Seven working days
to claim
The most useful fact in this industry, and the one fewest people learn in time.
You have seven working days from delivery to claim for damage that was not written on the completion document. After that no claim for loss or damage is admissible. It is the most useful and least published fact in this industry.
On the day, and for the seven that follow
What to doInspect before you sign
Any damage you can see during the move goes on the document before you sign it. What is written there does not depend on the seven-day deadline at all. Photograph it with a date.
The completion document
Signed within 24 hours of the work finishing. It fixes what was delivered, when, and in what condition.
Claim in writing for whatever surfaces later
Anything you find while unpacking must be claimed within seven working days. In writing, with photographs, referencing the quote and the signed document. Working days: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count.
That is it
After the deadline no claim for loss or damage is admissible. It is not a company policy: it is the legal regime of the transport contract.
Three routes, and only one compensates you
Where to claimA firm may exclude the transport arbitration board in writing, and it has to do so before the service begins. If it does not, and you are claiming under EUR 15,000, the board has jurisdiction: free, no lawyer, binding award. Look for that clause before you sign. Free, no lawyer or procurador needed, and the award is binding.
Opens a penalty procedure against the firm, which is useful for the system, but does not compensate you. File it as well, not instead.
Your municipality's consumer office offers free mediation. A good first step when the amount is small and the firm is willing to talk.
Claim questions
Frequently askedHow long do I have to claim for damage after a move in Spain?
Seven working days from delivery, for damage that was not written on the completion document. Anything noted on the day is already claimed.
Are the seven days calendar days or working days?
Working days. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count, which in practice usually gives nine to eleven calendar days. Do not cut it fine.
I already signed. Can I still claim?
If the damage was not visible when you signed, yes, as long as the seven working days have not passed. Claim in writing with photographs, citing the accepted quote and the signed document.
How much will I get for a broken item?
Entirely dependent on the cover, not on what the item was worth. Under liability cover the payout is calculated by weight and is usually derisory. Under goods-in-transit cover on a valued inventory, by what you declared.
Do I have to make an inventory?
Either party may require one before transport. If you are moving anything valuable, do it: without a valued inventory there is no way to prove what existed or what it was worth. Items over EUR 600 should be listed separately.
What if the firm ignores me?
A firm may exclude the transport arbitration board in writing, and it has to do so before the service begins. If it does not, and you are claiming under EUR 15,000, the board has jurisdiction: free, no lawyer, binding award. Look for that clause before you sign. Claiming there costs you nothing, which is exactly what makes it useful at mid-range amounts.
Do photographs count as evidence?
They help a great deal, especially dated before-and-after ones. But what the claim rests on is the signed document and the accepted quote; photographs support it.