What Happens If Furniture Breaks During a Move

There is no doubt that moving is a complex and stressful process, especially for those who don’t hire movers and packers in Dubai.  Licensed movers can help you relocate your belongings to your new home without any problem. They will transfer your heavy furniture without causing any damage. However, it doesn’t mean your furniture is fully immune to breakage. Despite all efforts, furniture can break or be damaged during loading and unloading. 

Therefore, with this article, we will help you learn how to tackle this unwanted situation. In this comprehensive guide, we will learn all the tips and tricks to avoid such furniture breakage and make your move damage-free.  

Who is Responsible for the Furniture Damage During a Move? 

If you have hired a moving company in Dubai, that means the furniture is in their custody and control. Surface-level interpretation might suggest that direct responsibility for damage or loss of furniture items falls on them.

However, you can’t ask the professional movers and packers in Dubai to compensate you for your loss. Various factors decide the level of responsibility and the compensation that includes,  

  • Ultimate furniture damage cause 
  • Terms and Conditions of the moving contract
  • The type of insurance coverage purchased by you  

Learn the other ways in which the responsibility angle shifts to the owner.

DIY Furniture Packing 

Most tenants want to keep their move cost-effective and affordable. They find self-packing cheap and prefer that option. When doing so, they have no proper knowledge of packing items and end up adding a layer to the items or furniture, not fulfilling the essence of true packing.

In such scenarios, the liability will fall on the owner if damage to furniture is caused by improper packing done by the owner itself. Moving companies can deny liability for such items. Moreover, for self-packed items, liability could be partially or fully void. To avoid this situation, always confirm if movers and packers provide coverage for self-packed items. 

Damage Caused by Dubai Movers

In Dubai, reputable packers and movers hold a license and operate in accordance with   DED commercial regulations. These moving companies explicitly mention the compensation limits in a written contract. If damage occurred due to careless handling, the relocation company will be held responsible. However, the compensation limit can vary.

  • In case of limited liability coverage, movers in the UAE offer a capped compensation amount that doesn’t reflect the full replacement value. 
  • On the other hand, full coverage insurance provides the market value of the item. 

In most cases, most movers are unprofessional and don’t fulfill the compensation, even when the client has that term in the contract.  However, there is always a way to get the compensation. Be mindful and get the compensation by following a few steps right from the start of booking a moving company in Dubai.

How to Claim the Furniture Damage Compensation in Dubai?

A broken or damaged piece of furniture. Your proactive mindset test starts whenever you find any deviation from the normal in your furniture upon receiving it from the moving company in Dubai. You need to be composed and understand the situation, as damage or loss is part of a residential or commercial move. Assess the situation, what you can do, and what you shouldn’t.

On-Site Action Plan

Don’t Sign the Receipt

One of the mistakes that clients make is to sign the moving receipt, which says the received items are in good condition. You don’t have to do that. Take your time, open the boxes, and inspect the condition of every furniture item. Go through the list and mark the sign that best suits your furniture conditions. You can see the following options on your list:

  • Received in Full
  • Good
  • Damaged Item
  • Missed Item

The next step is to document every piece and use the pre-move picture of the same item in the document. This is one of the best things that you can do to claim insurance. Take pictures from all angles and make the report.

Report to Office Movers

For verbal report, you can contact the team and inform them about the damage you observe within 24 to 48 hours. In the next 5 to 7 days, you should submit the written report, so the settlement process can be initiated.

Liability Claim Process

Once you file the written complaint, an inspection team will visit your space to verify the damage and that the claim is not fraudulent. You need to be honest throughout and communicate everything clearly. Once they are satisfied, they will offer compensation in the form of repair, replacement, or cash.

What if Movers Refuse to Compensate?

Moving companies in Dubai usually repair or replace the items. Otherwise, they compensate for the damage. In case the insurer refuses the repair or replacement, you need to take some mindful steps to get the complete damage compensation. 

  • Evidence: This is an important step where you are supposed to collect all the evidence. This will help you in creating a paper trail. Take a clear photograph of the damaged item and compare its condition. Here, most tenants’ mistake is that they forget to have all the evidence in their custody right after the move starts and trust the moving company. Always have pictures as evidence in hand before letting movers and packers in Dubai pack your items.
  • Evaluate the Contract: Thoroughly review the contract before signing. Most moving companies in Dubai have some hidden clauses that can be problematic for the tenant later. Understand the terms and conditions of the contract and what you agreed to. After clarifying your rights and responsibilities, communicate with the movers in the UAE. 
  • File a Formal Complaint: It is important to submit a complaint within the deadline. If they still refuse to compensate, consider using arbitration services. 
  • Litigation: If nothing works,  do not hesitate to seek legal advice. Never afraid of getting legal help. Most furniture pieces are expensive, and you don’t want to add another amount to your already increasing budget.

Owners or clients always have to be considerate and mindful at every step of a home, villa, apartment, or office move in Dubai. A slight negligence from the tenant’s end can cost them hundreds of thousands of dirhams. Furniture damage or loss is part of daily life, and you cannot avoid it. However, with the mindful approach and proper knowledge, you can easily get compensation from the furniture movers and packers in Dubai.

Conclusion 

If you have insured your items before relocating, then don’t worry. Movers in Dubai will compensate you for your loss. However, the amount can vary. Therefore,  it is essential to make a mindful decision while selecting an insurance and moving company. Ehome Emover is one of the trusted moving company in Dubai that offer the best compensation if your move is insured and provide compensation at the earliest. Trust the best movers and packers in Dubai and make your move seamless.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does a moving company Dubai compensate for broken furniture?

Yes, if your furniture damage or loss is caused by movers during loading, unloading, or handling, and you have booked insurance with your package, your movers in Dubai will compensate for the broken furniture.  

How to get compensated for my broken furniture in Dubai?

You need to claim the insurance within the next 24 hours with the graphic proof following the claim process of the moving company in Dubai. Otherwise, you won’t be compensated for the loss.

What is the timeline to claim for the damage while moving in Dubai?

The average timeline to claim for the insurance is 24 to 48 hours for the report and 5 to 7 days for the written claim. Please note that the timeline can differ from company to company, and you have to follow your company’s claim rules.

Can I claim insurance for my furniture damage if I packed it myself?

Yes, you can claim if the damage was caused during handling, loading, or unloading by the mover’s crew. Also, to claim the insurance, the damage to your furniture should be visible.

Should I accept the damaged furniture pieces after the move?

Yes, you must accept, but don’t sign the delivery receipt before ensuring that everything you get is fine.

Should I book insurance for my move to Dubai?

Yes, insurance during the move of valuable items is very important as it provides basic liability and damage coverage in the form of replacement or price compensation.

What does insurance compensation look like during move-in in Dubai?

You can get repair, replacement, or cash based on the insurance plan you booked with movers and packers in Dubai before signing the moving package in Dubai.

author avatar
Ahsan Tahir