One man won the battle, but a Victoria moving company won the war in a dispute over a damaged refrigerator that ended up in court.
B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Civil Resolution Tribunal was asked to navigate a case that offers a warning to anyone hiring movers to check the fine print when it comes to how much is owed if anything is damaged.
Jose Astete hired Victoria-based 2 Burley Men Moving for a residential move.
In a March 21 CRT decision, Astete claimed his refrigerator was damaged during the move. Astete was asking for $1,237.73, the amount it cost to repair the damage.
In response, 2 Burley Men Moving did not deny B次元官网网址渋ts movers caused the damageB次元官网网址� but said its contractual terms limited its liability to $0.60 per pound for the damaged item.
B次元官网网址淚t is undisputed that the respondent damaged the applicantB次元官网网址檚 fridge,B次元官网网址� reads the CRT decision. B次元官网网址淭he applicant says the respondentB次元官网网址檚 movers loaded the fridge from their home onto the truck using a flat dolly. They say the movers left the fridge on the wheeled dolly during transit, and the fridge hit other items in the truck and tipped over, causing the damage B次元官网网址� The respondent does not deny it owes the applicant some compensation for the damaged fridge, although it disagrees about how much. The respondent says the applicantB次元官网网址檚 claim is limited by the partiesB次元官网网址� contract.B次元官网网址�
Astete signed the contract that sets out the $0.60-per-pound figure, and did not choose a B次元官网网址減rotection plan.B次元官网网址�
The weight of the refrigerator was estimated to be 350 pounds, meaning the total compensation for the damage would be $210.
B次元官网网址淭he respondent argues the applicant was aware of the disclaimer and the protection plan, and knew they were not entitled to cash value or replacement cost,B次元官网网址� reads the CRT decision. B次元官网网址淭he applicant does not deny being told about the disclaimer and protection plan, but says they are not looking for cash replacement of the fridge, just the amount it will cost to have it repaired.B次元官网网址�
In the end, the CRT found in favour of Astete that he was owed money for the damaged fridge, but agreed that the money was limited by the contract language.
B次元官网网址淚n this dispute, I find the contract clearly lays out that, in the absence of a chosen protection plan, the respondentB次元官网网址檚 liability for damaged items is limited to $60 per 100 lbs, per item. There is no evidence the applicant selected any other protection plan. So, I find the limitation is binding.B次元官网网址�
Astete will receive $210 plus post-judgment interest.
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