Automatic Garage Door Damaged by Movers, Who Should Bare The Costs?

Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 06:51
Last edited 14/03/2024 - 06:53

Hello Fellow Ozbargainers,

I just moved to rental apartment last week and arranged movers to move my stuff from old place to new apartment in Sydney(which is managed by STRATA)

The movers entered into my rental apartment loading dock without any issues. But while they are leaving they broke the automatic opening garage door.

The moving company guys saying I should bare the costs. Also told me not report to STRATA and until they reach out to me. He mentioned that for these common property damages Strata should have the insurance so no need to worry. But I am not sure this is right or not?

Few points

  • Maximum height allowed to enter loading dock 3 meters height. When I asked the driver they said it is 3 meters and I said get in it and entered without any issue. But they have 2 people one helper and one driver.

  • But while they are leaving the truck got stuck and broke the automatic garage door. I was there and suggested them to take the air out from back tires and then they managed to take out the truck.

  • I took the his licence details of the driver. And company name and address. They don’t have any website so can’t find ABN number or anything?

  • I didn’t book any reservation for the loading dock( not sure it’s needed or not) because when I reached out to property manager via email they said they don’t know and provided strata number. But when I called them they said they don’t deal with tenants. So don’t want delay the move in so booked the packers and movers.

  • These movers did not provided any invoice to me. I just have the his licence detail and conversation with them in chat (like booking/ quote they provided me…etc) and payment to his company via bank transfer. When I asked them Invoice they are asking my id.

  • The moving guys came 2 and half hour late than booking time and cause damage while leaving. I guess I picked wrong company.

  • Some guy took the picture while movers are struggling to get out. He said he is gonna report to starta ( I believe he is property manager for whole apartment)

Now I am in dilemma, what should I do?

  • Should I report to my property manager? About the issue and provide the driver licence and company details ? By doing that am I liable for the damage?

  • or I just have to wait until they get back to me?

  • is it safe to provide my id to this movers company ?

I really can’t afford to pay any extra payments for these I just moved in apartment, the rent itself expensive and this happens 😞.

if any of you have faced any issues like this please suggest me your ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Ash-Say on 14/03/2024 - 07:04
    +13

    You are not going to get invoice even if you provide DL so you MUST NOT provide it.

    The mover company is reaponsbile for any damage and they should have public liability cover which I understand is mandatory requirement for these type of businesses.

    I think you picked up some dodgy unregistered business and you are unlikely going to get anything out of them.

    Did you take any pics while their truck was stuck at the gate? I highly recommend sharing the damage details including drivers ID with Strata.

    • Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 07:10

      Thanks for your reply. I did took the picture of the truck while it got stuck at door. And thing is that truck is registered to Queensland not to NSW.

  • Sye on 14/03/2024 - 07:09

    Need MS Paint diagram.

  • randomusername2017 on 14/03/2024 - 07:11
    +1

    moving company guys saying I should bare the costs

    Only fair …. How else would they know what to pay ?¿

  • Sal in SA on 14/03/2024 - 07:16

    Where did you find the moving company ? and did you do the due diligence on them prior to engaging their services.

    • Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 07:18

      It was suggested by one of my colleague and when I checked on the google reviews they have 4.9 star so thought they are professional.

  • Dollar General on 14/03/2024 - 07:45
    +1

    When they said you should bare the costs, did you ask why that’s the case?

    Regardless, the driver of the truck is liable for the damage caused.

    Perhaps wait til body corp raises it

    • Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 08:04

      I was thinking same but not reporting the damage might go in favour to STRATA or movers that might lead me liable for not reporting? Or extra charges for investigation …etc When the actual issue raises ?

  • Brian McGee on 14/03/2024 - 07:47

    It's a motor vehicle accident, you have the driver name and vehicle details. Pass this onto the building manager/strata and their insurance will take care of it.

    • GordonD on 14/03/2024 - 10:11
      -7

      No. Its not a motor vehicle accident, and wouldn't be covered by a motor vehicle accident policy. For that to be the case it would have had to happen on a road or road-related area. Road related areas are things like service station forecourts and shopping centre parking lots that that public is invited to enter to do business with the business. Not a loading dock in a strata title block.

      Their truck doing damage is the sort of thing that businesses have to have public liability insurance to cover.

      If you didn't get an invoice, which would be legally required to have an ABN on it, and include GST, it is likely you are dealing with an unregistered business, which may not be insured for damage, or one that is doing the job off the books to conceal income and not pay GST.

      In the case that they are not operating legitimately as business, the strata plan's insurance may consider them guests on the property, and consider the person who invited them onto the property liable for any damage they did.

      The first thing I'd check however, just in case, is whether the clearance is as stated. If its in fact less the strata plan and its insurers wouldn't have a leg to stand on if they tried to get the money from anyone else.

      • Brian McGee on 14/03/2024 - 10:20
        +6

        How is it not a motor vehicle accident when a truck runs into a building? How is a loading dock not a road related area? If the truck driver was entering into the loading dock from the laneway and ran into the door it is 100% a motor vehicle accident. This is just the reverse with them pulling out of the loading dock into the laneway.
        The person driving has all the responsibilty to not drive into the building.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 14/03/2024 - 07:48
    +2

    This is between the propety's insurer and the driver/company's insurance (if they have any). If they don't have insurance, it is between the property insurance and the driver.

    I would provide all the driver details to the property manager with a stat dec as to what happened. Include the photos etc. Don't give anything to the moving company.

    • Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 07:58

      Thanks I will do that first thing today.

      • Muzeeb on 14/03/2024 - 09:02
        +3

        That was 8 hours ago

  • JIMB0 on 14/03/2024 - 08:11

    Does it actually measure 3 metres?

    • 87percent on 14/03/2024 - 08:17

      I always thought that it has to be a minimum of the advertised height?

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 14/03/2024 - 09:18

        yeah it should be the lowest point of the signed property iirc

        • Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 09:24

          I believe you are asking entry gate height , there is a hump in the middle of the gate entrance when it’s coming it did not cause any issue but while it leaving it may have caused the truck got stuck.

          • Brian McGee on 14/03/2024 - 10:22

            @Savethebuck: So they have a 3m door open height then lowered it by 20cm by putting in a speed bump adjacent to the door?

            • Savethebuck on 14/03/2024 - 11:01

              @Brian McGee: That’s an automatic sliding door, hump is in middle of the door. While entering and exiting as well.but not sure that is the reason here.

  • mrkorrupt on 14/03/2024 - 09:08
    +9

    it was under three metres when things where inside it

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 14/03/2024 - 09:24

      You're probably right here. The weight of the load probably lowered the height slightly which allowed it to fit. Once unloaded the truck is slightly taller, hence the damage.

  • mickrb30 on 14/03/2024 - 10:20

    should have got a few heavy fat boys on the rear of truck while exiting, it would have been lowered, problem solved

  • JimmyF on 14/03/2024 - 13:30

    The moving company guys saying I should bare the costs. Also told me not report to STRATA and until they reach out to me. He mentioned that for these common property damages Strata should have the insurance so no need to worry. But I am not sure this is right or not?

    LOL Oh noz. They don't want you to say anything as they are hoping no one will notice!

    I took the his licence details of the driver. And company name and address. They don’t have any website so can’t find ABN number or anything?

    These movers did not provided any invoice to me. I just have the his licence detail and conversation with them in chat (like booking/ quote they provided me…etc) and payment to his company via bank transfer. When I asked them Invoice they are asking my id.

    Ok so these clowns most likely don't have any insurance or don't want to claim on it if they do.

    Some guy took the picture while movers are struggling to get out. He said he is gonna report to starta ( I believe he is property manager for whole apartment)

    Cool, so if starta comes to you, give them all the details of the company that did the damage and move on. As per the picture, it wasn't you who caused the damage ;)

    So as you didn't cause this damage, the moving company did. So not for you to pay/follow up or worry about.

    Maximum height allowed to enter loading dock 3 meters height. When I asked the driver they said it is 3 meters and I said get in it and entered without any issue. But they have 2 people one helper and one driver.

    Not really your issue to worry about, more for the moving company.

    Is their truck 3m or under? If so, then it's not their fault.

    Is it 3m from the ground to the point of impact? If not, then also not their fault.

  • MITM on 14/03/2024 - 14:07

    Apart from the door - are you happy with the service ? Then move on, they said they would call Strata and take care of things - take it at face value. And you don't need an invoice as you paid by bank transfer as a record. Doing a little research instead of totally relying on your mate's recommendation could save you sleepless nights.

  • Daniel Plainview on 14/03/2024 - 18:24

    100% the removalists. Cut & dry.

    This is part of the reason you hire someone, as if they stuff up it's on them. Report them to the Strata, provide supporting evidence & move on - you're not liable for one cent of it.

    If you'd hired a truck and done yourself it'd solely be on you - but these guys were contracted to do the task, it's entirely on them.

  • DoctorCalculon on 14/03/2024 - 20:31

    These movers did not provided any invoice to me.

    But you paid them without this invoice or even a quotation with their company name and ABN.

  • angywoo on 14/03/2024 - 20:34

    The driver is responsible.

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