How To File A Complaint Against A Moving Company


how to file a complaint against a moving company

Moving is a gigantic project. With an endless list of tasks and responsibilities to tackle, things can quickly go sideways. Hiring professional moving assistance is the most effective way to simplify the entire process. For the most part, this is the right way to secure the success of your relocation. However, you may be dissatisfied with the company you have hired for several reasons.

How to file a complaint against a moving company

You might be willing to dismiss an inconsiderate attitude or bad customer service for the sake of avoiding a conflict. But overcharging or lost possessions will undoubtedly prompt you to seek out a recourse. Thus, we will walk you through how to file a complaint against a moving company and when you should do so.

Things to consider before hiring a mover

Millions of people move within the US alone each year. Only a tiny part file a claim against their mover. Mostly, this is because the issues get resolved without the need for a formal complaint. So, after your big decision that it’s time to move out and live on your own, you have yet another one to make. Hiring a reputable moving company is a surefire way to keep yourself on the safe side. Whether you are moving for the first time or have done it many times before, this is an essential factor to consider. In case your relocation doesn’t go as planned, only a licensed mover will be held accountable. Hence, do thorough research and hire a reputable mover. If you need to file a claim against a moving company, you can do so as long as the business you are hiring is legitimate.

A caveat on formal claims

A leading reason for disputes between movers and customers is late delivery. The moving process can be pretty unpredictable, and the delay might be due to reasons that your mover cannot control. A few of those are bad weather, unfavorable road conditions, and unpredicted technical issues with the moving truck. While a delay can be frustrating, it’s relatively simple to resolve.

You can contact the mover’s head office and ask for compensation. In a scenario along this line, a reputable mover will offer you an acceptable solution. Leaving a public review is the best you can do in a similar situation, as shortfalls of this kind rarely qualify for a formal complaint against a mover. 

Reasons to file a complaint against a moving company

You should lodge a complaint against a mover when the company breaks the terms of the contract you’ve signed. The most common claims in the industry are filed against scam movers, who tend to charge you for moving services that they never perform. The so-called rogue movers will take your belongings and demand a fee to give them back to you.

Unfortunately, these are often unlicensed and difficult to deal with legally. You may calculate your moving expenses down to detail, from the cost to move a garage to how much you’ll pay for packing supplies. But if you try to save and chance upon scam movers who lure in victims with low rates, your chances of recourse are pretty slim. Thus, being safe is better than being sorry, and you should always work with trusted movers.

The following occurrences are among the valid reasons to consider filing a complaint against your mover:

  • Damaged or lost items
  • Property damages
  • Deliberate delays to increase hourly charges
  • Delays causing you financial loss
  • Overcharging or unexpected costs

Of course, this is not a complete list of incidents, and we cannot list all possible scenarios that may occur. However, it is well within your customers’ rights to file a claim if you think your mover has done something unacceptable and has not respected your contract.

Know the storage rental disclaimers

Often, moving means that you’ll need storage rental services. While it’s important to know your consumers’ rights in case things go wrong, you should also be familiar with the rules and do your part to stick to them. In that case, your right to object against a mover or a storage provider will be justified. Hence, make a point to read your contract and know exactly what the terms and conditions are.

Steps to filing a complaint against a moving company

There are a few regulatory agencies that you can lodge a complaint form against a mover with. However, any of those will want to know what happened when you filed a complaint with the moving company first. Thus, talk to your mover and address the issue with them first. Most of them will offer a genuine apology and a suitable solution to resolve the issue. Here are a few points worth noting:

Most mistakes aren’t deliberate Accidents happen, and movers want to avoid them as much as you do. So, before you officially file a complaint against a moving company, contact them and see what options they offer you to resolve the issue.

Keep your composure It might be tempting to unleash your anger when your move goes downhill. But your loud voice and stingy comments will not go in your favor. As difficult as this may seem, do your best to remain calm. This is sure to help you score some extra points and get the best out of the situation.

Your feedback is a tool for improvement A good mover will constructively take your complaint and adjust their services to prevent similar mistakes from occurring again. All businesses care about their good reputation, and you wouldn’t need to escalate the issue further if you’ve picked a good mover at the start.

If your efforts to sort out the matter with the company itself turn out to be fruitless, you can resort to filing a formal claim.

Things you will need for filing a formal claim

To lodge a claim against your mover, you’ll need to provide the necessary information. Composing a moving into a new house checklist might be your top priority, but you shouldn’t forget to write down important dates, numbers, and names either. To put down the claim, you will need to provide your and the mover’s name, address, and phone number. Besides, be sure to note the mover’s USDOT and MC numbers and the pickup and delivery address as well. Along with these, you’ll need to write a detailed description of the incident that concerns you. You can address this at the pertaining state agency for claims against the intrastate movers or at the FMCSA if you are moving interstate.

The Federal Motor Xarrier Safety Aministration – FMCSA

The FMCSA is a government agency that regulates the trucking industry in the country. You can file a complaint against a mover with them as long as you are moving from one state to another. Here you can report issues connected to lost or damaged items, final bill overcharging, failure to deliver possessions by the date stated on your Bill of Lading, or moving frauds. When the FMCSA accepts your formal claim, it’s noted in the mover’s public record.

The Better Business Bureau – BBB

Your next step in seeking out justice is to file a claim against your mover with the BBB. On average, complaints against moving companies filed with this agency take one month to get resolved. A BBB representative will contact the business in question within 48 hours after you’ve submitted your claim. The mover will have 14 days to provide a reply to it, after which you’ll be informed about the results.

The American Moving and Storage Association – AMSA

If your concerns are related to the quality of relocation services you played for, delays, or other issues that aren’t within the guidelines of arbitration, you can file a complaint against a moving company with AMSA as a final step. But, before you do so, ensure you are familiar with the content of your contract. If you are confident that you haven’t done anything wrong and that your mover has broken the rules, you should report the issue by all means.

Conclusion

In summary, the points mentioned above will guide you on how to file a complaint against a moving company if the need arises. Ultimately, remember that the best remedy is to work with reliable companies and stay on the safe side.

Featured photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-unrecognizable-black-man-sharing-complains-with-female-psychologist-5699466/

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