Valuation is the term used in the moving industry for the protection of your goods against loss or damage while they are in the care of the van line member company. Valuation is not insurance, although it works in much the same way. There are two types available to you and you should take care to select the one most suited to the value of your shipment.

Tour your home prior to your move, and calculate how much your household goods are worth. This will help you determine how much coverage will be adequate for your shipment. Ask your Moving Consultant for a copy of our valuation booklet. It contains all the valuation information you’ll need to make this job easy, and will help you choose a protection option to fit your needs.

Option 1: Released Rate Protection

This no-additional-cost plan provides minimal protection, which will not be adequate unless you will be reimbursed for losses by another party or your goods are of nominal value. Lost or damaged items are settled on the basis of 60¢ per pound per article. For example, a chair valued at $250.00 and weighing 20lbs. is settled at 20 lbs. x 60¢ = $12.00.

Option 2: Replacement Value Protection

For a modest additional charge, you can increase the coverage on your shipment to ensure the full repair or replacement of every item. Under this option, our liability is the lump sum value you declare on your shipment. If an item is lost, destroyed or damaged St George will pay the full cost of repair (where possible) or replace it with a new one, regardless of its age. The nominal added cost to your for this full coverage is based on the declared value of your shipment.

Filing a claim

Because of the many precautions we take to safeguard household goods in our care, a very small number of our customers have occasion to claim for loss or damage. If it should happen to your shipment, however, here’s what to do:

When your goods are delivered, and before the van or container leaves the premises, be certain to note the nature of the loss or damage on the Van Operator’s copy of the Inventory, in this section called “Exceptions”. Doing this is essential, although it alone does not constitute a claim. It is simply a record of your observations at the time of delivery, and will substantiate the claim you will later submit. You have 60 days from the date of delivery in which to file a written claim. Contact your destination member and ask for a claim form. You must file this yourself: the Van Operator and destination member cannot do this for you. Complete the form with all the necessary details. Be thorough, since all the information requested on the form is needed to settle your claim promptly. Also, be sure to list all losses and damages on the one form: we cannot accept responsibility for items claimed after the original submission. If you have any questions, ask your destination member for help. Once it is completed, return the form to your destination member who will process your claim and contact you regarding settlement.