After a bad move, people are stressed, time-pressured, and at an information disadvantage. The mover knows the rules, the deadlines, and exactly how low an offer it can make. Most customers do not — so they accept pennies on the dollar, or give up entirely. We exist to close that gap with clear, honest, practical help that anyone can use.
Our mission
Our mission is simple: make the moving-claims process understandable and winnable for ordinary people. The rules already give consumers real rights — a written claim, hard deadlines the carrier must meet, an escalation path to a federal regulator. The problem has never been the absence of rights; it is that they are buried in regulatory language and obscured by a process the carrier controls. We translate that process into plain steps, free tools, and ready-to-send documents.
The problem we are solving
Moving complaints are among the most common — and most frustrating — consumer disputes. Damage, delay, lost boxes, surprise charges, and outright hostage situations are routine, and the deck is stacked against the customer at exactly the moment they have the least time and energy to fight back.
| The obstacle | How it plays out | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden coverage | Customers do not know they were on 60-cents-per-pound released value | Plain explainers and a coverage calculator |
| Tight deadlines | The 9-month window passes before people act | A free deadline tracker from the delivery date |
| Process confusion | A phone call is mistaken for a claim | Templates that file a proper written claim |
| Lowball offers | First offers are accepted as final | Rebuttal templates and negotiation guidance |
| No clear escalation | People do not know the FMCSA route exists | A step-by-step complaint walkthrough |
What we do — and what we do not
Being clear about our role protects you. Here is the line we draw and never cross.
| We do | We do not |
|---|---|
| Explain the claims process in plain language | Provide legal advice or act as your attorney |
| Provide templates, checklists, and calculators | File your claim or represent you to the carrier |
| Refer you to vetted, experienced specialists | Guarantee any specific outcome or dollar amount |
| Point you to official rules and resources | Replace advice tailored to your specific case |
Not a law firm. moving-claims is an educational platform. Our information is general and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or a qualified claims specialist about your specific situation.
The principles we work by
- Free first. The core guides, the deadline tracker, the evidence checklist, and the starter templates are free, because most people only need the right letter and the right date.
- Honest about odds. We never promise a specific recovery. We tell you what strengthens a claim and what does not, including when your case is weak.
- Plain language. If a regulation matters, we explain it in everyday words and point you to the source.
- No dark patterns. No fake urgency, no manufactured scarcity, no burying the free option.
- Transparent money. We disclose exactly how we earn, so you can weigh our recommendations with full information.
How we are funded
A platform that gives most of its value away still has to keep the lights on. We do it three ways, and we disclose all of them openly:
- Paid templates and case reviews — optional, one-time purchases for contested or higher-stakes claims.
- Referral fees — we may earn a fee when you connect with a listed specialist. It never changes the price you pay, and it never determines who we are willing to recommend.
- Advertising — clearly labeled, and never allowed to influence the substance of our guidance.
We are deliberate about this because trust is the whole business. The person we help with a free letter today is the person who recommends us, or trusts us with a harder case, tomorrow.
Our editorial standards
Everything we publish is grounded in the federal moving regulations administered by the FMCSA, the standard carrier-liability framework, and the practical realities of how claims are actually filed, valued, and resolved. We review our guidance as rules and best practices evolve, write to be understood rather than to impress, and distinguish clearly between what the rules require and what is simply good practice. Where a detail depends on your state or your specific paperwork, we say so rather than overgeneralize.
Trust, privacy, and safety
Your claim details are yours. We do not sell your personal claim information. If you choose to connect with a specialist, you decide what to share and when. Our directory lists only professionals with genuine moving and cargo-claims experience, and we remove anyone who does not meet that bar. For the specifics of how we handle data, see our privacy page.
Who we are
We are a small team of consumer-advocacy writers and former claims professionals who got tired of watching people lose winnable claims for want of a template and a deadline. We are not affiliated with any moving company. Our only stake in your move is helping you recover what you are actually owed — and being useful enough that you tell someone else.
If a bad move brought you here, start with the free toolkit. Work the steps, keep your file tidy, and reach for a specialist only if the size or complexity of your claim calls for it. That is the whole idea: the right help, at the right level, exactly when you need it.