Do I need to pay the movers who cost me money?
February 21, 2012 9:49 AM Subscribe
Moved from US to Hong Kong. Mover shipped some boxes we explicitly told them not to ship--items we needed in our first 10 weeks here while waiting for the boat to arrive. Final payment now due, we want more compensation. What's our recourse?
We have exchanged a couple rounds of emails with the mover, and they cut the bill by a measly $150. The cost to us for this mistake is more like $800 or $1000 because those boxes contained, for example, work clothes, and I couldn't very well go to my new job in t-shirts and sneakers. Movers based in New Jersey. Can we simply not pay, or pay part, and if so what happens then? Difficulty here is that we're 8000 miles away and don't want them to hold up delivery of our shipment, expected in a week or so.
We have exchanged a couple rounds of emails with the mover, and they cut the bill by a measly $150. The cost to us for this mistake is more like $800 or $1000 because those boxes contained, for example, work clothes, and I couldn't very well go to my new job in t-shirts and sneakers. Movers based in New Jersey. Can we simply not pay, or pay part, and if so what happens then? Difficulty here is that we're 8000 miles away and don't want them to hold up delivery of our shipment, expected in a week or so.
Best answer: If you explicitly 'told them' then I would recommend making sure that your written correspondence with them makes it clear that they implicitly/explicitly acknowledged that they were told this, otherwise go for another round of communications in a way that would get this acknowledgement, before you do anything like threaten to pay less, or pay less, or whatever route you end up pursuing.
otherwise it is much less likely to work out in your favor
posted by saraindc at 10:06 AM on February 21, 2012
otherwise it is much less likely to work out in your favor
posted by saraindc at 10:06 AM on February 21, 2012
Best answer: In my experience, movers are very particular about not releasing a shipment to you until the payment is made in full (or up to the amount of the estimate, at least.) From what I remember reading the last time I moved inside the U.S., if your mover doesn't honor what's called an "inconvenience claim" (mostly relevant to delayed shipments, but might be applicable here), you can sue them in small claims court. But again, my only experience is inside the U.S., and I am most assuredly not a lawyer.
What were the actual, quantifiable expenses that you incurred due to the movers' mistake? Do you have receipts for (or other proof of) these expenses?
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:43 AM on February 21, 2012
What were the actual, quantifiable expenses that you incurred due to the movers' mistake? Do you have receipts for (or other proof of) these expenses?
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:43 AM on February 21, 2012
Is the rest of your stuff in your hands or their hands?
posted by k8t at 11:10 AM on February 21, 2012
posted by k8t at 11:10 AM on February 21, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks all. Sounds like I'll pay up and then look into further options. They've been careful not to acknowledge fault, so it may not be worth the effort.
posted by dust of the stars at 9:27 PM on February 21, 2012
posted by dust of the stars at 9:27 PM on February 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
If it is personal, you may be plain out of luck because if you don't pay, they may not deliver.
Carefully read the language in the moving contract and in the insurance contract, maybe there is something there for you to use to claim more reimbursement.
posted by lstanley at 9:56 AM on February 21, 2012