What is the Carriage of Goods Act?
The furniture movers damaged my cabinet. Who has to pay to fix it?
The airline lost my luggage, which included an expensive pair of shoes. Does the airline have to pay to replace it all?
My concert plans were ruined because a courier didn’t deliver my tickets on time. What can I do?
What is the Carriage of Goods Act?
If you are sending goods by courier, arranging for furniture to be moved to your new address or travelling with luggage, then you will be covered by the Carriage of Goods Act. The Carriage of Goods Act applies to all goods carried by road, rail, sea or air within New Zealand except for New Zealand Post, which has its own rules. You can make special arrangements with the carrier about their liability. It is important to know the extent of the carrier’s liability before hiring them. For more information visit this website.
The furniture movers damaged my cabinet. Who has to pay to fix it?
If your cabinet arrived damaged, you should give written notice of the problem to the furniture moving company as soon as possible. Depending on your agreement with them, they should have to pay to repair the damage. If you don't have a written contract with the carrier, your goods will be carried at "limited carrier's risk". This means the carrier has to pay for any unintentional loss or damage, up to $1500 for each separate item.
The company won’t be responsible if the cabinet wasn’t packed up properly or the damage wasn’t their fault. Always speak to the company before you hire them about their liability and make sure you understand the terms of any contract you sign. It’s a good idea to look over the furniture with the movers before and after the move so you can agree on any damage caused during the move.
The airline lost my luggage, which included an expensive pair of shoes. Does the airline have to pay to replace it all?
The Carriage of Goods Act will cover you for any loss of luggage – up to $1500 for each piece of luggage. Always read the fine print before you travel as each airline may have a slightly different policy. If the airline loses your luggage you normally have 30 days to make a claim but you should tell the airline as soon as possible.
My concert plans were ruined because a courier didn’t deliver my tickets on time. What can I do?
Most courier companies will deliver goods on time to avoid a bad reputation. If for any reason something goes wrong with delivery and there is a breakage, or the items are late, then each company will have its own policy. You will need to contact the company as soon as you can and report the problem. Under the Carriage of Goods Act, if the circumstances were outside of the company’s control then you may not be able to claim your money back but it is worth a try. You can read more about the Carriage of Goods Act here. If you have further issues with the courier company or you want to complain about their conduct then you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for more information.