Hiring a professional mover to relocate your home or business will greatly reduce the stress levels common with relocation. Once you have hired movers in Jackson MS, it is important to know your rights and responsibilities as a customer, and inform yourself of what to do in case a problem arises. After the dates for the pickup and delivery of each shipment are determined, all reputable moving companies are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to provide certain information.
Read All Documents
Once all of the booking details outlining the origin and hauling destination are figured out, it is time to review the terms and conditions set forth by the moving company. Federal law requires you to receive paperwork outlining your rights and responsibilities, but many do not take the time to carefully read through it. This can be a huge mistake, especially since the FMCSA sets forth regulations that exist to protect both customer and the movers but they are based on numerous variables.
For example, some regulations only exist when the mover is transporting household goods from one state to another and not when your move is simply between two points in the same state.
Binding Versus Non – Binding
Most movers in Jackson MS will send someone to your home to conduct a visual survey and provide you with an estimate. But it is important to pay attention to whether you received a “binding” or “non-binding” estimate. A binding estimate means that you will not be required to pay more than the amount on the estimate and a non-binding estimate, although considered to be reasonable and accurate, means that weight tickets along while movers are transporting your belongings are required and that there is no final guarantee on the overall costs until the truck is packed and weighed.
Protect Yourself In the Event of Loss or Damage
Making sure your belongings arrive in the same condition as they left is key to customer retention and, in turn, company success. But bad things happen and one important item to understand is what liability certain movers in Jackson MS have. First, never sign an incomplete estimate and make sure the final agreement is in written form, not verbal.
All moving companies are required to provide liability coverage, but protect your belongings and your finances by making sure you know and understand how the level of protection changes based on overall cost and any actions that limit or reduce the movers’ ability to cover loss or damage that has incurred during transportation. If loss or damage claims are necessary, reference the regulations maintained by the FMCSA to settle with your mover or request arbitration.