Know the risks when hiring a mover
There's the purging, the cleaning, the packing and selecting a professional mover to handle your personal property with care.
So making sure you know how to protect your household goods while in transit can help you reduce the risks and protect yourself from any damage or loss that may occur.
According to the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), the liability for loss or damage is shared between the consumer and the mover.
That's why it's important to do your research to find a reputable mover.
A reputable mover will offer to accept the customer's risk for a fee or include this coverage in the price of the move. This fee may be based on either the value that the customer declares for the goods or a $10 per pound average.
Also note, that the mover is not liable for loss or damage to contents of boxes that have been packed by the consumer unless there is negligence on behalf of the mover.
That's why CAM recommends investigating what your mover will do in the event of a problem, to ask questions and to get all your agreements in writing.
Movers are only liable for goods that are disclosed on the contract, Bill of Lading.
And remember, movers are not liable for damage to mechanical, electric or other operations of articles including radios, clocks, appliances and instruments. Same goes with any perishables such as food and plants. And remember to back-up any data on your computer.
Make sure when moving that you do not pack valuables such as jewelry, money and important documents, but rather keep them on yourself or better yet, in a safety deposit box.
Moving can be a lot less stressful by taking some steps in preparation by making sure you have a reputable mover, by getting the terms and conditions of your move in writing, and by ensuring you know how your goods will be protected in the event of any loss or damage.
Once you get to your new destination, the fun part begins -- unpacking.
By Donna Donaldson, MSN Money
What kind of experiences have you had moving? Have you ever had a problem with loss or damage and how was it rectified?
Posted by: DrVex007 | Jun 7, 2021 5:10:36 AM
I have had a disasterous experience with two "Professional" Movers taken directly from the yellow pages. My pregnant wife and I lived in a one bedroom condo. Certainly not a large space and no appliances were being moved, so it really wasn't much to move.Our closing day was on a Friday, so we booked the move for the Wednesday giving ourselves a buffer just in case something went wrong. Good thing that we did, because everything went wrong. The first mover agreed to do our move saying that it was unnecessary to come and see the condo (700 sq ft) so the contract was signed and the big wednesday arrived, but so did mother nature, giving us a terrible snow storm. The mover called and postponed to the next day. I was upset that they did and wondered why they did so early in the day. Shouldn't they have waited to see if the day would clear up? Anyway, we stil had our buffer so our move became a Thursday plan. Whew I am glad I built in that buffer I thought to myself. The next day the 8am move time arrived, but the movers had not. I called them and no answer so I left a voicemail. Finally they did call back telling me that they were delayed because the store from the day before necessitated them to finish a previous move first, but that they would be there by 3pm. Now at this point my pregnant wife was becoming quite worried. Don't worry honey, I built in this buffer just for this reason I told her, but I secretly beoming quite worried myself. The moverfinally arrived at 5pm with a very small van. The movers walked into my condo and immediately said, we cannot do this move as our truck is too small. I argued profusely at this point, because I had asked them to come and see the place before agreeing to the move and insisted that they make multiple trips as it wasn't my fault that they were so poorly organzied. They refused and left. Now it is 5pm, we have to be out of there by 12 noon the next day and i had no mover and a VERY upset pregnant wife. Things were very bad, but they were about to become much worse. I called mover after mover from the yellow pages and whew a saviour of sorts. A mover available that very day for a price only a little more than our original move ($1200)r. A contract was sent by fax and it looked standard and good to go. My wife signed it and we were set. They would arrive at 6pm and we would be on our way. 6pm came and went and so did 7 and 8pm. At 9am they finally arrived. He walked in and immediately said, we just finished another move and we are tired, so here is what we'll do. "We will load up the truck and take it back to our "yard" and in the morning we'll meet you there to unload." While we were discussing this, one of his crew was already loading up the truck and he was fast. Half of the condo was loaded during our conversation and that included numerous 8 floor elevator rides. I had a big problem with the "taking it back to the yard concept." I have never hired movers before but this "plan" sounded awfully fishy to me. Besides if they are so tired, how is it they he loaded up his truck so quickly with one guy while the "boss" spoke to me? At that pace they could be done in an hour and a half. You took this job knowing full well that you were already doing another move and we have to get out of here, I told him.I really, REALLY did not want to let him take everything I owned back to his misterious yard because I suspected that I would never see my stuff again, but he insisted that he wouldn't do the move and he knew that we were stuck.I came up with a very clever alternative. I said, "wait this condo has a very large undergound parking garabe that can easily take in his truck and the security of this condo will keep it safe. I willdrive you guys home (30 minute drive) and pick you guys up in the morning and we'll finish the move. What do you think?" He didn't like the idea because as I was later to find out, he wanted my stuff, not to complete the job he agreed to. Reluctantly he said, fine go down and ask the consierge if they'll do it and we'll go with your plan. Off I went to ask them and while I was speaking to the consierge, what I didn't know is that they were unloading their truck and leaving. AS I came back upstairs, they were gone and my stuff was left behind. Essentially they had qui for the night, but they agreed to come back the following day and my wife had signed a new contract for the same price. Now it was 11pm and we had nothing moved and the new onwer was moving in the next morning at 12 noon. The next morning at 8am sharp they arrived. The owner from the night before wasn't there so everything looked good. While they were loading, the crew chief was complaining to me about his boss stating that he was a Pr**k adn that he had done that before. What I didn't know was that he was setting me up good cop, bad cop style. The truck was full, it was 9:30am and off we went and things finally felt good. We stopped at McDonald's and I bought all of his crew breakfast as a thank-you. We got to our new home andthey started unlaoding.About half way through the crew chief came to me and dropped the bomb. "The move is $2500 cash and we need it now or we leave." No, the agreed upon price was $1200. He said no, it is $2500 for we had more stuff than they thought. I argued that it wa a one bedroom condo with small furniture and no appliances. They didn't care, I refused to pay the extortion, only the agreed upon price and I called their office to argue that fact. They left, getting back in their truck and trying to dirive off with most of my stuff still onboard. My pregnant wife stood in front of their truck preventing them from leaving.On the phone the "Boss" told me that my wife had signed a new contract and if i look closely, the price was left blank. She had signed it under their pressure while they verbally told her that it would be for the same price. So I called the Police and they told me that they wouldn't do anything and that they suggested that I pay them and then take them to small claims court after the fact. I would never see any of my stuff if I let them leave I was convinced, but the Police didn't care as it was a business arguement not a criminal issue. I disagreed but they weren't coming. So I had to pay them their extorted price, but how do I get that kind of money as I didn't have it with me. So my very pregnant wife and her constant flow of tears left to go to the bank to obtain the money and in Arthur Dent fashion (Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy reference), I sat in front of the truck blocking them from leaving which they tried to do repeatedly. My wife returned, we paid them their $2500 for a one bedroom condo move and I told them that I hope that hey can sleep at night since they have ripped off a prgenant woman who was balling nearby. After the fact, we tried to take them to small claims court but to nobody's surprise they changed their company name and disappeared.
I swore to never hire movers again, but we have since found a good one who we have used a couple times since. Like a mechanic, a good mover is one you keep and even if it costs you slightly more, it is worth it.
Posted by: Get Serious | Jun 7, 2021 7:35:28 PM
Heyyyyy Dr.Vex. GET OFF THE MEDS and get over yourself !! I got bored with your whining after the first 2 sentences.
Posted by: Fuming | Jun 10, 2021 12:23:47 AM
My brother had an experience where the Real Estate company had their own movers. They came over and loaded up the truck and then said to my brother if he wants his stuff moved he'll have to pay another 500 dollars. He ended up paying it (felt he had no choice) and went after the real estate company for it...never got it back.