Moving: hire a professional mover

Verified 18 August 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You're going to move and you want to hire a professional? It is important to check whether the movers you find are registered with the carrier and renter. You have the right to request a free quote before the contract is signed. This will allow you to compare the services and rates before choosing. The removal contract is a transport contract governed by rules specific to it. We present you with the information you need to know.

Step-by-step approach

The profession of mover is a regulated profession.

A removal company must be entered in the Commercial and business Register (RCS) or the Trades Register, and in the Carrier and Hire Register.

You can check on the list of companies whether or not a mover is registered in the carrier register.

The mover must give you a quote front signing a contract.

You don't have to pay for this quote. It's free.

The estimate must be accompanied by the general terms of the removal contract offered by the company.

The quotation or general terms and conditions of the contract must contain the following mandatory information:

  • Company Contact Information
  • Customer Name and Address
  • Estimated date or period for the move
  • Place of loading, place of delivery and distance between
  • Quote Writing Date
  • Indication of the volume of furniture
  • Type of trip to be made (tour or special trip)
  • Precise definition of the chosen service (example: packing by the company or by the customer, dismantling and assembly of furniture...)
  • Steps to be taken if the customer wants to make a reserve in case of loss or breakage of a property
  • Specific details on the payment (payment deadline, in 1 or more times, means of payment accepted)
  • Extent of company liability and steps to seek compensation (amicable, arbitral, judicial proceedings)
  • Amount excluding taxes (excluding tax) and all taxes included (including tax) of the move and mention that this price is final. The mover cannot charge additional fees unless the original quote is modified and with the customer's agreement

FYI  

in the absence of any such indication, the contract shall remain valid.

The mover must give you a quote that shows the total price you have to pay after the move.

FYI  

the mover must post his prices on the premises of his company, in particular the price of labor, the price of lost supplies, the price of the rental of small equipment...

The rules for signing the quote vary depending on whether you have been door-to-door selling or not.

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You weren't approached at home

If you sign the quotation, you agree to let the company carry out the move under the conditions mentioned in the quotation and in the general conditions. So you won't be able to change your mind

After signing, the company may ask you to pay an advance or of deposits.

If, after you pay this advance, you decide not to let the company make the move, you will not be able to get your money back.

Conversely, if the mover renounces the performance of the contract, he will have to refund you double the deposit.

FYI  

you can request an additional quote if you want to add a service (for example, furniture assembly).

You were approached at home

If you were contacted at home and signed the quote on the day of the mover's visit, you have a 14-day reflection period to change your mind.

This period shall start from the day following the signature of the estimate.

The company may not require any payment from you before the expiration of this period.

After the reflection period has expired, the company may ask you to make an advance or of deposits.

If, after you pay this advance, you decide not to let the company make the move, you will not be able to get your money back.

Conversely, if the mover renounces the performance of the contract, he will have to refund you double the deposit.

FYI  

you can request an additional quote if you want to add a service (for example, furniture assembly).

Consignment note

The consignment note is a document used to organize the transport of goods by road (furniture, goods).

The document describes the move, as agreed with the mover, and provides for the possibility of indicating reservations.

It must be dated and must contain the following information:

  • Name, address and Siren number or intra-Community identification number of the company of removal
  • Customer Name and Address
  • Mode of transport execution
  • Nature, weight or capacity of the articles to be transported
  • Loading and delivery locations
  • Deadline for loading and delivery operations

The consignment note shall be made out in 4 copies for the following purposes:

  • 1 copy constitutes the strain; it is kept by the company
  • 1 copy is given to the customer before the move; it is double the stump
  • 1 copy accompanying the goods during transport shall be given to the executing staff or, where appropriate, to an executing company or to a correspondent for whom the goods are intended. This copy shall constitute the delivery note ; you must post a discharge after the move and, if necessary, your reserves; it is kept by the company
  • 1 copy is a duplicate of the delivery note; it is given to you at the end of the move

The consignment note can be issued in paper or electronic form (by email).

If the consignment note is in paper form: at least one copy of the consignment note must be carried on board the vehicle.

If the consignment note is in electronic form: the document must be capable of being transmitted or communicated; it shall consist solely of an electronic medium on board the vehicle, in particular a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Delivery note

The delivery note is a copy of the waybill that must be presented to you at the end of the move for you to sign it.

Your signature gives a discharge to the moving company as to the conveyance of the objects transported. This does not guarantee that everything went well.

In case of problems (damaged or lost furniture for example), you must carry reserves on the delivery note. The document is retained by the moving company, but you must receive a copy.

The delivery note shall clearly state the following:

  • Possibility of issuing reservations after delivery
  • Complaint procedures
  • Time limits for complaints

The mover is liable in case of misconduct on his part or on the part of his employees resulting in the loss or breakage of an object (for example, a product has been improperly packaged).

He must also be held accountable for the delay or failure to deliver and for the damage caused to the common parts of the buildings during the move.

You can contact the company directly to claim compensation for damaged items.

In case of refusal, you can have recourse to a third party (mediation, for example) or to the justice system.

You can play the guarantee legal protection included in home insurance.

Make a claim with the company

You can make a claim with the moving company within 10 days calendar days from the receipt (or non-receipt) of the objects.

This period is extended to 3 months if the company has not informed you of the 10-day period for making reservations upon receipt.

Your complaint must be made by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

You can use the following letter template to write your mail.

Make a claim for lost or broken items during a move

You can claim compensation within the guarantee amounts specified in the moving contract. This limit corresponds to the total compensation for your furniture or per piece of furniture or object according to the value declaration you have completed.

Please note

the mover may, however, use a case of force majeure to refuse to compensate you (for example, a drunk driver hits his properly parked moving truck).

Use an amicable dispute resolution method

In case of a persistent dispute with the mover (refusal to quote, refusal to refund a broken item...), you can ask a third party to intervene.

Sometimes the method of amicable resolution is provided for in the contract (or in the delivery note).

You can contact a mediator of the professional sector (French Federation of Movers or Consumer Ombudsman).

You can also contact a conciliator of justice independent.

Seek justice

If mediation or conciliation has failed, you can go to court.

You can ask for damages for the damage suffered. For example, to get a refund for a broken item.

You must take legal action within 1 year from the date of delivery.

The competent court depends on the sums involved in the dispute.

  • For a case less than or equal to €10,000, it is the local court or the judicial court.
  • For a case greater than €10,000No, it's the court.
Who shall I contact

You can refer the place where the removal business is located to the court or the place where the removal was made to the court.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

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