How to file a claim after a damaged or lost move

Protect the deadline and the evidence

For an interstate move within the US, you generally have 9 months to file a written claim for loss or damage. Do not treat that window as a reason to wait. Contracts, insurance policies, local moves, and other kinds of disputes may use different notice or filing requirements. Read every applicable document promptly.

Notify the carrier in writing that you intend to claim, then follow its stated submission process. A notation on the delivery receipt or a phone call may not be a complete claim. Keep proof showing when and how the carrier received your written submission, including upload confirmations, email headers, or tracked delivery records.

Prevent further damage where reasonable, but do not discard, repair, or alter the item before learning whether an inspection is required. Photograph the item, packaging, inventory tag, and surrounding condition. If urgent action is needed for safety or to prevent worsening loss, document the reason and the steps taken.

Build an itemized claim

List each missing or damaged article separately. Connect it to the mover's inventory number or description, explain its pickup condition and delivery condition, and state the remedy or amount you seek under the selected valuation terms. Avoid one unsupported total for the entire shipment.

Attach useful evidence such as before-and-after photographs, purchase records, model information, repair estimates, replacement comparisons, delivery notations, and messages about the incident. If an original receipt is unavailable, provide the best credible evidence you have and explain what it shows. Do not create certainty that the documents cannot support.

For owner-packed boxes, identify the box and contents as precisely as possible. Packing photographs, contents lists, external damage, witness information, and proof that the box entered the shipment can help. The carrier may raise packing or concealed-damage issues, so address those facts directly rather than ignoring them.

Apply the correct valuation terms

Check the valuation option recorded on the bill of lading. For interstate US moves under released value, carrier liability is generally limited to 60 cents per pound per article for covered loss or damage. Full value protection generally allows the carrier to repair, replace with a comparable item, or make a payment under the agreement's terms.

Do not base the claim solely on sentimental value or the original price if the contract uses a different measure. Explain what the selected protection requires and support the item's weight, condition, repairability, or replacement comparison as relevant. Include any high-value declaration you made before the move.

If you bought third-party insurance or may have coverage through another policy, notify that insurer under its rules as well. Tell each party about other potentially applicable coverage. A carrier claim and an insurance claim can require different forms and evidence even when they concern the same item.

Manage the response in writing

Create a claim log with submission dates, attachments, contacts, inspections, offers, and requests for more information. Answer reasonable requests promptly and keep copies. When sending additional material, identify the claim and the articles it supports so the record remains coherent.

Read any settlement offer closely. Check which items it covers, how values were calculated, whether payment requires a broad release, and what rights you would give up by accepting. Ask for unexplained reductions to be itemized. You can correct factual errors without turning the exchange into a personal argument.

If the carrier denies the claim, request the reason and the contract term or evidence it relies on. Compare that answer with your records. A denial based on missing information may be addressed differently from one based on an exclusion, disputed custody, or the chosen valuation limit.

Escalate in a deliberate order

Start with the carrier's internal review or appeal process if one is available. For an interstate US move, review the arbitration information the mover was required to provide and decide whether the program fits the dispute. Arbitration rules, costs, scope, and binding effect matter, so read them before agreeing to proceed.

A complaint to FMCSA can report conduct by an interstate mover or broker, but the agency complaint process is not the same as collecting payment on an individual cargo claim. State consumer agencies or regulators may also have roles depending on the conduct and location. Send each body a focused account rather than assuming one filing reaches everyone.

Small claims court may be a last resort when negotiation and available claim or arbitration routes do not resolve the matter. Jurisdiction, filing rules, contract provisions, and available remedies vary. Review the court's official information and consider getting legal advice for your circumstances rather than treating a general guide as a case strategy.

Is noting damage on the delivery receipt enough?

Usually not. It is useful evidence, but you should also submit a written claim that identifies the shipment, each affected item, the facts, and the remedy sought under the contract. Follow the carrier's claim instructions and keep proof of delivery.

What if I find damage after the crew leaves?

Photograph it promptly, preserve the item and packaging, connect it to the inventory, and notify the carrier in writing. Explain when and how you discovered it. Concealed damage can be harder to establish, so detailed packing and unpacking records help.

Can I throw away a broken item after taking photos?

Avoid doing so until the carrier or insurer confirms that no inspection is needed. If the item presents a safety hazard or further damage risk, document that condition and the reason disposal or emergency action was necessary.

Does an FMCSA complaint get my claim paid?

Not by itself. It reports conduct for regulatory purposes. Continue the carrier's written claim process and any applicable insurance, arbitration, or court process. Keep the regulatory complaint and demand for compensation conceptually separate.