Moving: Damage claims - Military Housing, rentals, home buying, real estate, VA home loans - Air Force Times

Moving: Damage claims

Full Replacement Value protection now provides better coverage for household goods that are lost or damaged while in the care of moving companies. A member can recover $5,000 per shipment, or $4 times the weight of the shipment in pounds up to a maximum of $50,000, whichever is greater, as compensation.

Service members must file directly with the moving company within nine months of the delivery date. If they don’t, the company is liable only for depreciated value of lost or damaged items, as was the case before FRV went into effect. War or armed conflict may extend the filing period beyond nine months.

As before, members use DD Form 1840 to document damage or loss found at delivery, or DD Form 1840R for damage or loss found after delivery. These forms are submitted directly to the moving company within 75 days of delivery.

The company will settle the claim by repairing or paying to repair damaged items, and paying full replacement value for items damaged beyond repair, lost or destroyed. The company is also responsible for getting repair/replacement estimates.

If the company denies the full claim, makes an offer that is unacceptable, or does not respond within 30 days, the service member may transfer the claim to the Military Claims Office.

Contact: Detailed instructions for filing a claim are at www.move.mil. Click on “DoD Customer,” then scroll to “Filing a Claim” under the Personal Property Counseling section.