• THE HAULIERS' INQUIRE WITHIN.
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Furniture Removal as a Branch of the Haulier's Activity : Its Special Requirements and the Pitfalls Which Await the Unwary.
THE HAULIER who contemplates engaging • in the business of furniture removal must tread very warily indeed, watching each step, otherwise he is liable to come a nasty cropper. Actually, I would go so far as to say that, unless there are some special reasons for taking up that branch of his trade, the haulier Would do well to leave it alone. It is a business in itself, one requiring very considerable ex-periewe, not only in the handling and packing of delicate and sometimes expensive articles but also in the methods of disposal of the individual components of a. load in the van, so as to avoid the chance of breakage in transit.
The only solution of these problems is afforded by the employment of skilled workmen, and the haulier who feels a bent towards furniture removal as a means of earning his living will do well to take the precaution of engaging such men as a preliminary step. For technical difficulties, therefore, there is a comparatively easy and direct remedy. There are, in addition, however, pitfalls in connection with liability for damage to furniture which are not so easily countered; they are not even so easy to enumerate or to define, but they may, at least, be avoided to a great extent if the haulier takes certain further precautions. I propose this week to point out some of the risks and to indicate the precautions which are advisable.
My first word in this respect is, as a matter of fact, to suggest one precaution, a governing and general one. I would warn the haulier against being too "fine and large," too generous in the benefits he would eonfer upon by his clients. He must never undertake, by word of mouth or otherwise, "all responsibility for removal of the goods, and for their safekeeping and transit," but must limit his liability by the use of a specific form of contract. Such a form is issued by the Furniture Warehousemen and Removers' Association to its members, with a recommendation that it be printed on the back of all estimates or other com munications of a like nature. . .
Presumably, the circulation of this information is confined to members of the association : it is only reasonable R.-tat it should be so, but, in any case, the haulier who is taking up this branch of the business would be well advised to inquire as to the privileges of membership of the association, which is undoubtedly an important one.
Generally, a furniture remover is liable for damage 'to, or loss of, the goods entrusted to him for ware housing or transport, if the owner of the goods can show that there was negligence on the part of those in charge of the premises in which the goods are stored, or of the vehicle in which they are being conveyed. He is also liable for any damage caused by fire, although the extent of his liability depends on circumstances. It is absolutely essential that he should insure, so far as is possible, against such risks.
The following are some of the more important points which require to be kept in mind when entering into a removal contract.
First, as regards any estimate which may be made for the work. It should be clearly understood that it is only open for acceptance within a limited period21 days is usual. The contractor' before tendering, should satisfy himself that all the furniture can be conveniently carried out by means of ordinary staircases and doorways, and that there is access to the premises for his vehicles. If the contractor is not in a position to satisfy himself concerning these matters, he should, in his tender, embody a paragraph to that effect, stating that extra charges will be made in the event of it proving that extraordinary measures have to be taken in order to remove the furniture from the one house, or to get it into the other.
He should, at the same time, protect himself against interruption or interference while executing the work, as delay and extra cost are entailed thereby. It should be made clear, too, whether the estimate does or does not include any special work such as the taking down or putting up of gas or electric fittings. or the relaying and fitting of -carpets and other flooi coverings.
The contractor should protect himself against claims on account of delays brought about by matters beyond his control, such as strikes, mechanical breakdowns, or bad weather. There is, very frequently, conflict of opinion con-eerning liability for damage to goods which have been packed for transit. The contractor should on no account take any responsibility for the contents of any packages unless he has also been responsible for the packing. This limitation of his liability also extends, or must be extended, to articles contained in drawers.
It is the customer's business to see that nothing which is to be removed is left behind, and that nothing is taken away which should have been left behind. The contractor must make it clear that he will not be responsible for the derangement of the mechanism of any clock, barometer, scientific or musical instrument, as it frequently happens that amongst such things are some which cannot, even by the exercise of the utmost care, be kept in order, as even the slightest vibration may upset the very delicate mechanism. An important clause, which should not be omitted from any contract, relates to claims for damage or loss. Any such claim should, in the terms of the contract, be made within three days after delivery of the goods which are alleged to be damaged, or within three days after the goods which are alleged to be lost should, in the ordinary course, have been delivered. A similar condition applies, or should apply, in ease of claims for damage to premises, which damages are alleged to be due to the workmen effecting the removal. All claims should be made in writing. It should be made abundantly clear to the customer that the terms and conditions upon which any estimate or contract is made are not subject to alteration or qualification upon the bare word of any workman. The best safeguard against any such error is the insistence that• all terms, and all subsequent modifications, to be effective shall be stated clearly in writing.
The above are the principal conditions which must be embodied in a contract for removal of furniture. If the goods have to be warehoused, then another set of conditions has to be considered, such as the necessity for stipulating that certain classes of goods shall not, covertly be included in -those put forward for storage. The contractor has to protect himself
against claims for damage on account of damp, vermin, insects, or the like, or deterioration of articles of a perishable nature. It is to the contractor's advantage to see that a correct inventory of all the goods stored be made and agreed by both parties. The client should be advised to have any goods that are stored for long periods unstowed,.examined and brushed at intervals, the contractor making of course, a fair charge for such work, which charge must have been agreed upon by both parties. The matter of insurance, as has been stated, is as important, in its way, as that of the conditions of contract. Both have the object of protecting the parties from loss. Insurance should be effected to provide cover against risks of fire, loss from theft or accident, and damage. All such insurances should be effected at the instance and-expense of the customer. The contractor may offer to effect it for him, on receipt of written instructions and remittance of the amount ci.f the premium. The contractor, as a rule, accepts liability on account of loss or damage to the amount of £10 only in respect of any one article. The insurance which the customer takes out is to cover risks in excess of that sum and, this should be clearly understood by the customer. In the event of the furniture which is to be removed being already insured against fire, damage, and burglary losses, as is frequently the case, the customer should be advised to communicate with his insurers, informing them that he is removing the furniture, and asking them to hold the goods covered while the work is in progress. THE SKOTCH.