Consumer and banking · Moving · loss and damage
Moving damage in France: prepare your claim
After a professional move in France, describe missing or damaged items and keep the delivery document. A reasoned registered protest normally follows a ten-full-calendar-day period after receipt, even without initial reservations. Failure to supply the prescribed procedure can extend that period to three months. This protest period is separate from the court-action deadline and does not guarantee repayment of every claimed loss.
- Inventory of losses
- Value evidence
- Separate court limitation
- Official texts cited
- Sources checked on
- Drafted with AI assistance, our method
General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.
Julie by AlphaDeep
Does having no delivery reservations prevent a protest?
No. L224-63 recognises a timely reasoned registered protest even without initial reservations.
Read the referencesYour move left damaged or missing belongings: let’s organise the evidence, dates and complaint.
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What should be recorded when furniture arrives damaged?
Identify the item, affected part and visible damage on the delivery document. Photograph the object and packaging; keep a copy and any acceptance of reservations. A general unpacking reservation is not a specific description. Damage discovered later also calls for a precise protest.
Code de la consommation, article L224-63Code civil, article 1784
How can you prepare the inventory and protest?
Fictional example: items valued at €300 and €180, less €50 received, give €430 to examine.
Fictional example · Your preparation worksheet
Prepare a reasoned protest and sending evidence promptly. The ten-day marker does not replace checking the applicable deadline.
Draft for review · starts with a fictional example
Receipt of the goods
2026-10-06
Ten-day calendar marker
2026-10-16; check the rules for the case
Entered values less payment received
€430.00 to examine
Subject: loss or damage during the move received on 2026-10-06.
Please examine the items described in my inventory with the supporting documents. The entered balance after payment already received is €430.00; each item and any contractual limit remain to be checked.
Please respond in writing on the asserted liability, account and any further documents needed.
Match each item to the transport document, photographs and declared-value statement.
Attach invoices, age, prior condition and repair quotations; explain the amounts.
Keep the protest and sending evidence; track the separate court limitation period.
Amounts and date markers are illustrative. Replacement-as-new value, liability and deadline extensions are not certified; do not wait until the last date.
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Does the protest period last ten days or three months?
The consumer regime provides ten full calendar days from receipt. A reasoned registered protest is effective even without delivery reservations; accepted reservations dispense with that protest. Three months concerns failure to communicate the prescribed reservation procedure, which needs to be evidenced from the documents supplied.
Related step: French legal expenses cover: what does your policy say?
What does the governing text say about loss and damage?
Les protestations motivées émises par lettre recommandée dans ce délai produisent leurs effets même en l'absence de réserves formulées à la livraison.
Les réserves émises par le destinataire à la livraison et non contestées par le transporteur dispensent de la protestation motivée prévue au présent article.
Lorsque la procédure à suivre pour émettre des réserves n'a pas été communiquée au consommateur dans les conditions fixées par arrêté ministériel, le délai prévu au premier alinéa est porté à trois mois.
In plain English: The consumer protest period is separate from court limitation; every item and amount needs supporting evidence.
Which evidence belongs to each stage of the move?
| Stage | Record to retain |
|---|---|
| Collection | Inventory and prior condition |
| Delivery | Delivery record, reservations and photographs |
| Protest | Reasons, copy and sending evidence |
| Account | Supported values and payments received |
Code de la consommation, article L224-63Code de commerce, article L133-6Code civil, article 1784
How should damaged or missing belongings be valued?
Prepare an item-by-item inventory: description, age, prior condition, supported value and repair cost. Reconcile it with the declared-value statement and contract limits. Replacement-as-new cost is not automatically due. The tool adds your figures; it does not assess depreciation or decide whether a term is valid.
Related step: Consumer and banking
Code civil, article 1784Déménagement : faire appel à un déménageur professionnel
Does a registered complaint preserve every remedy?
No. Protest and court proceedings are separate stages. L133-6 normally provides one year for loss, damage or delay claims, with distinct starting events and an exception for fraud or dishonesty. Do not assume an ordinary complaint automatically interrupts the limitation period.
Which documents help obtain a useful response?
Include the contract and quotation, delivery document, affected-item inventory, photographs, invoices and protest with sending evidence. Separately identify money already received. Request a written position on each item; international carriage or an approaching deadline calls for checking the applicable framework before proceeding.
Code de la consommation, article L224-63Code de commerce, article L133-6Déménagement : faire appel à un déménageur professionnel
What else should you know about loss and damage?
Does having no delivery reservations prevent a protest?
No. L224-63 recognises a timely reasoned registered protest even without initial reservations.
Is an oral agreement enough to prove accepted reservations?
Keep evidence of what was accepted. An uncertain conversation must not become an established acceptance in the dossier.
Must the mover always pay for a new replacement?
No. Proven value, age, possible repair, contract and liability need examination.
Code civil, article 1784Déménagement : faire appel à un déménageur professionnel
Is the displayed balance an established compensation award?
No. It totals entered values less the declared payment to prepare an account for discussion.
Code civil, article 1784Déménagement : faire appel à un déménageur professionnel
Which sources explain loss and damage?
- Code de la consommation, article L224-63Légifrance
- Code de commerce, article L133-6Légifrance
- Code civil, article 1784Légifrance
- Déménagement : faire appel à un déménageur professionnelService Public
- Faire une réclamation pour des objets perdus ou cassés pendant un déménagementService Public / INC
Texts cited last checked: 20 October 2026