GLASSIFTEDS
How to deal with moving companies

There are many reputable com-
-panies in B.C. who do everything
they can to make their customers’
moving day as easy and uneventful
as possible. Unfortunately, there
are others — often unlicensed
movers — who do cause problems.

As in so many areas, your best
protection is to choose a reliable
company in the first place. Try to
get recommendations from friends

@ acquaintances who have moved
recently, or call around to several
companies and ask them for refer-

@ences. Then check them out, the
Law Society of B.C. recommends.

Call the Motor Carrier Commis-
sion in Victoria (687-5474) to see
if the company you want to hire
has a current licence. A licence is
required if the move involves
crossing municipal or provincial
boundaries. The Better Business
Bureau will be able to tell you if
there are any recent or unresolved
complaints against the company.

Before you decide on a moving
company, you should get several
@itten estimates. Be sure that
everything that’s to be moved is
included in the estimate — it’s
easy to forget boxes tucked away in
the attic and the garage. If the

timate doesn’t include every-
thing that eventually gets loaded
onto the truck, you could be in for
a surprise when you're presented
with the bill.

Watch out for the “low-ball™, an
estimate that is deliberately low
and designed only to get the
contract and control of the furni-
ture. At the destination the cus-
tomer is presented with a demand
for a much larger amount and told
that if it is not paid the furniture

gill be placed in storage at the
customers expense.

BEYER

p>
Continued from Page A8

confrontational environment on
getting fair settlements,” said
Weiggerber, adding that he agrees
with those sentiments.

Not all Native leaders are will-
ing to abandon the claim to aborig-
inal rights and title to the land, just
to get a settlement, but that
doesn’t mean some claims can’t
be negotiated and settled.

The Nisga’a Tribal Council has

@ been negotiating with the federal

government for years, even though

Ottawa has never accepted the

premise of outstanding aboriginal
title.

One of the problems, and Weis-
gerber didn’t fail to point it out, is
that federal policy allows for no
more than six land claims to be

» negotiated anywhere in Canada at
the same time.

In British Columbia alone, how-
ever, 22 claims have been filed and
more are expected. At the rate of
past settlements, none of the pre-
sent negotiators will be alive by

ge time the backlog in B.C. is
taken care of.

The report lists a number of
common themes that emerged
from the council’s meetings with
Native groups. The need for
greater economic opportunity was
expressed over and over again,
according to the report. So was the
need for more effective social and
health services.

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655-4858

It’s a good idea to insist that the
moving company use a bill of
lading that provides for delivery of
your belongings at a charge that
won’t exceed the estimated cost by
more than ten per cent. You may
still be liable to pay the higher
amount later on, but you'll have
your furniture in the meantime.
Otherwise, you may be faced with
a driver who won't unload your
belongings unless you pay — in
case — a bill which could be a lot
higher than you expect.

Once you’ve chosen a mover,
specify the date and time of the
move, and have it confirmed in
writing so there’s no misunder-
standing.

Be sure your possessions are
adequately covered by insurance
for the move, either through the
carrier's policy or your own insur-
ance. If the policy offered by the
mover isn’t adequate, contact your
Own insurance agent.

Remember that the mover will
take no responsibility for damage
to packed goods unless packing
and unpacking is done by his staff.

On a long distance move, check
the mover’s inventory of your
possessions and his assessment of
their condition before the van
departs. When the goods are deliv-
ered to your new home, don’t sign
anything until you've checked
their condition. As an additional
precaution, write “subject to loss
or hidden damage’ above your
signature when you sign the inven-
tory sheets. And make sure that
you are at the delivery location as
arranged, or you will have to pay
storage fees.

Short distance moves usually

ENJOYING A HOT AFTERNOON at Centennial Park du

The Review - Wednesday, August 8, 1990 — A25

don’t involve extensive inventory
lists, but you should oversee the
moving and relocation of your
possessions. If there is damage,
have the driver make a special
notation on the inventory or deli-
very receipt. Then notify the com-
pany promptly in wniting, keeping
a copy of your letter for your own
files.

Moving problems are usually
one of two types. Either the actual
charge is much higher than the
estimate, or payment on damage
claims is less than anticipated.

If your problem involves the
cost of the move, talk it over with
the company. It may turn out that
you actually moved far more than
you included in the estimate. But if
there is no good reason for the
charge to exceed the estimate, you
may get some protection from the
B.C. Trade Practice Act.

For moves within B.C. you can
check with the Motor Carrier
Commission to find out whether
the quote you were given conforms
to the approved rates on file. That
office may be able to help you if
you can’t resolve your dispute over
charges on a local move. If it’s a
dispute over a damage claim, con-
tact the Motor Transport Associa-
tion. It’s at 4090 Gravely Street,
Burnaby.

If you have a problem with a
long distance move, whether it’s
about charges or damage claim,
contact the Canadian Association
of Movers, 903-105 Main Street,
Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 1G6.

(Legal Tips is a law series
provided by the lawyers in your
community. These tips are for
general information only. If you
have a specific legal problem you
should consult a lawyer.)

ve

ring

Central Saanich Days Saturday on the slide are Amy

Bay.

Schwab, top, and Chris Schwab, both ofg Brentwood

RECYCLE

TheReview

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656-1151

UPHOLSTERY

Wildlife harvest
in Kootenay conflict

Environment Minister John
Reynolds said last week the gov-
ernment will work with the ran-
ching community and other local
interest groups to implement a
strategy for reducing conflicts
between wildlife and livestock in
the East Kootenays.

Starting this year, the govern-
ment will provide $350,000 a year
for three years to implement solu-
tions to the long-standing problem
of damages elk, deer and other
wildlife are causing ranchers.

Part of the solution will be
control of elk, deer and bighorn
sheep populations through hunting
regulations.

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6655 TRUDEAU TERRACE
BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C.

Here’s fo Jim

When Jim Chabot was pressed
for an answer he didn’t want to
give he said it would be forthcom-
ing “‘in the fullness of time.”

I’m glad it didn’t take that long
for the government to honor Cha-
bot, who passed away last year.

Last week, the government
renamed a provincial park on the
north end of Windermere Lake
James Chabot Provincial Park

They couldn’t have honored a
nicer guy. Chabot represented his
riding, Columbia River, with style
and gusto.

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