It’s a situation that few people face but many people fear. Several months ago, you had your moving company put the majority of your belongings into storage while you waited patiently for your new home to become ready for occupancy. After biding your time in temporary housing, you finally get the call letting you know that you can feel free to schedule the second part of your move. A few days later, your possessions arrive at your new abode, much to your delight. However, as you start unpacking, you begin to notice that a couple of your boxes aren’t there. And once you’re able to take a final inventory, you realize that several electronic items are missing as well. What should you do?
As the marketing coordinator at Philadelphia’s Hughes Relocation Services, Inc., Bobby Hughes is pleased to admit that this type of scenario is extremely rare as far as his company is concerned. After all, the storage system is fairly simple and well-maintained. When a customer’s stuff is placed into storage, it remains in a single unit until the company gets the call to unload it and transport it to its final destination. Since the process is so streamlined, rarely does it occur that a number of pieces end up getting lost or going missing. On the other hand, Hughes will admit that from time to time, mishaps do happen, and when they do, it’s important for customers to know what steps to take.
According to Hughes, if you come to realize that some of your stuff has not been delivered out of storage, then the first thing to do is to contact your moving company as soon as you become aware of the matter. When you call up to report your missing items, be prepared to supply as much detail as possible. If a box of kitchen supplies is missing, then try to indicate how large the box was, how it was labeled, and what its contents were. And if you find that you’re missing a dining room chair from your antique set, then be sure to indicate what color wood it is made of and what its upholstered seat cushion looks like. The more descriptive you are, the better your chances are of having your items located and properly returned.
Any reputable moving company is going to do its best to locate your items that somehow did not make their way out of storage. The first step in the process is likely going to involve a moving company representative checking the back of the moving truck that transported your belongings to see if they were perhaps inadvertently left behind. If that doesn’t work, then the next step will involve having someone do a search of your former storage unit to see if the missing items perhaps got stuck in a corner. Remember, it’s in your moving company’s best interest to locate any items that have gone missing, rather than have to deal with the claims process; so if you come to discover that some of your possessions did not make their way towards your new abode, do not hesitate to contact your moving company immediately.
In the unfortunate event that your missing items are unable to be located, then your next step in this type of scenario will be to file a claim with your moving company’s insurance policy. Most full service moving companies have an employee on staff whose job is to deal with the claims filing and follow-up process, so chances are, the burden involved in the paperwork will not end up falling on you.
While filing a claim for missing belongings is likely to result in a degree of compensation, Hughes warns that unless you paid for extra insurance, you might end up being a bit unhappy with the results of the process. After all, if you decided to stick with the standard, built-in insurance, then you’re not likely to get more than 60 cents per pound for the items that went missing. If your box of kitchenware weighed ten pounds and only contained plastic storage containers, then the idea of getting $6 might not seem so bad as compared to the overall value of the contents. However, if you’re missing a 15-pound dining room chair whose replacement value tops the $200 mark, then you’re probably going to be extremely disappointed when a check comes in for nine measly dollars (although your homeowners insurance policy might end up paying you the difference).
While it’s natural to fret if some of your stuff gets lost in storage, the best way to help yourself is to stay calm until the matter is resolved. And if your missing belongings are never recovered, then just chalk up the cost of replacing them to an investment in a brand new life in your new home.
