How to Read a Moving-Damage Settlement Offer

A settlement offer arrives after you report damage, but the amount does not match the repair estimate you sent. Before accepting it, ask how the figure was calculated. A clear explanation should connect the affected item, assessed loss and applicable terms.

Keep the quotation, inventory, condition photographs, claim reference and repair estimate together. Check which organisation made the offer: the mover under its contract, or an insurer under a policy. Direct the questions to the organisation assessing that claim.

Ask for the calculation behind the offer

Request an item-by-item assessment and the reason for each deduction. The HDFC ERGO Marine Cargo Customer Information Sheet identifies possible deductions including depreciation, betterment, salvage, underinsurance and a deductible. Those are examples from that product, not a statement of the terms of your move.

Ask how each applicable term affects the proposed amount. Depreciation concerns the item's age or use; betterment concerns an improvement over its previous condition. A deductible is the portion assigned to you under the policy. The actual wording and assessment determine whether and how these apply.

If the explanation refers to a document you have not received, request it. Match the item description, condition and value with your records. Correct a factual mismatch in writing, keeping the original submission and the correction together.

Check declared value before collection

Ask the insurer how underinsurance would affect a claim before choosing a lower declared value to reduce a charge. A smaller declared amount can affect more than the price you pay upfront. Obtain the applicable valuation instructions and provide accurate supporting information.

The transit-cover guide explains the documents to request before paying. Resolve the valuation question while there is time to amend the arrangement.

Resolve what happens to the damaged goods

Where a salvage deduction appears, ask what value was assigned and who will retain the damaged item. Do not sell or discard it while required inspection or consent remains outstanding. If other insurance also applies, disclose it to the insurer handling the claim and request coordination instructions.

Keep an unanswered question open

Send one concise response listing the points still unclear and the records supporting them. Ask whether the offer covers every reported item and what your acceptance would settle. Do not assume an unexplained figure is the final word, or that asking for review guarantees a higher payment.

Keep the response and acknowledgement under the same claim reference. For evidence, follow-up and the relevant complaint route, use the claims and insurance guidance. Shiftify's specific compensation terms must be confirmed for the booking; an example from another insurer cannot establish them.