Integrated Moving Solutions, Inc. Refusal to respond to damage settlement dispute Kenilworth New Jersey

I submitted a claim for damages to the furniture for over $2000.  The insurance coverage was based on $0.60 per pound for the damaged item and there should have been almost full coverage for the repairs estimate.  Yeah, you're not going to get $2,000; that amount is not based on any sort of reality.  The moving company, or their 3rd party claims company goes through your claim and estimates the weight of the damaged item - and will not include the cost to repair it.  If a mover determines there are repairs to be made, the mover will send a repair person and incur the cost of that person to repair the item damaged.  You do not get to choose the repair person.  Therefore, any repairs cost you included would be rejected in whole.

The claims company came to the conclusion the item damaged was about 120 lbs, which comprises the $72.00 offer.  Now, according to the contract, you can either (a) accept the offer, or (b) reject it.  I would recommend you take it.  The problem you're going to run into is that interstate movers are protected under Federal law; the consumer cannot sue the mover for anything additional outside of the contract - the law is referred to as the Carmack Amendment.  Now, you can accept $72.00 or you can reject it and get zero.

I have called and left messages and sent emails requesting how to pursue a dispute for the settlement offer but Integrated Moving Solutions has not returned my calls or responded to my emails.  If I were to take the matter to court I would have to do it in New Jersey even though I live in Michigan.  There is nothing to pursue.  There is nothing to go to court over.  As long as they can justify a weight of 120lbs. then it pretty much ends right there.  In court, the mover will simply say Carmack protects me, and the judge says the mover is correct and case dismissed.  As long as a scam mover operates within the law, then there is no action consumers can pursue.

Attorney fees and costs for the suit would outweight the amount of damages so it seems like I have no viable recourse against this fraudulent company.  Attorney??  This is a small claims court case.  I mean same result, but there is no attorney involved.  An attorney will also advise you it isn't worth pursuing for the reasons I already indicated.  Generally the only folks that have the resources to go against the mover are the DOT and the various state agencies tasked with overseeing the industry in their state.

Moving is not inexpensive.  If you cannot afford one of the big name movers to move your items, and you select an online mover, all you're really doing is deciding you're going to pay for the move on the back end in damages, instead of upfront with a legit mover.  Always research moving online, but never select a mover in that way - ever.  Best of luck to you...