How Can I Get a Moving Company to Pay for Damaged Items?

Moving Insurance

• There are two ways moving companies pay for damaged items: one is by valuation and one is by moving insurance. Valuation is a very basic, very simple type of reparation payment. It is simply a standard liability coverage that pays a minimum amount based solely on the weight of a broken item, no matter what that item is. For instance, if a 10-pound item broke in moving, then the company might pay 50 cents per pound for a total of 5 dollars, whether the item was a 10-pound chandelier, computer or picture.
  The advantage to valuation is that it doesn't cost anything, but if you want to be paid back based on how much the item is worth, then you should consider moving insurance. Most types of moving insurance require that you pay a deposit or a straight fee based on the coverage. Some plans offer better versions of the valuation coverage, paying more per pound of broken items, which may be useful in mass shipping where the items are of relatively low value. Other types of insurance pay based on value, which may require time-consuming documentation but is more fitting for moving household items or valuables.

Types of Moving Insurance

• Always be sure to ask the moving company about its policies and find out what it covers and what the associated fees are. Be sure you know what you want: Do you want to include insurance for any damage to the premises, in case the movers damage the building you are moving from or the building you are moving to? Do you want a partial or full value plan? Full value plans give you market value for your items but cost much more. Be prepared to make a list of your most valuable items along with documentation on how much they cost for the moving company.
  You should also contact your own insurance provider and see if there are any packages or clauses that pertain to moving insurance. You should also be aware of the moving company's requirements when it comes to boxing or wrapping certain valuable items yourself before it moves them. If you are moving internationally, you may want to investigate international moving insurance, which may have different prices or coverage rules than other types of insurance.