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Did something get damaged in your last move?

February 15, 2011 By 2 Comments

file your claims properlyI hear the words in my head every time I am tempted to buy a good piece of furniture or appliance: “Lets get something cheap, so if it gets damaged during the next PCS move – it’s not so bad.”  After that thought, I look around my house and I find, that besides our new couch, everything is either cheap, old or super-mega sturdy.

Moving around the world is hard on your stuff. The better you prepare and the more you know, the better your chances are of everything surviving or being properly replaced after the move.  Take inventory of expensive, valuable items in your home. Make sure you identify and document them in the best possible way. This will help you to file a claim later on. How you file your claim will also determine how much money you will get in return.

Items that get damaged/lost during a full or partial PPM (Personally Procured Move – formerly DITY) will basically not be reimbursed. You packed it, you loaded it, and now it is your responsibility. Some folks prefer it that way. The only exception here are circumstances beyond your control that were not caused by your negligence.  You will have to prove it, too. Household goods in your PPM are insured up to $40,000.

If a  Transportation Service Provider (TSP=your moving company) moves your household goods, the maximum liability for the TSP is $50,000. There are two pages of instructions on how to proceed with filing a claim for Full Replaceent Value (FRV), but the MOST important thing is not to miss these time-lines:

  1. At the time of delivery: ‘Quick claims’ cover payment for damage or replacement of items less than $500 and a payment within 5 days. In our brief we were advised that there is a special method to submitting these claims, so stand by for that particular future post.
  2. Report within 75 days of delivery: Report your lost or damaged items to the TSP within 75 days or report it within 70 days to your military claims office (MCO) to receive Full Replacement Value.
  3. File your claim within 9 months: Reporting your loss or damage does not constitute a claim!  File your claim directly with the carrier no later than 9 months after delivery for Full Replacement Value.
  4. What happens 2 years after the delivery? You have up to 2 years after the delivery to file a claim with your local military claims office. However, you will NOT receive Full Replacement Value (FRV)but the depreciated amount.

I recently went to our PCS brief at the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO). During this PCS brief we (the service member) actually had to sign the counseling checklist for Full Replacement Value. Information changes quickly, and while I want to present the latest information to you, I would suggest that you still call your receiving TO (Transportation Office)/JPPSO to confirm the information.

This is number 8 in my ‘10 Biggest PCSing Mistakes‘ charts. How many mistakes have you avoided?

Filed Under: claims, PCS'ing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Study Up, Buttercup!

February 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

study moving symbols get moneyI recently talked to Aaron of www.nationalvanlines.com, a transportation provider, about what military families can do to make sure that we get the full replacement value as it is promised.

He was very helpful and explained that it is important to save all receipts and documentation in regards to the valuables/furniture. Look at this blog post about claim time lines and here are more suggestions. Did you know a lot of people make mistakes when it comes to filing claims?

He said most of all though, it is important that the military families will take a look at the Household Goods Descriptive Inventory and compare the symbols that were marked on the sheet with the actual item. Are there some unjustified or incorrect condition issues? Object, if you find them not accurate. While the movers/packers might not like this very much because it could take extra time, it is important for you to do this. One good way to handle this, is to talk to the person writing up the list at the beginning of the day and telling him that you will compare his remarks. Oh, ask him to please write legibly.

If you are not familiar with the symbols the task of checking the descriptive symbols becomes tedious and time consuming. If you have a chance to ‘study up’ a little it will come much easier to you and will in the end help your pocketbook.

Take a look at this description:

Klipsch speaker (BTW my husbands apple of his eye and taken care of accordingly) described as:

SCTG 4259123  meaning: scratched, torn, gouged – front,bottom,left,side,arm,bottom,corner.

Here is my confession, I actually never checked the speaker description -furniture? yes; speakers? never occured to me.I am a little upset that this large speaker has been described in this way. There is a very slight rubbing at the bottom left corner. However, there is by no means a gouge in our speaker box. I am so glad nothing happened to this item. Can you imagine how much I would have to fight if something had happened to this item and it was not repairable? I doubt I would have been allowed full replacement value. After all, there were scratches, gouges in it and it was torn. Lesson learned.

We’ve had several good experiences with movers it just takes one bad crew to destroy your household goods. Getting at least enough back to replace or repair what was lost will reduce your stress-level a little bit.

Descriptive Symbols

BW Black & White TV DBO Disassembled by Owner
C Color TV PB Professional Books
CP Carrier Packed PBO Packed by Owner
PE Professional Equipment PP Professional Papers
MCU Mechanical Condition Unknown SW Stretch
CD Carrier Assembled

Exception Symbols

BE Bent D Dented
MO Motheasten SO Soiled
BR Broken F Faded
P Peeling ST Stained
BU Burned R Rubbed
G Gouged S Stretched
CH Chipped L Loose
RU Rusted T Torn
CU Contents & Cond.unknown M Marred
SC Scratched SH Short
MI Mildew Z Cracked

Location Symbols

BW Black & White TV DBO Disassembled by Owner
C Color TV PB Professional Books
CP Carrier Packed PBO Packed by Owner
PE Professional Equipment PP Professional Papers
MCO Mechanical Condition SW Stretch Wrapped Unknown
1. Arm 2. Bottom
3. Corner 4. Front
5. Left 6. Legs
7. Rear 8. Right
9. Side 10. Top
11. Veneer 12. Edge
13. Center 14. Inside
15. Seat 16. Drawer
17. Door 18. Shelf
19. Hardware
Filed Under: claims, PCS'ing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Top 10 Biggest PCSing Mistakes

January 28, 2011 By 4 Comments

When it comes to PCSing, the military has ever changing rules and requirements that can be very confusing. It is important to keep up with the basic rules so that you don’t wind up paying out of your own pocket for your move.

Avoid these 10 biggest mistakes:

10.Failing to keep the proper paperwork: Get an expandable pocket folder to keep your paperwork sorted and all in one place. If you are doing a Personally Procured Move, or PPM, (former DITY) it is best to save all your receipts.

9. Failing to keep JPPSO updated on your non-temporary storage: Every service member is entitled to at least 90 days of long-term storage. Know the rules and requirements. For example, make sure the JPPSO (Personal Property Shipment Office) has a valid address where they can contact you. Failing to do so can cost you $$$.

8. Not understanding the claim filing procedure: In the PCS brief and the PPM (former DITY) brief  you will receive information about the claim filing procedure. Read it, understand it, and keep it.  Have an inventory of the valuables in your home.

7. Overshipping: Think: Overseas move. Not all overseas locations have generous size housing.  Research how big your future quarters might be and consider this when you arrange your shipping.

6. Doing something that is not authorized on your orders: Take a close look at your orders.  If you have dependents does it say: “Dependents: yes”, or  “authorized to move household goods “with dependents”?  If not have the orders amended.

5. Taking the maximum advance on a PPM (former DITY move): You are authorized up to 60% advance pay if you do a PPM. You’ll easily end up owing money which will be deducted from your pay in one big lump sum.

4. Exceeding your weight allowance: Know your weight allowance. Drop weight if necessary. Sort, sell, throw out. Separate your Pro Gear- it does not count against your total weight.

3. Don’t Cheat! : It happens more often than you think! Generally, this is in connection with a PPM (DITY Move) and in regards to weighing the vehicles.  It can cost your career.

2. Not Communicating w/ your partner and family: Talk about what needs to be done and what your expectations are.

1. Having the wrong attitude:

It’s your attitude not your aptitude that will determine your altitude. ~Bruce Miller

There will be a time when moving (again), for whatever reason, will be extremely hard for you.  However, you’ll still have to move. The attitude you have will make or break you. Be positive for your  own well-being as well as the well being of your family.

Please come back next week, when we explore in more detail on HOW to do it right!

Filed Under: Allowances, claims, entitlements, PCS'ing, Planning Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Claims, again?

December 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Claim for your broken itemsWhen military families move everything changes, some of the few things that don’t change is our furniture, our wall decoration stays the same and we sleep in the same beds. The few things that stay constant are really important to a family that is on the move. When things get broken while they are transported from one corner of the world to another, it hurts even more. This is on top of the fact that the item that was broken will have to be replaced. To make sure you are getting fully compensated you’ll have to follow exact steps.

I have written about claims and filing before and I gave suggestions on how to organize your paperwork, without which you are not getting paid for your PPM. In fact, improper filing is number 8 in the “Ten Biggest PCSing Mistakes” .

To be honest, for some reason I’d rather stick a fork in my eye than dealing with the claims paperwork. I hope that having everything organized is more conducive to me filing.

When it comes to claims and how to file them there is a lot to remember. To keep it bite sized here is the beginning of some hints for your to remember:

**To have your claim paid on the basis of FRV you MUST file your claim directly with the transportation service Provider (TSP)

**If you file your claim directly with the carrier within 9 months of delivery, the carrier is required to replace any item that is lost or destroyed with a new item, or pay you the cost of a new item of the same kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation.

**An item is destroyed if it cannot be repaired, or if the cost of repair would exceed the cost of a new item.

**The carrier is not required to replace items which can be repaired for less than the Full Replacement Value of the item.

**The carrier is only required to arrange for the repair of those items, or to pay for the cost of the repairs

Filed Under: claims, PCS'ing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Don’t forget to file for your moving claims!

November 20, 2010 By 2 Comments

Do you really want to just pass on it? Don’t!

** In order to be paid for an item, the loss or damage to the item must be reported to the carrier within 75 days of the date of delivery.(BTW reporting does not constitute filing the claim!)

Update: all lost or damaged items will have to be reported via the move.mil website. The deadline of 75 days still applies. Log on to move.mil and access the DPS claims module, select ” Loss/Damage Reports” from the main menu and enter all items that are on both forms into the DPS, you may send the AFTER Deliver form by Fax, mail or email to the TSP within 75 days after delivery. Should you choose to mail in your claim, it is strongly advised with certified mail.

**The carrier’s agent should list all missing or damaged items that are discovered on the day of delivery on a DD Form 1840, which you will also sign.

Note: Most likely YOU will check all box numbers and note damage and missing items while and right after delivery

**Three copies of this form will be left with you by the carrier. Items discovered missing or damaged after delivery must be listed on the reverse side of the DD Form 1840, known as the the DD Form 1840R, and mailed to the carrier within 75 days after delivery. Alternatively, the DD Form 1840R may be brought to the nearest military claims office within 70 days, which will mail it for you.

Note: I have heard several reports that the carriers are kicking and screaming, especially if you have a substantial claim. Stay on it, don’t give up.

In short:

  • Report your loss/damage on move.mil and turn in your DD1840R within 75 days after delivery to the carrier.
  • Claims must be submitted within 9 months directly with the carrier to receive full replacement value for missing and destroyed items
  • All other claims should be submitted to the claims office within 2 years of the date of delivery or date of incident. (Changes in your FRV will occur, if submitted later)

Filed Under: claims, Military Money Matters, PCS'ing Tagged With: , , , , , ,