Before providing any moving or accessorial services, a contract and estimate must be provided to a prospective shipper in writing, must be signed and dated by the shipper and the mover, and must include:

(1) The name, telephone number, and physical address where the mover’s employees are available during normal business hours.
(2) The date the contract or estimate is prepared and any proposed date of the move.
(3) The name and address of the shipper, the addresses where the articles are to be picked up and delivered, and a telephone number where the shipper may be reached.
(4) The name, telephone number, and physical address of any location where the goods will be held pending further transportation, including situations where the mover retains possession of goods pending resolution of a fee dispute with the shipper.
(5) An itemized breakdown and description and total of all costs and services for loading, transportation or shipment, unloading, and accessorial services to be provided during a household move or storage of household goods.
(6) Acceptable forms of payment. A mover shall accept a minimum of two of the three following forms of payment:

(a) Cash, cashier’s check, money order, or traveler’s check;

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 507.05

  • Accessorial services: means any service performed by a mover which results in a charge to the shipper and is incidental to the transportation or shipment of household goods, including, but not limited to, valuation coverage; preparation of written inventory; equipment, including dollies, hand trucks, pads, blankets, and straps; storage, packing, unpacking, or crating of articles; hoisting or lowering; waiting time; carrying articles excessive distances to or from the mover's vehicle, which may be cited as "long carry"; overtime loading and unloading; reweighing; disassembly or reassembly; elevator or stair carrying; boxing or servicing of appliances; and furnishing of packing or crating materials. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Estimate: means a written document that sets forth the total costs and describes the basis of those costs, relating to a shipper's household move, including, but not limited to, the loading, transportation or shipment, and unloading of household goods and accessorial services. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • goods: means personal effects or other personal property commonly found in a home, personal residence, or other dwelling, including, but not limited to, household furniture. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • move: means the loading of household goods into a vehicle, moving container, or other mode of transportation or shipment; the transportation or shipment of those household goods; and the unloading of those household goods, when the transportation or shipment originates and terminates at one of the following ultimate locations, regardless of whether the mover temporarily stores the goods while en route between the originating and terminating locations:
    (a) From one dwelling to another dwelling;
    (b) From a dwelling to a storehouse or warehouse that is owned or rented by the shipper or the shipper's agent; or
    (c) From a storehouse or warehouse that is owned or rented by the shipper or the shipper's agent to a dwelling. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • Mover: means a person who, for compensation, contracts for or engages in the loading, transportation or shipment, or unloading of household goods as part of a household move. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • Shipper: means a person who uses the services of a mover to transport or ship household goods as part of a household move. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • Storage: means the temporary warehousing of a shipper's goods while under the care, custody, and control of the mover. See Florida Statutes 507.01
  • writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) Valid personal check, showing upon its face the name and address of the shipper or authorized representative; or
(c) Valid credit card, which shall include, but not be limited to, Visa or MasterCard.

A mover must clearly and conspicuously disclose to the shipper in the estimate and contract for services the forms of payments the mover will accept, including the forms of payment described in paragraphs (a)-(c).

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