Getting ready for movers?

Military wife, THE MILITARY MOVERS BROKE MY PIANO! Will insurance cover it?

• I have an antique Schuman piano made in 1920 that I bought at an antique auction for $1200. It was refurbished and played beautifully until we were relocated to our new duty station. We had the military hire movers to pack all our things and we drove to our new duty station. Well, once we arrived and when the movers came with the truck and unloaded all our things and we got the piano into the house, all apeared to be well, then the next day I sat down and lifted the lid to play. the whole thing is just shot. 3 of the keys are broken and there are 2 huge broken pieces on the piano that the movers just set back into place to make it look intact. Its as if the accidently toppled it over on its side at one point because its all scratched up and cracked on the back I found. there is obviously internal damage done that I can't see. I love to play and Im very disappointed that they were not more careful. We have had the piano moved several times on our own and paid out of pocket upwards of $300 to have the job done carefully. We thought this company would take the same sort of care. This is my most valuble item. So, question: Do the movers have a responsibility to document anything they knowingly broke or am I going to file this claim and find that they just deny ever dropping or breaking it? Will they pay me back the $1200 I paid ?or at least to get it fixed? ( which will probably amount to about $600) Im an antique collector, and a box of my ceramic nick knacks were smashed to pieces, Im hoping they wont mind reimbursement for that as well. Additionaly, the middle drawers of our chest of drawers from Penny's is broken ans well and we are missing one of its legs so I dont think we can use that anymore. but Im more concerned about my piano. What do you think will come of all this? I have taken pictures and have tried contacting the company the last couple days- they are taking their time getting back with me. would love some input! Thankyou :)

• Answer:

  You'll file the claim. Most of the time, "movers insurance" is predetermined on a poundage basis, like $1 per pound of damaged item. Not what it cost you, not what it costs to fix, not what you could have sold it for on Ebay. Unless, of course, since you're an antique collector, you SPECIFICALLY insured your items on a personal articles floater, on your homeowners/renters insurance, in which case breakage IS usually covered. That's not the mover's insurance, though, that's YOUR insurance.