beyond what's in the contract), you may need the help of an attorney who specializes in Florida moving company disputes. According to the Census Bureau, about 36 million Americans move every year, so you can imagine how busy most moving companies are. I moved from Tampa Florida to Rockford, IL and used North American Moving Company. It's been a nightmare.
The moving company is supposed to follow these steps and processes during every move, with no exceptions. But what if your moving company doesn't show up when they said it would? What happens if your items are lost or broken during transport? What if they claim that they are not to blame for these problems? If you've been involved in a dispute with a moving company and you're not sure what to do next, keep reading for more information. Information about the day or time of the move is not provided until the day before, the final price will not be given to you until the move is finished. While even the best moving companies can make mistakes from time to time, you can often avoid problems with moving companies if you do a lot of research beforehand and only hire a reputable moving company.
In cases where the moving company breaches the contract or has completely breached its duty during your move, your lawyer will proceed to take your case to court to help you obtain the money that is owed to you for the damage suffered by your items. If the professional moving company isn't willing to take the matter seriously, or if the problem you're having with them is much more serious than a chipped table or a few broken kitchen plates, then it's time for you to try to make the moving company take you and your complaint more seriously by writing a review about the move. Between the problems related to the lack of employees to move heavy objects and the problems that can arise while packing the truck, you'll find that moving companies sometimes drop the ball. Even so, the best thing about writing a review about your moving company is that the moving company is more likely to read your side of the story and, in most cases, respond with their own version of what happened.
Many moving companies will package your items for you to move, and you'll want to be sure to check how fragile items are packaged. Payments to moving companies tend to be large, either for the entire move or for a significant part of it, which means that each chargeback represents the loss of a large part of the revenue. .
