American Van Lines Reviews How to Fill Out a Claim Form

Moving is a process in which multiple things can go wrong to make the whole project somehow manage to fall apart. You need to know what you must do when things go wrong. You can post up in your own apartment or you can take action and get back what is owed for your damaged item. Today, American Van Lines reviews how to file a claim, step by step.

How to File a Claim: Paso a Paso

The professional movers you have hired have finally made it to your new home. You watch and direct them as they unload piece after piece from off the truck. Suddenly, one of the movers slips. You can see the facial expression he is making as he battles to keep balance. His gloves are drenched with sweat from all of the previous hard work and the traction is just not there. You hear the shriek of glass and plastic rubbing against his soaked gloves, followed by a deafening crash that send your heart into your stomach. Down goes your 72-inch plasma 3D television. What do you do now?

• First, you must see the amount of liability coverage you and the mover agreed upon. If you told the mover that the value of you property was $15,000, and you realized you are missing twice that amount, all you will see from the company is that $15,000. The mover is not responsible for anything over the amount of money that was agreed on.

• In detail, report the items that were damaged on the original inventory sheet you got from your moving professionals. Documentation is essential if you want to make an effective claim for your big screen television. You must prove that you were the owner of the television and the best way to prove it is a photograph of you and your baby boy sitting on that legendary couch in the living room on Thanksgiving with the Lions and Cowboys playing valiantly.

• Don't be late! You have 9 months from the time of the incident report to file your claim in detail with your moving company. Once the claim is submitted, the movers must let you know they received the claim within 30 days. From that point, it can take up to 120 days for them to contact you, and that's when they should make you an offer.

If you never received a response from your movers, you need to get in touch with the American Moving & Storage Association. They will help you with the mediation process of your claim. It would also be wise to get a third party insurer that will cover more than the movers can, just in case of a forthcoming misadventure.