Freight damage claim- what to expect?

[jmc]

Just recieved my new root grapple and when I picked it up at the freight terminal, I was suprised that it was not attached to a skid. You can see where it had been moved around by a forklift several times but the paint was not damaged any more than a good day of moving rocks. Two of the hoses had been nicked enough to expose the wire reinforcement and the forklift driver noted that on the paperwork and got me a claim form.

My only previous experience with a freight claim was a bad one. No contact with the adjuster except by mail and they keep asking me to describe what happened and resubmit paperwork they should have on file. It seemed that their strategy was to make a claim more work than it was worth and I finally gave up. Should I expect the same thing to happen this time?

John

 

[LarryD]

I've had both good and bad experiences with shipping damage. I guess it depends on the adjuster and company.

In your case, try placing blame on the manufacturer for not securing it to a skid and ask for new hoses. I took this approach and it got results. Just tell them you paid THEM (manf.) for shipping and they picked the shipper...they can fix it.

 

[beenthere]

Do the paperwork and include good pictures. Make copies and send duplicates to the Mfg, the shipper, and the claims person. Also, at least indicate copies filed with your lawyer.

Leave a trail of paper that supports your claim. They will get nervous when they see multiple copies going in several directions (IMO).

 

[Darren]

The main deal stopper is not noting the damage on the original paperwork. Since that seems to have been done, the rest is perisistance. Now's the time to get some practice being a PITA. I agree on trying to get the mfg. to replace the hoses.

Good luck.

 

[jmc]

Thanks all for the advice. Turns out the replacement hoses cost $87 plus about 3 hours trying to find some one to make them and the labor of changing them. Think billing them for the labor will reduce the chance of a straightforward settlement?

John

 

[GerardC]

Did you pay by credit card? If so, tell them that your going to dispute the charges due to damaged goods. That is where I would start. Good luck. Gerard

 

[jmc]

Followup on my freight claim:

Submitted claim 3/22/05 for price of hoses plus $50 for mileage and time to have the hoses made and changing them. Received a check for the full amount yesterday, no questions asked. Thanks, all.

John

 

[Darren]

Glad to read that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If you had't gotten the damages listed on the original papers, you'd still have a long row to hoe.

 

[Freds]

That's great news. I didn't know this could be done.
There were many times at my previous job where we would accept damaged goods and note it on the paperwork only to have me spend all day repairing it. I don't recall the boss ever turning in a claim to recoup anything. We did this on items we had to have and NOW, like rooftop units and such. Things we didn't need yesterday we refused and got new ones sent.

I got a skid of FRP delivered damaged a couple months ago and refused it. I had a well protected fresh skid a few days later. Seems like refusing it would have been your simplest route... unless you had waited a long time for it and didn't want to go through the wait again.