subject: Relocating? How To Avoid Van Line Overcharges [print this page] I continue to hear horror stories from families about their bad experiences with moving companies. The tale is always the same: the big, bad, relocation company ovecharged me, demolished my furnishings and won't pay for damages. Well, I've appraised relocation claims for over 25 years, and I can tell you that the problem is not just the moving companies. Shippers invite trouble, because they don't comprehend the relocation rules or the terminology. Shippers sink more research into buying a new game system than they sink into the knowledge that everything they own is moved safely and economically.
Typically, there are Seven Fatal Mistakes that families make when they relocate. A Fatal Mistake exists when the person fails to act to protect their own interest. These Seven Fatal Mistakes can be eliminated. If a shipper knows where the hazards in the road are, they can be ready for them when they come. The intent of this article is to explain the Seven Fatal Mistakes so that families can avoid them.
Fatal Mistake Number One is that families have no concept of the worth of their furnishings. Families are charged according to the weight of their shipment, the value of the shipment, the distance shipped, and what extra services they need. If you don't know what your shipment is worth and what it weighs, how will you know if you are being invoiced correctly?
Fatal Mistake Number Two is that families found their movers on the web instead of checking for referrals. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that only about a third of all internet moving brokers meet federal registration requirements. That means that two out of three moving companies are functioning outside the rules. Yet, most families start their search for a relocation company on the internet. Yes, there are many good companies to be found on the internet. But, find your relocation company the old fashioned way: ask for referrals.
Fatal Mistake Number Three is that families don't research the company they hire. The moving industry is filled with rogue movers who will hijack your property and hold your belongings for ransom. There are many disreputable van lines who simply change their name when the claims and fines pile up. There are companies with terrible safety records and lapses in insurance.
Fatal Mistake Number Four is procrastinating until the last minute to reserve your move. You should book your move no less than eight weeks in advance, six weeks at a minimum.
Fatal Mistake Number Five is that families didn't get details in writing. The rule for a relocation contract is this: if it's not in writing, it didn't happen. Know what you're signing and what documents are needed. Any changes to the original service order must be written down.
Fatal Mistake Number Six has come up on every damage claim I have ever appraised. Don't mess up on this one: check the drivers inventory exception sheet thoroughly before signing it. The inventory exception sheet is written in code, so make sure the codes are explained to you before you sign the sheet.
Fatal Mistake Number Seven is signing the delivery receipt before the truck is unloaded. Signing the delivery receipt is an admission that all your goods were received in good condition. You don't know that everything is in good condition until the truck has been unloaded and everything has been checked.
Avoiding the Seven Fatal Mistakes will save you money and aggravation and enable you to have a trouble-free move.
