Landlord is charging us for damage caused by movers we hired.
September 30, 2021 8:01 PM Subscribe
Movers we hired damaged structure within the apartment complex we were moving out of with their truck. Landlord is billing us for the repair and the moving company only wants to pay for 15% of the $1000+ repair cost.
I’ve filed complaints with the BBB and Attorney General’s office but I’m preparing to take the moving company to small claims court to make them pay for the full amount. When I try to look up the moving company's mailing address, I find multiple addresses online since the business name on their website is apparently a DBA.
Please advise:
-How do I go about finding this company’s actual and legitimate address?
-If there are other avenues I should look into before going to small claims court.
Thank you.
I’ve filed complaints with the BBB and Attorney General’s office but I’m preparing to take the moving company to small claims court to make them pay for the full amount. When I try to look up the moving company's mailing address, I find multiple addresses online since the business name on their website is apparently a DBA.
Please advise:
-How do I go about finding this company’s actual and legitimate address?
-If there are other avenues I should look into before going to small claims court.
Thank you.
But that's not very helpful of me to say at this point! Maybe look at the contract you signed with the movers to see if it has other remedies, like a mediator service. You could also try to strike a deal with them related to avoiding small claims etc.
posted by slidell at 8:31 PM on September 30, 2021
posted by slidell at 8:31 PM on September 30, 2021
Look up their address at the county registrar where they registered the DBA.
If they are a corporation, there should be a record at the Secretary of State's office of business entity registrations.
posted by kschang at 8:38 PM on September 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
If they are a corporation, there should be a record at the Secretary of State's office of business entity registrations.
posted by kschang at 8:38 PM on September 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
Was the mover licensed and insured?
posted by spitbull at 2:40 AM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 2:40 AM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
Have you already paid them for the move? If you haven’t, you have a lot more leverage.
When I had a gratuitously bad time with a moving company (they literally dropped a table off the back of the moving truck by accident, breaking it in half, and also “forgot” to move the heaviest object in my apartment), I was able to get the company’s owner/manager to come out and look at the damages and mistakes. That turned it into a much more favorable negotiation where I named what I thought was a fair price for what had happened and paid that instead of the originally negotiated fee.
posted by A Blue Moon at 5:23 AM on October 1, 2021
When I had a gratuitously bad time with a moving company (they literally dropped a table off the back of the moving truck by accident, breaking it in half, and also “forgot” to move the heaviest object in my apartment), I was able to get the company’s owner/manager to come out and look at the damages and mistakes. That turned it into a much more favorable negotiation where I named what I thought was a fair price for what had happened and paid that instead of the originally negotiated fee.
posted by A Blue Moon at 5:23 AM on October 1, 2021
It was their truck that did the damage?
I'd file a police report and then make a claim against their automobile insurance.
posted by Mitheral at 5:54 AM on October 1, 2021 [12 favorites]
I'd file a police report and then make a claim against their automobile insurance.
posted by Mitheral at 5:54 AM on October 1, 2021 [12 favorites]
If this is any kind of legit moving company above the level of “three guys and a van” it should be insured for this kind of thing. I recently moved and the moving company had to provide certificates of insurance to my new place.
Also, what happens of you just don’t pay your former landlord and instead refer them to the movers for recompense?
Finally, what is your former landlord’s basis for claiming a repair cost in that amount? Has the work been done and invoiced? Could it have been done for less money?
posted by slkinsey at 6:12 AM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
Also, what happens of you just don’t pay your former landlord and instead refer them to the movers for recompense?
Finally, what is your former landlord’s basis for claiming a repair cost in that amount? Has the work been done and invoiced? Could it have been done for less money?
posted by slkinsey at 6:12 AM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
For others reading this question, there are legions of really sketchy movers who lack insurance, hire sketchy people, behave appallingly. A typical scenario is that you are given a quote, the movers pick up your stuff, then you are asked for more money to deliver your goods. My sister never got all her stuff, the company was untrackable. Always take a picture of their truck, with license plate, and get verification of insurance.
See if you can find their truck, get a photo of the license plate, track them that way. A friend could ask for a quote for moving, ask for license, documentation of insurance, etc. I would report the accident to the police. Most states require liability insurance. Many states have regulations for movers, and if it was a move to another state, there are federal regulations. If you can find and serve them, you should prevail at small claims court.
posted by theora55 at 6:48 AM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
See if you can find their truck, get a photo of the license plate, track them that way. A friend could ask for a quote for moving, ask for license, documentation of insurance, etc. I would report the accident to the police. Most states require liability insurance. Many states have regulations for movers, and if it was a move to another state, there are federal regulations. If you can find and serve them, you should prevail at small claims court.
posted by theora55 at 6:48 AM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]
If the damage wasn't caused by you, and wasn't inside the apartment you have a lease for, then what basis do they have for billing you for the damage? Them sending you a bill doesn't mean that you're liable.
You're making this your problem to solve, but you could just tell the landlord that it's nothing to do with you and that they need to go after the owner of the truck.
posted by automatronic at 5:23 AM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
You're making this your problem to solve, but you could just tell the landlord that it's nothing to do with you and that they need to go after the owner of the truck.
posted by automatronic at 5:23 AM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Isn't their full company name, address and phone number on their contract? Are they licensed?
I've never found the BBB to be helpful. Any claim I've made through them they come back with "If you used the product/service you do not deserve a refund." I would start with Small Claims Court and inform your landlord of such. I'm not sure if this actually is a landlord problem since the movers worked for you, the tenant. Good luck! (movers, for the most part, are the worst!)
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 8:48 AM on October 2, 2021
I've never found the BBB to be helpful. Any claim I've made through them they come back with "If you used the product/service you do not deserve a refund." I would start with Small Claims Court and inform your landlord of such. I'm not sure if this actually is a landlord problem since the movers worked for you, the tenant. Good luck! (movers, for the most part, are the worst!)
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 8:48 AM on October 2, 2021
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(b) It's too late now, but next time...mover's insurance is very cheap.
posted by praemunire at 8:10 PM on September 30, 2021 [1 favorite]